Conferences & Professional Development
UROC has a number of professional development resources and opportunities related to graduate school for you to check out. Graduate schools prepare you for careers that require advanced specialty training. They are available in almost any subject. The University of Berkeley provides a comprehensive introduction to graduate schools. Interested in learning more? We have resources to help you search for the right program, find funding, put together a competitive application and get strong letters of recommendation.
Graduate School & Professional Degree Prep Conference: Writing your Application
The Graduate School & Professional Degree Prep Conference: Writing your Application provides the foundation and resources to submit a competitive graduate school (i.e., master, doctorate) and professional degree program (i.e., credential, law, medical) application. Designed with you in mind, sessions will offer the opportunity to work on parts of your application, so you can get a head start!
Why this conference? Competitive applicants start to plan at least 6 months before program deadlines. For academic doctoral (Ph.D.) programs, master's programs, and professional programs, that date is June 2023 to apply for fall 2023.
Planning starts now!
Funded by the CSUMB METAS grant and hosted by UROC, the Undergraduate Research Opportunities Center in partnership with the CLC, Cooperative Learning Center; Center for Advising, Career, and Student Success; and MAESTROs, you will learn about the factors involved in applying to graduate school and credential programs–and most importantly, you will have dedicated workshop time to work on, and get feedback on various parts of your application.
In the 3-day conference, you will:
- Learn about the variety of degree programs, graduate and professional.
- Build a realistic timeline for your applications.
- Strategize letters of reference.
- Outline your personal statement.
- Learn about admissions tests and preparation (GRE, LSAT,).
- Learn about funding structures.
Breakfast and lunch will be provided.
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WHO |
For Grad-School and Professional Degree-Bound Seniors & Juniors applying to programs over the next year (23-24). |
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DATES |
May 23-25, 2023 |
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TIME |
8:15 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. |
Applications are now closed. Please contact Natasha Oehlman if you have any questions.
Day 1
Tuesday, May 23, 2023
Day 2
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Day 3
Thursday, May 25, 2023
Daily Theme: Planning and Preparing: Landscape of Graduate School
Daily Theme: Creating a Competitive Application Daily Theme: Setting up for Success: Knowing your Resources & Next Steps Check-in & Breakfast (8:15 - 8:55 a.m.) Session I Opening & Welcome
(9 - 9:45 a.m.)Natasha Oehlman & Valarie Maestas-Chapel & Yoshio Clemente Astudillo
Dr. Doug Smith, Dean's Welcome
Dr. Rudy Medina, Keynote Speaker
CV/Resume, Part I: Highlight your Accomplishments
(9 - 10 a.m.)Using your resume or CV (curriculum vitae) is a great starting point for writing your personal statement for graduate school and articulating your career goals. This session will cover the differences between a resume and CV and prepare you to revise and amplify your overall career goal message.
Personal Statement: Telling your Story (9 - 10:10 a.m.)
Brainstorm the top qualities and characteristics that you want to showcase in your personal statement. Learn tips for how to draft your personal statement.
Session II Your Career Landscape: Grad Programs and Professional Programs (9:45 - 10:50 a.m.)
Learn about the differences between graduate and professional programs. Which one fits your goals? Hear from CSUMB professional staff about all the possibilities.
CV/Resume, Part II: Highlighting your Accomplishments (10:10 - 10:50 a.m.)
Building off part I, this session will cover how to analyze your accomplishments using a robust 4-pillar framework.
Workgroup #3
(10:15 - 11 a.m.)This productive working session will guide you through drafting your personal statements and ways to strategize your personal story and professional goals for impact.
Break (10:50 - 11 a.m.) Session III Deep Dive! ~ Breakout #1
(11 a.m. - 12 p.m.)Choose between graduate school and professional programs to learn more as it applies to your goals.
Room 1: Research-Based Graduate School: Explore what it takes to be a competitive applicant and the elements you need to put together a successful application.
Room 2: Professional/ Practitioner Programs: Explore what it takes to be a competitive applicant and the elements you need to put together a successful application.
Room 3: Professional/ Practitioner Programs (Health)
Room 4: Education and Credential Programs. Information on the following programs: School Psychology, Speech Pathology, Ed Admin, Masters Plus Credentials and Credentials. Explore what it takes to be a competitive applicant and the elements you need to put together a successful application for these programs.
Workgroup #2 [CVs]
(11 a.m. - 12 p.m.)This productive working session will guide you through revising your CV and resume. Meet and consult with a CLC writing tutor to get feedback on your work.
Deep Dive! ~ Breakout #2
(11 a.m. - 12 p.m.)Choose between graduate school and professional programs to learn more as applies to your goals.
Room 1: Grad School: Who is paying for all this?!!: Learn strategies for finding internal and external scholarships and fellowships to fund your graduate program. Tips for financial success in graduate school will be shared.
Room 2: Credential Programs: Who is paying for all this? Learn strategies for funding your teaching credential. Tips for financial success will be shared.
Lunch (12 - 12:45 p.m.) Session IV Workgroup #1
(1 - 2:30 p.m.)This productive working session will guide you through how to organize the components of your application as well as plan the next several months with a timeline in mind.
Letters of Recommendation: Strategies to Get a Good One!
(1 - 2:30 p.m.)The letter of recommendation is a key component of any application. This interactive workshop will help you think strategically about selecting, approaching, and collaborating with your reference writers to get the best competitive recommendation possible.
What about testing? A General Overview of all the Tests
(12:50 - 1:45 p.m.)The GRE, LSAT and MCAT and DAT, CBEST, CSET. This informational session will give you a general overview of the testing requirements for your application.
1:45 - 2:30 p.m.: Next Steps: Consultations and Planning
This closing session will help you frame out your next steps in the graduate writing application process as you plan for upcoming application deadlines.
Closing & Evaluation (2:30 - 3 p.m.)
Additional resources to check out:
- The CSUMB Center for Academic, Career & Student Success Career Guide has chapters on graduate school, networking and preparing for interviews (very applicable to graduate school).
- The Gentle Guide for Applying Graduate Schools
- Your Guide to Fellowships and Grants
- ProFellow YOU TUBE Resource: Finding Fully Funded Programs using Google
- Don Asher, author of several higher education books, visited CSUMB to discuss navigating with graduate school admission offers, networking after you apply, and the Hail Mary pass. Check it out!
Internships
For students taking a gap year between Baccalaureate and Masters or Doctoral programs, internships may be available. Please see the attached document for more information on available internships. Please note this may not be updated regularly.
The Kirkman Newman Art School at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts is offering nine-months Post Baccalaureate Residencies. Residencies are available in jewelry/metals, ceramics, photography/digital media, painting, sculpture, fiber and printmaking.
Graduate School Research Fellowships
What is a fellowship? A short-term, funded, merit-based opportunity to do something exceptional.