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 2025 to apply for fall 2025.
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; and Center for Advising, Career, and Student Success, 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. Who is this for? Grad-School and Professional Degree-Bound Seniors & Juniors applying to programs over the next year (25-26).
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 funding structures.
Program
- Thursday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
- Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- Saturday, 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Please contact Natasha Oehlman if you have any questions.
Day 1
Thursday, June 6th
Day 2
Friday, June 7th
Day 3
Saturday, June 8th
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 (8:30 - 8:55 a.m.) Session I Opening & Welcome
(9 - 10 a.m.)Natasha Oehlman & Valarie Maestas-Chapel
Community Building Activity
Rosa Acevedo Duran, CSUMB Alum
CV/Resume, Part I: Highlight your Accomplishments
(9 - 10 a.m.)Your resume or CV (curriculum vitae) is a great starting point as you embark on your application. This session will briefly cover the differences between a resume and CV. This session will prepare you to revise and amplify your overall career goal message as it relates to your application and demonstrate how to analyze your accomplishments using a robust 4-pillar framework.
Let's Write! (9 - 10:15 a.m.)
Whether your goal is to draft your introduction, outline your main points, or repurpose a previously written draft, this is your time to get started! Sample introductions, graphic organizers, and other writing supports available. Facilitators: CLC Writing Team
Session II Your Career Landscape: Grad Programs and Professional Programs (10 - 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.
Workgroup #2 (10:10 - 10:50 a.m.)
This productive working session will guide you through revising your CV and resume. Meet and consult with the CLC writing team to get feedback on your resume or CV.
Pause & Reflect (10:15 - 10:45 a.m.)
Take a break from writing to reflect on the direction your story is going. Option to take a walk, ride a stationary bicycle, talk with a thought partner, or just sit in a quiet corner of the library with your journal.
Facilitators: CLC Writing TeamBreak (10:50 - 11 a.m.) Session III Deep Dive! ~ Which Program?
(11 a.m. - 12 p.m.)Explore what it takes to be a competitive applicant and the elements you need to put together a successful application for professional and research programs.
Personal Statement: Telling your Story
(11 a.m. - 12 p.m.)Brainstorm the top qualities, attributes, and characteristics that you want to showcase in your personal statement. Learn tips for how to draft your personal statement.
Writing Time / Consult Time (11 a.m. - 12 p.m.)
Set a goal and keep writing, with support. Work on your CV, draft emails to faculty, or continue working on your personal statement. Option to get feedback on your writing when you are ready!
Facilitators: CLC Writing TeamLunch (12 - 12:50 p.m.) Panel of Current Graduate Students Grad School Myths & Realities Tabling with CSUMB Graduate Programs & Credential Programs Q & A Topics at Tables 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.
Workgroup #3
(1 - 2:30 p.m.)This productive working session will guide you through drafting your personal statement and ways to strategize your personal story and professional goals for impact.
Share Out (12:50 - 1:30 p.m.)
How did it go? Choose something from your work today to share out in your group. Facilitators: CLC Writing Team
Break (2:30 - 2:40 p.m.) Session V Deep Dive~ Funding Graduate School (2:40-4:00 p.m.)
Choose between graduate school or professional programs to learn more as it applies to your goals. 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.
Letters of Recommendation: Strategies to Get a Good One! (2:40-3:40 p.m.)
The letter of recommendation is a critical component of any competitive application. This interactive workshop will help you think strategically about selecting, approaching, and collaborating with your reference writers to get the most competitive recommendation possible
Next Steps: Consultations and Planning (1:40 - 2:30 p.m.)
This closing session will help you frame out your next steps in the graduate writing application process as you plan for upcoming application deadlines.
Facilitators: Nanda Warren & CLC Writing TeamClosing: Evaluation & Raffle (4 - 4:30 p.m.)
Networking Dinner With Faculty 4-6pm
Network with CSUMB faculty to hear more about the graduate school process.
Grad School 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.