November 16, 2004
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Prospective graduate students encouraged to prepare early for admissions
Lengthy application process begins long before deadlines
November is generally thought of as crunch time for prospective graduate students, but most have been working on researching, contacting and applying to graduate schools for months. There is a significant amount of work to complete before even beginning the application process, so students are advised that it is never too early to begin preparing for graduate school.
Getting prepared
Prospective graduate students would be wise to take a Graduate Record Exam preparatory course during the summer months, followed immediately by the actual GRE, according to the UC Davis Educational Opportunity Program website. GRE preparatory courses can be found at the Experimental College on the UCD campus, but are also offered by private test preparatory companies.
Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions offers preparatory classes for graduate school exams. However, its "higher test scores guaranteed" offer comes with a hefty price tag: $2,000 to $4,000 for private tutoring, and as much as $900 for an online course.
Throughout the summer preceding their application deadlines, students should research their prospective graduate schools and get to know professors and employers who can provide letters of recommendation. Students should also look into fellowships, grants and other financial resources early, so the deadlines do not pass them by.
Resources on campus
There are several resources at UCD for potential graduate students. Pre-Graduate School Advising is located in South Hall. This service has three professional staff advisers and three student advisers. Pre-Graduate School Advising also publishes a quarterly newsletter, Graduate Bound, which contains recent articles on the application and admission processes.
Also in South Hall is the Student Recruitment and Retention Center, where students can meet in a more personal setting with student mentors from the Graduate Advancement Advocacy and Achievement Program. The GAAAP is the only student-run, student-initiated graduate recruitment program in the state.
Graduate School Information Day is an annual event at UCD, usually held in mid-October in Freeborn Hall. Over 100 graduate institutions nationwide attend the event, where students can obtain applications and brochures, and talk to admissions counselors.
Reasons for attending graduate school
Jeffery Gibeling, dean of Graduate Studies, said there are two main reasons students choose to attend graduate school. The first is intellectual curiosity and the opportunities it creates.
"The result is usually a position of greater responsibility with a graduate degree in academia or industry," Gibeling said.
Gibeling said the second reason is economics. The majority of students recognize the earning potential and job security that accompany a graduate degree.
"Most of the time it will earn you a greater salary," said Betty Laber, program assistant for the Internship and Career Center. She also said that career possibilities increase as well, depending on the area of interest.
Recent surveys have determined that Americans holding a master's degree earn an average of 35 to 50 percent more money than those with just a bachelor's degree, according to GradSource, an online newsletter for graduate students.
Gibeling said students interested in graduate school should continue on after earning a bachelor's degree and complete their educations in one continuous stretch.
"It's a matter of academic momentum," Gibeling said. However, he said occasionally students need some time away to identify what they want to study in graduate school.
"The key to being admitted to graduate school is to know what you want to study and why you want to be there, in addition to academic qualifications," Gibeling said.
However, not all believe that graduate school is necessary. Bradley Richardson, author of JobSmarts for TwentySomethings, said in a recent article on the "great graduate school debate" that there is a distinction between "nice to have" and "must have."
"Which does my industry place a greater value on, experience or education?" Richardson asked in the article. He said that although a graduate degree might give an additional competitive edge, if it is not required, some employers may look to the job candidate with more work experience.
"It really depends on what they have in mind for a career," said Veronica Valenzuela, graduate program liaison at UCD. Valenzuela said that in some fields, an individual can only go so far with a bachelor's degree. She said that students must outline their career goals before considering applying to graduate school, so they will know the advantages that a degree might or might not bring them in the job market.
JESSICA KNOX can be reached at campus@californiaaggie.com
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