| Graduate School | How can Career Services help? |
If you think you would benefit from discussing your career plans with a staff member, please call us at 437-4900 to make an appointment.
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Do
I have a clear sense of what career I want to pursue?
At the graduate level, you will be expected to have focused
career interests. You will be required to communicate this
in your personal statement/essay and possibly an interview.
If you are unsure, it is best to wait. Make an appointment
with a Career Services counselor so that we may help you identify potential
careers that would be a good match.
Am
I committed enough to my subject to pursue an advanced degree?
It could take from 2 years for a Master's program up until
8 (or more) for medical school to complete a program. Without
strong interest in a particular subject, completing the program
requirements and enduring the length of the program may be
difficult.
Is
an advanced degree required for entry into my desired
field? Which degree? Specializations? Licenses? Certification?
Do your homework and find out as much as you can about particular
career fields, including the type and amount of education/training
required. If licensure or certification is required, be sure
to check with individual state's or credentialing bodies'
requirements based upon the geographic area in which you
choose to work after graduation. For some fields, a Bachelor's
degree is sufficient for employment. However, some people
choose advanced study for the love of learning or for personal
fulfillment.
Would
it be in my best interest to work and gain experience,
THEN apply?
Some graduate programs (especially MBA programs) place a
high value upon work experience. This gives you "real
world" knowledge upon which to apply your coursework.
In some cases, having significant experience can enhance
your application by supplementing low test scores or GPA's.
If you are unsure of the exact field you'd like to study,
work experience can also help you learn more about occupations
and narrow down a particular area.
Do
I have the financial resources to cover costs?
You may already know that private universities are usually
more expensive than public institutions and that Master's
programs will generally cost less than earning a Doctoral
degree because of the fewer number of years involved. However,
there are often more financial aid resources available to
Doctoral students than Master's level students. Be sure to
research scholarship & financial aid opportunities and
consider your own contributions, family contributions, and
the advantages and disadvantages of taking out loans. You
may want to consider taking a year or more to work and save
money.
Do
I have what it takes (i.e., commitment, perseverance, patience,
dedication) or am I "burned out" academically and
in need of taking some time off?
Most likely you've been in school continuously since Kindergarten.
Each person is different - some may prefer to attend graduate
school immediately after graduation without taking a break
and sampling the "real world" first (including a
paycheck); others may need a break to "charge their batteries" to
be able to tackle the books again.
Am
I pursuing graduate school for the right reasons rather
than avoiding "real life?"
Pursuing graduate school with the idea of putting off "real
life" and hoping to miraculously find the answer to "what
do I want to do with my life?" is not the best investment
of your time and money. As already mentioned, at the graduate
level, you are expected to have and be able to communicate
focused career interests. Take advantage of career counseling
and assessment tools at Career Services to assist you in making a
sound decision to pursue graduate study.
View our presentation on Graduate School
Learn how to set up Reference Files
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| Contact Us | |
| Science Library G-50 | Phone: 518-437-4900 |
| Fax: 518-437-4906 | Email: career@uamail.albany.edu |