Campus Resources for Graduate School Success

Four graduates in black gowns and caps celebrate outdoors under a blue sky. Purple confetti falls as they smile, exuding joy and accomplishment.
by Kehinde Adejumo, UAlbany English MA Student

Have you decided to apply to one of the graduate programs here at UAlbany? Are you overwhelmed by having to write a Statement of Purpose, refine your resumé, and prepare for an interview? Look no further because this is the blog for you. As a master’s student in the English program, I will provide information and tips on how to use the Office of Career and Professional Development as well as the Writing Center to make sure your graduate application stands out from the crowd! If you aren’t a UAlbany student, your campus will likely have similar offices that you can use!

  1. Make an appointment
    The scariest thing about the graduate application process is getting started. I know that when I was first considering applying for graduate school, I didn’t know where to start. Once you have a draft of your Statement of Purpose and resumé, you can make an appointment via EAB Navigate.

    Once you find a date and time that works best for you, there is an option to get email and/or text reminders. If you find that you liked the person you worked with and want to know their hours for future reference, there is an option to “View Drop-In Times” so you can see the full staff schedule. I made multiple appointments on my resumé and Statement of Goals and the people I worked with were very kind and understanding. They want to help you, so don’t think you are bothering them.
     

  2. Office of Career and Professional Development
    At UAlbany, the Office of Career and Professional Development is located in the Science Library in room G50. Appointments can be made in-person and take up to 30 minutes. This office serves the entire UAlbany student body, including Alumni, Graduate Students, Families, Faculty & Staff, Employers, and veterans. On their website, there is a “Resources” tab that has many templates for formatting your resumé, preparing for your interview and working on your Statement of Goals. I used the Career website to build my resumé and Statement of Goals and it made me feel more confident in my application.
     

  3. Writing Center 
    Serving undergraduate and graduate students, the Writing Center is located in the Humanities building in room 140. The Writing Center’s mission is to have the tutor discuss the student’s project, their writing fluency and their strengths and challenges as a writer. Tutors range from undergraduate to doctoral level, bringing various experiences to help students with their writing.

    Walk-in appointments are also offered. However, if a student wants to see the same tutor or has a deadline, it is recommended that they make an appointment. Students get to work with the tutor within one hour. When I used the Writing Center to help me convey my message in my Statement of Purpose, I felt like they challenged me to be a better writer.

Final Thoughts
Utilizing resources available on campus will make your application stronger than if you were to proofread it yourself. Through the opportunities available to you, you will surely ace your grad application!