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Suggestions for the Graduate School Application Process Patrick Heaton • Graduate Assistant Career Center Congratulations on making the choice to attend graduate school. You’re finally finishing your undergraduate degree and you’ve decided to press on in your quest of higher education. Before you begin packing I want to give you some advice to make the application process a little easier. First, I hope you’ve carefully thought about your reasons for going to graduate school. Talking with your advisor or a counselor in the Career Center can help you weigh your options and identify helpful resources to make the decision easier. The application process can be a long one so I suggest you start early by searching the Internet, Career Center Library, and other resources. The fall of your junior year isn’t too early to begin contacting graduate programs and requesting infor mation. Most of them will happy to send you a packet outlining their programs and application process. Next, narrow down the programs and insti tutions while keeping in mind their entrance requirements. Most graduate programs require a minimum G.P.A., graduate admissions test (i.e. GRE, MAT, MCAT, LSAT), and written statement of purpose about your reasons for wanting to attend graduate school. iviusi scnuuis win supply yuu wiui imurma tion on the average test score and G.P.A. of their last admitted class which can help you determine whether your application will be competitive. This is where all the late night studying and paper writing in undergraduate studies should pay off. Now, don’t you wish you studied for that freshmen science class instead of going to all those late night movies? Remember to register for your admissions tests early. You don’t want to miss the deadline because the test center was full or you put it off too long; you may also want to take the test more than once to improve your score. And, don’t forget to study. Every point can help and institutions usually receive reports of all of your scores, not just the highest or most recent. When you write your statement of purpose make sure it is an honest and concise outline of your reasons for attending graduate school. The statement is very important in the application process and shouldn’t be taken lightly or written at the last minute. The graduate school will use it to judge your writing skills, sincerity in attending graduate school, and potential for achievement. The Career Center has resources specifically aimed at helping you write effective statements of purpose and application essays. Visit both the Writing and Career Centers to have your resume and statement reviewed before you mail anything. Make sure to note your application due dates and leave yourself plenty of time to get every thing to its destination in time. Take care of tran script requests early and request transcripts from all of the institutions you attended. Make sure your application file is complete before the due date arrives so you have time to fix any last minute errors. Sometimes things get lost, misplaced, or aren’t sent. The process can be along and requires a lot of patience. The hard work will eventually pay off. Good luck and have fun with your decision. TIPS FOR APPLYING TO GRADUATE SCHOOL Junior Year: Fall & Spring Attend "Is Graduate School for You" workshop at the Career Center Determine your academic interests and reasons for attending a graduate program. Research potential graduate programs and institu tions. Speak with both current faculty members and those at potential institutions to help determine the best fit for you. Register for the appropriate graduate admissions tests (i.e. GRE, MAT, MCAT, LSAT). Begin working on your resume with the help of the Career Center. Ask supervisors/professors for letters of recom mendation. Junior Year: Summer Take graduate admission tests. Narrow down the institutions you wish to apply to and visit them when possible. Check on application deadlines. Research scholarship and graduate assistantship nrttinns Write your essay or statement of purpose. Visit both the Writing and Career Centers for assistance. Senior Year: Fall Obtain letters of recommendation. Request transcripts from all institutions that you’ve attended. Remember that a final transcript will have to be sent from your current institution after gradu ation. Send completed application materials. Senior Year: Spring Check with institutions before admission deadline to make sure your files are complete. Interview at institutions when needed. Wait for an admission decision to be made. OsterMj^, Looking for a Career in Law Enforcement? Providing A "First Choice" Community Through Excellence in Public Service POLICE OFFICER OPPORTUNITIES with the CHESTERFIELD COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT PRIDE, SERVICE, PROFESSIONALISM Today's law enforcement professional faces the challenges of policing in the 21st Century. The Chesterfield County Police Department is a proactive police agency that constantly enhances its services to meet those challenges. If you are concerned that the police agencies you are considering as your future employer are not prepared for those challenges, look no further. At the Chesterfield County Police Department we understand that you are the future. Chesterfield County is a suburb of Richmond, Virginia, the capitol of our state, and it offers all of the positive features of suburban living while maintaining one of the lowest crime rates in the state. Our county is one of the fastest growing counties in the state of Virginia and was listed as one of the 20 "Hottest White Collar Addresses" by the Wall Street Journal. The Chesterfield County Police Department is a large police agency that offers a full range of police services to our residents. We accept applications on an on-going basis and will be attending Career Fair Xtra on September 7 at the Carolina Coliseum. N You must be a US citizen 21 years of age by the end of our training academy, with a safe driving record. Must also possess 2 years (60 credits) of college, or active military or law enforcement experience. Must not possess any convictions of felonies and/or habitual misdemeanors as well as successfully undergo an extensive background investigation and interview process. Applicants will be eliminated for significant omissions or falsifications on any documents prepared in conjunction with the application process. Although individuals with the minimum qualifications may apply, only those with the most suitable job related experience, education, and qualifications will be selected. Interested? If you possess the above listed qualifications we encourage your participation in our selection process. Plan to attend this annual event and speak with our recruiter on the above date. Department of Human Resource Management P.0. Box 40 Chesterfield, VA 23832 (804)748-1551 Website: www.co.chesteifield.va.us Jobline: (804)768-7777 Chesterfield County is an Equal Opportunity Employer _Our Strength Is In Our People_