GRADUATE SCHOOL INFORMATION - Essay Example

Graduate School Application Hanof Abozenadah Section May It was a sunny day (please specify the and time). I was a bit distracted because I had to leave for Washington the next day and it was my first time to leave my husband and son. Overall, my appointment with the career advisor took about 40 to 50 minutes. At first, I felt uncomfortable talking to a totally stranger about my career plans. But immediately after meeting the career advisor, I instantly found her quite engaging, and amusing with all her inquiries about my interests, career path I want to take, strengths, and possible universities and career plans that I may like to forego.

I told her that I’m more inclined in pursuing further studies related to public health (major) and art such as painting and interior design (minor). I was planning on going into community health, be an integral part of community organizing while combining my knowledge in the arts through designing. However, I was still confused on how and in what way I would have to direct myself in order to combine these two conflicting interests. Upon hearing this, she immediately suggested that I can consider the following masters degree programs in community health, social and community development, social work, public health planning, community health, public administration, and business administration.

The career advisor further emphasized that I need to really look into what I really like and I know (what my field of specialization is) and from there I can get a degree program that best suits me. First, she suggested that I use books that list names of degree programs and what university they are being offered. Second, she also suggested that I go online (such as google, Petersons, US News and World Report) for universities that have a detailed course outline of the courses they offer. As another guide, she emphasized the need to look into a degree program that can combine and promote two different fields or cross disciplines into one, like community health and design (art).

Fourth guide that she advised me was to talk to people that are doing jobs that I am particularly interested at (and she mentioned that I will be surprised to know that some people did not study for the jobs that they are doing). This method of inquiry may either be done in a formal or informal questions: what did they study, how did they get there, what exactly are they doing, what are they planning, what experience is needed to get to this job, what type of masters program needed. The fifth suggestion she gave me was to inquire at the admissions office, and they can easily suggest and inform me at how each degree program goes about.

Meanwhile, the sixth suggestion she gave was to list down a career plan: write exactly what I would want to do with my degree, make a definite plan of action, and create a goal. Since in the long run, my aim is to create a profit or non profit organization that would help and inspire people, the career advisor also suggested that I can also delve in a business related degree like Master of Management and Master of Business Administration that can help me attain my long term goal. The seventh advice that she gave was for me to take a tour of the different companies, both profit and non profit, and see how they do promotion, planning, and management stuff.

And lastly, she also suggested looking for internships to an organization of my desire and seeing how things work from this perspective. She suggested Merycor which do disaster management and health programs. Based from what we have discussed, the most valuable piece of information that I found most interesting was creating a vision, mission, goal (both long term and short term), and definite career plan. This is not something that one always do for his life but is being done at work. Because of this, the idea of going to graduate school makes me both thrilled and anxious.

Graduate school is quite different in college in the sense that professors expect students to master scientific concepts and theories, while being able to derive original theories and concrete conceptual frameworks from these scientific ideas. As a preparation, I would have to research on courses/subjects being offered by each graduate degree. Furthermore, I will have to have a lot of advanced reading and hands-on technical application on these various subjects. I may also have to ask current graduate students on the experiences and hardships they have encountered from their degree program.

Also, I have to ensure that my family is supportive of my educational/career decision, and that I should be 101% sure that this is what I want. [in this part, you should answer the question: where would you apply and in what area?] Overall, the survey and appointment went out well. The survey was very helpful in my decision-making while the interview was very helpful, informative, and detailed in what degree program I should take. However, it could still be improved and further strengthened by introducing another career path assessment aspect, through career path seminars, focus group discussions with the career advisor, and the like.