You will constantly hear CHICOLE::INTERMIXED say something along the lines of follow your passion or go to Graduate or Professional school if it's really what you want to do. Students often return to school out of not knowing what they want to do or to meet the expectations of others. Below is one individuals decision NOT to go to grad school.
::
Grad School: My mind is telling me no, but my body is telling me...well...no.
Courtesy The Lost Year Experience
In September of 2007 I began researching grad schools for...well...I wasn't really sure what, actually. I was looking into schools that I thought I could stand going to, in fields that didn't make me want to gouge my eyes out with a spork. Truth is, I was at a loss and I thought the only way to find my way was to go back to school. And somewhere in the background my father was doing the happy dance of a parent whose child had decided to give up acting and pursue a "real" career. He was hoping for business school. My grandfather was hoping for law school.
I was hoping for a paying job that didn't make me look or feel like a moron, with decent benefits on the side.
I'm still not positive I don't want to go to grad school, but I do believe that it is not necessary in every field in the world today...in a lot of cases work experience and making connections are more valuble.
Plus, well, SHEESH it's pricey.
I was raised in a household (and community) where a great deal of emphasis was placed on the importance of education, so it was never even a question in the deepest recesses of my mind that I would attend college. After that, I just wasn't sure.
And I'm still not sure.
And next year I probably still won't be sure.
But sweet jeebus I hope I at least have that steady-paying job with benefits by then.
Oh, and my grandfather called the other day to ask how long the lease on my apartment was...because what if I need to leave to go to grad school???
Oh, siiiiggggghhhhh. To be able to make everyone in my family, including myself, happy and proud of my accomplishments in life...that would be nice.
::
Revisit CHICOLE::INTERMIXED's Deciding to Go post on choosing to attend grad and professional school. Are you sure this is what you want to do?
Showing posts with label Symbols and Substance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Symbols and Substance. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Thursday, December 11, 2008
SYMBOLS & SUBSTANCE :: Application Essays...Your 30 Second Commercial
By now you are aware that the graduate and professional school admissions process is highly competitive and that the application is THE deciding factor for your acceptance. Unfortunately, many students often stumble over the essay portion of the application. The essay questions not only provide an opportunity for you to answer the questions asked, but more importantly allow you to showcase , well, YOU. Understandably, this of course, is often the most difficult part of the application process. How can you possibly share your passion and purpose for continuing your education, highlight your strengths and greatest achievements, honestly divulge your weaknesses, and explain why you would be an asset to their program within the minimal word or space limitations?
Think of it as your 30 second commercial. You are the product, of course. Your writing is your pitch, your commercial. A quality and memorable commercial has a message. A clear and concise message is what makes a commercial of good quality and memorable. I hope you notice the simple but necessary thought pattern here. Your essays should do the same. They should answer the question asked, while maintaining the themes of who you are and why you should be admitted to the program. As you craft each essay, ask yourself, does your answer tell the admissions committee who you are, why you want to continue your education at their institution and program, and how you would benefit their program?
Here is a quick checklist for completing your essays. CHICOLE::INTERMIXED will gladly help you through this process. Trouble getting started or need an objective reviewer, send us an email or leave a comment and we'll help you out.
CHICOLE::INTERMIXED Essay Tips
:: Read all the instructions! This means all word and space restrictions.
Complete all essays for your program, even those marked optional. All essays marked optional are not optional. It’s a trick. If you do not answer them, you are yielding time to your opponent (other students trying to get admitted). Now, why would you want to do that? If the admissions committee tells you they are willing to giving your application additional time, USE IT!
:: Start early. Allow time for drafts and proofreading by several different individuals. Even the best, most simple commercials weren’t completed on the first take. They require hours of editing.
:: Consider your audience and what they are looking for. Don’t know your audience, find out! Call the school, department, or program and start asking questions. Surf the web or read the endless brochures they have. If you don’t address your reader appropriately, it’s like showing up to a white tie event in flip flops or sneakers. So inappropriate.
:: Write clearly, succinctly and with enthusiasm. Tell them what you’re going to tell them. Tell them. Tell them what you told them. Yes, you can add personality by writing around a central story or creative theme, but you still must write with brevity and purpose. There are some programs and schools who prefer flowery prose and long doctrinal answers to essay questions, but most like it simple and straightforward.
:: Use active voice. Answer your questions with “I” and first person.
:: Proofread. Proofread. Proofread.
Think of it as your 30 second commercial. You are the product, of course. Your writing is your pitch, your commercial. A quality and memorable commercial has a message. A clear and concise message is what makes a commercial of good quality and memorable. I hope you notice the simple but necessary thought pattern here. Your essays should do the same. They should answer the question asked, while maintaining the themes of who you are and why you should be admitted to the program. As you craft each essay, ask yourself, does your answer tell the admissions committee who you are, why you want to continue your education at their institution and program, and how you would benefit their program?
Here is a quick checklist for completing your essays. CHICOLE::INTERMIXED will gladly help you through this process. Trouble getting started or need an objective reviewer, send us an email or leave a comment and we'll help you out.
CHICOLE::INTERMIXED Essay Tips
:: Read all the instructions! This means all word and space restrictions.
Complete all essays for your program, even those marked optional. All essays marked optional are not optional. It’s a trick. If you do not answer them, you are yielding time to your opponent (other students trying to get admitted). Now, why would you want to do that? If the admissions committee tells you they are willing to giving your application additional time, USE IT!
:: Start early. Allow time for drafts and proofreading by several different individuals. Even the best, most simple commercials weren’t completed on the first take. They require hours of editing.
:: Consider your audience and what they are looking for. Don’t know your audience, find out! Call the school, department, or program and start asking questions. Surf the web or read the endless brochures they have. If you don’t address your reader appropriately, it’s like showing up to a white tie event in flip flops or sneakers. So inappropriate.
:: Write clearly, succinctly and with enthusiasm. Tell them what you’re going to tell them. Tell them. Tell them what you told them. Yes, you can add personality by writing around a central story or creative theme, but you still must write with brevity and purpose. There are some programs and schools who prefer flowery prose and long doctrinal answers to essay questions, but most like it simple and straightforward.
:: Use active voice. Answer your questions with “I” and first person.
:: Proofread. Proofread. Proofread.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
TUESDAYS WITH MIRIAM :: College Savings 101...Start with a 529
Miriam is an Assistant Manager at a national banking institution. Her weekly posts will help you prepare for the financial realities of education and life. Be sure to leave a comment or send an email if you have specific financial questions.
College Savings 101...Start with a 529
What is a 529 Plan?
A 529 Plan is an education savings plan operated by a state or educational institution designed to help families set aside funds for future college costs. It is named after Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code which created these types of savings plans in 1998.
State plans are OK for out of state colleges
529 Plans can be used to meet costs of qualified colleges nationwide. In most plans, your choice of school is not affected by the state your 529 savings plan is from. You can be a CA resident, invest in a VT plan and send your student to college in NC. Check to see if your institution is eligible under 529 rules...here.
Which states offer 529 plans?
Every state now has at least one 529 plan available. It's up to each state to decide whether it will offer a 529 plan (possibly more than one) and what it will look like, meaning 529 plans can differ from state to state. You should research the features and benefits of your plan before you invest, research state 529 plans...here and even compare between plans compare between plans...here.
Tax Benefits
As long as the plan satisfies a few basic requirements, the federal tax law provides special tax benefits to you, the plan participant. See the top 7 benefits of 529 plans...here
Some states (but not all) offer tax incentives to investors as well. Research your state's tax treatment...here
Types of 529 plans
529 plans are usually categorized as either prepaid or savings plans.
Savings Plans work much like a 401K or IRA by investing your contributions in mutual funds or similar investments. The plan will offer you several investment options from which to choose. Your account will go up or down in value based on the performance of the particular option you select.
Prepaid Plans let you pre-pay all or part of the costs of an in-state public college education. They may also be converted for use at private and out-of-state colleges. The Independent 529 Plan is a separate prepaid plan for private colleges.
Educational institutions can offer a 529 prepaid plan but not a 529 savings plan (the private-college Independent 529 Plan is the only institution-sponsored 529 plan thus far).
Enrolling in a 529 plan
There are two ways to invest in a 529 plan:
Directly with the 529 Plan manager [now available at most banking institutions] or through a financial advisor.
Courtesy Savingforcollege.com
College Savings 101...Start with a 529
What is a 529 Plan?
A 529 Plan is an education savings plan operated by a state or educational institution designed to help families set aside funds for future college costs. It is named after Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code which created these types of savings plans in 1998.
State plans are OK for out of state colleges
529 Plans can be used to meet costs of qualified colleges nationwide. In most plans, your choice of school is not affected by the state your 529 savings plan is from. You can be a CA resident, invest in a VT plan and send your student to college in NC. Check to see if your institution is eligible under 529 rules...here.
Which states offer 529 plans?
Every state now has at least one 529 plan available. It's up to each state to decide whether it will offer a 529 plan (possibly more than one) and what it will look like, meaning 529 plans can differ from state to state. You should research the features and benefits of your plan before you invest, research state 529 plans...here and even compare between plans compare between plans...here.
Tax Benefits
As long as the plan satisfies a few basic requirements, the federal tax law provides special tax benefits to you, the plan participant. See the top 7 benefits of 529 plans...here
Some states (but not all) offer tax incentives to investors as well. Research your state's tax treatment...here
Types of 529 plans
529 plans are usually categorized as either prepaid or savings plans.
Savings Plans work much like a 401K or IRA by investing your contributions in mutual funds or similar investments. The plan will offer you several investment options from which to choose. Your account will go up or down in value based on the performance of the particular option you select.
Prepaid Plans let you pre-pay all or part of the costs of an in-state public college education. They may also be converted for use at private and out-of-state colleges. The Independent 529 Plan is a separate prepaid plan for private colleges.
Educational institutions can offer a 529 prepaid plan but not a 529 savings plan (the private-college Independent 529 Plan is the only institution-sponsored 529 plan thus far).
Enrolling in a 529 plan
There are two ways to invest in a 529 plan:
Directly with the 529 Plan manager [now available at most banking institutions] or through a financial advisor.
Courtesy Savingforcollege.com
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
SYMBOLS & SUBSTANCE :: Difference Between Graduate and Professional School
A reader asked a great question...What's the difference between graduate school and professional school?
Graduate School is advanced academic training that prepares students for careers as faculty, researchers, or other scholarly endeavors. Graduate school allows a student to focus on one academic area of interest in the humanities, sciences, or social sciences and receive a masters or doctoral degree in that specific area. Professional school prepares students for careers in specialized fields that require licensing or other advanced certification like law, medicine, dentistry, business, etc.
Standardized test scores are a part of the application process for any advanced degree program. The test you take is determined by the program to which you are applying: The Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) for Law, The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) for the MBA, The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) for Medicine, The Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) for Dentistry, The Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) for Pharmacy, and The Optometry Admission Test (OAT) for Optometry.
Graduate School is advanced academic training that prepares students for careers as faculty, researchers, or other scholarly endeavors. Graduate school allows a student to focus on one academic area of interest in the humanities, sciences, or social sciences and receive a masters or doctoral degree in that specific area. Professional school prepares students for careers in specialized fields that require licensing or other advanced certification like law, medicine, dentistry, business, etc.
Standardized test scores are a part of the application process for any advanced degree program. The test you take is determined by the program to which you are applying: The Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) for Law, The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) for the MBA, The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) for Medicine, The Dental Aptitude Test (DAT) for Dentistry, The Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) for Pharmacy, and The Optometry Admission Test (OAT) for Optometry.
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