Danielle's presentation about shopping for grad school. Her views do not reflect those of any companies or organization with which she is affiliated.

1. THE GRAD SCHOOL
APPLICATION PROCESS
A MILLENNIAL’S GUIDE TO

2. A MILLENNIAL’S GUIDE TO GRAD SCHOOL SHOPPING
WHAT WE WILL COVER
▸ What to consider when choosing your ideal grad school.
▸ Your cover letter and resume (Green Callouts)
▸ Questions to ask admissions (Yellow Callouts)
▸ The application process from panelists
▸ Other Advice

3. @DANIELLEJSTEER
MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

5. IF YOU KNOW WHAT
DEGREE YOU WANT TO
PURSUE.
RAISE YOU HAND

6. IF YOU KNOW WHERE
YOU WANT TO GO TO
SCHOOL.
RAISE YOU HAND

7. DID YOU KNOW THAT IN FIVE
YEARS, 60% OF JOBS GRADUATES
GET DON’T EXIST YET?
US Labor Department
YOUR GRADUATE EXPERIENCE

8. YOUR GRADUATE EXPERIENCE
WHAT TO CONSIDER:
▸ Experience
▸ Transferability
▸ Creativity
▸ Community
▸ Support
▸ Ownership

9. YOUR LEARNING
EXPERIENCE

10. YOUR LEARNING EXPERIENCE
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF
▸What do you want your
faculty student
relationship to look like?

11. YOUR LEARNING EXPERIENCE
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF
▸What does your ideal
classroom experience
include? (And what will
you compromise?)

12. YOUR LEARNING EXPERIENCE
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF
▸What is your ideal
learning experience?

13. TRANSFERABILITY

15. TRANSFERABILITY
TRANSFERABLE SOFT/HARD SKILLS
▸ Public speaking
▸ Plays well with others (collaborative)
▸ Time management
▸ Self-starter
▸ Keeping your cool in stressful situations
▸ Intercultural competency

16. TELL US ABOUT THE SOFT
SKILLS OR EXPERIENCES NOT
ALREADY IN YOUR RESUME.
Admissions Counselors
YOUR COVER LETTER

17. CREATIVITY

18. 1+1=2

19. 1+1≠ 2

20. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE
THE CREATIVITY OF YOUR
STUDENT BODY & FACULTY?
Ask Admissions
TALKING TO ADMISSIONS

21. COMMUNITY

23. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE
THE COMMUNITY AND
CULTURE ON CAMPUS?
Ask Admissions
TALKING TO ADMISSIONS

24. SUPPORT

25. HOW KINDS OF CAREER
MANAGEMENT SERVICES DOES
THE CAREER CENTER OFFER?
Ask Admissions
TALKING TO ADMISSIONS

26. IT IS NOT THEIR JOB
TO GET YOU A JOB

27. 1. ONE PAGE IS ENOUGH.
2. MAKE SURE IT IS GRAMMATICALLY CORRECT.
(DETAILS MATTER)
3. DON’T INCLUDE EVERYTHING YOU’VE EVER
DONE.
Admissions Counselors
YOUR RESUME

28. OWNERSHIPAND POWER

29. CARPE DIEM: B/C BEING A
STUDENT IS AWESOME
LESSONS LEARNED

30. TEXT
LESSONS LEARNED
▸ “I wish I had attended more speaker events
and symposiums”
▸ To “read how” is not to “know how”
▸ You are treated differently as a student.
Leverage it where it makes sense.
▸ Diversity, people.

31. CAN YOU GIVE EXAMPLES OF HOW
STUDENTS HAVE TAKEN INITIATIVE ON
AN ISSUE, CONCEPT, OR PROJECT?
TALKING TO ADMISSIONS
Ask Admissions

32. IF WE DON’T ADMIT YOU,
WHAT ARE WE MISSING OUT
ON?
Admissions Counselors
YOUR COVER LETTER

33. WHY THESE THEMES?

34. HINDSIGHT IS
20/20

35. TOM,EMILY, &
TIFFANY
PANEL DISCUSSION

36. YOU HAVE POWER IN THE
PROCESS
PRO TIPS

37. THE ADMISSIONS OFFICE IS
THERE TO HELP YOU. USE THEM.
PRO TIPS

38. QUESTIONS TO ASK
▸ What does the faculty student relationship look like?
▸ What does the typical day in the life of a student look like?
▸ Is the learning environment lecture based or practice based?
▸ Do the faculty have real world experience in the fields in
which they teach?
▸ What scholarship opportunities exist?
▸ What are you looking for in an applicant?

39. BASED ON OUR CONVERSATIONS,
DO YOU HAVE ANY HESITATIONS
ABOUT ME AS A CANDIDATE?
Johnny Appleseed
THE BEST FINAL QUESTION

40. QUESTIONS?
All photos except slide 33 are from the MIIS Flickr Account