The document provides information and guidance for determining if graduate school is right for your career goals, how to select a program, tips for the application process such as letters of recommendation and interviews, and a suggested timeline for junior and senior year activities to prepare for graduate school entrance exams and applications. It advises researching programs and requirements, maintaining a strong GPA if considering graduate school, and starting the application process early.

1. Sign a Big League Contract:
Graduate School

2. How to know if
Graduate School is for You?
 Graduate School is for individuals who have a
clear direction towards a specific career path
 If you want to be a professor, lawyer, doctor or
psychologist
 If you want to gain expertise in a specific subject
or field
 If you want to maximize your future earnings and
create opportunities for career advancement
 Attend the SFC Graduate School Fair to become
aware of various programs and to also gain
valuable information from university
representatives

3. How To Pick a Graduate School
 Make sure you mean the minimum admission
requirements
 GPA, credits, certifications, etc.
 Decide if the program offers everything you want
 Faculty to student ratio, what experience does the
faculty have, program reputation, are
internships, research, comp exams, thesis required
 Research how successful the alumni of the program
are and try to discover what was their experience
like
 Learn about the Financial Aid that will be available
to you including scholarships, graduate
assistantships, grants, fellowships etc.

4. Graduate School Fairs
 Be prepared before the fair
 Research the programs and create a list of which
tables you want to stop by in order of preference
 Arrive early so that you can coordinate your route
and know where every school’s table is located
 Come with a list of questions concerning the
program, campus, faculty, application
requirements, etc. that you can ask the college
representative
 Ask the representative for his/her card
 This is a good networking technique and will also
allow you to have a contact within the program in
case you have further questions

5. Application Requirements
 Official Transcript
 Can be obtained at the Registrar
 Exam Scores
 Research what entry exams are required for the
program
 Portfolio
 A portfolio may be required to showcase your
work
 Essays and Personal Statements
 Your Personal Statement will demonstrate your
writing skills while also aligning your interests and
experiences with what the program will offer

6. Letters of Recommendation
• Take time to ask Educators or Administrators you
closely worked with through the years to write you
a Letter of Recommendation at least 6-8 weeks in
advance of the letter being due
• Create a list of your personal
achievements, accomplishments and hurdles you
have overcome in your life that the individual can
refer to when writing the letter
• Refrain from providing letters of recommendation
from relatives, family members or people that
don’t know you well

7. The Interview
Some Graduate School programs require
in-person or group interviews before a final
decision
 Utilize the Mock Interview services provided
by the Career Center to help you prepare
 Be sure to have possible answers prepared for
when the interviewer asks you what you can
offer their program, why you selected their
establishment and what you hope to do with
your graduate degree

8. Graduate School Tips
 If you think you may be interested in
Graduate School as an underclassmen, be
sure to do all things possible to maintain a
high GPA
 Begin the application process early- this will
give you an advantage to other applicants
 Figure out what entrance exams are needed
to apply and begin to study and prepare
early on
 Apply to several schools- at least 5-7

9. Graduate School Timeline
 Sophomore Year
 Discuss your interest for graduate school with a faculty
member or career counselor
 Become involved in extracurricular activities on campus
 Junior Year
 Begin researching your field of choice
 Gain experience in this field through internships or part-
time work
 Meet with a career counselor to discuss the programs
you wish to pursue
 Register and prepare for the graduate admission exam
that matches the program’s requirement

10. Graduate School Timeline (cont.)
 Junior/Senior Year (Summer)
 Study and sign up for graduate school admission tests
 Visit schools and request applications
 Begin to work on required essays and your personal statement
 Senior Year
 Request and college letters of recommendation and official
transcripts
 Take the graduate school admission test
 Have your essay reviewed by a career counselor
 Mail completed application package before the deadline
 Senior Year (Spring)
 Visit schools you have been accepted to
 Apply for assistantships/fellowship positions
 Notify all accepted schools and references of your final
decision

11. Now Are You Ready?

12. Q & A?
Career Center
718-489-5360
careercenter@sfc.edu
www.sfc.edu

13. Sign a Big League Contract:
Graduate School