Books, advice ease
grad school search
U-W1RE
RALEIGH, N.C. - In case
you've lived in a cave for the past
decade, the job market has
become more competitive and a
bachelor's of science or arts degree
is going to get you about as far as a
high school degree did 30 years
ago.
If this fact isn’t disheartening
enough, the graduate school
application process is more com
plex than undergraduate.
“The Ultimate Grad School
Survival Guide” by Lesli Mitchell
suggests a nine-month time frame
for the application process.
However, if die process is just now
beginning, it's not too late.
David Zonderman, professor
of history and head of graduate
school programming at North
Carolina State University, says that
when a student is considering
graduate school, the first step is to
make sure graduate school is for
that student
Most schools are highly selec
tive, and certain programs suggest
that if a student's G.P.A. is lower
than a 2.9, that person should
enter the job market instead.
“‘A’ work for a student in
undergraduate could be ‘B’ work
in graduate school,” Zonderman
warns.
Zonderman also suggests that
the best resource to start with is
talking with a professor, especially
if the professor has known the stu
dent for more than one semester.
He or she can give direction for
focus of interests and determine
chances of acceptance.
Prospective students should nar
row their choices down to five
schools based on the program,
faculty and location.
Choosing a program can be
difficult, especially in the sciences.
Thomas Wentworth, professor of
botany at NCSU, says a student
must really specialize in the sci
ences. Considering ecology, plant
or animal ecology can be areas of
focus. There is the molecular level,
or one can specialize in popula
tion biology or ecosystem levels.
Finding a faculty person to
serve as a mentor is another step
in the application process. Most
graduate schools do not accept
students until a faculty member at
that school has chosen the stu
dent to do research under him or
her.
Wentworth said choosing a
grad program is nothing like
choosing an undergrad program.
The GRE is the next rather
tedious step. Zonderman suggests
taking the test early in the fall in
“‘A’ work for a
student in
undergraduate could
be ‘B’ work in
graduate school.”
David Zonderman
North Carolina State professor
order to get scores in on time.
There is a multitude of books and
software to prepare for the general
and subject tests.
For general information, go to
the Web site unvw.gre.org or call 1
800-GRE-CALL
A Web site for test preparation,
www.800score.com/grel234.html
which provides free software for
downloading with tests and
advice on how to take the test.
Acquiring letters of recom
mendation is one of the most
important components of the
application process. Developing
good relationships with faculty as
an undergraduate is important
This can be done by volun
teering or working for a professor,
interning, participating in aca
demic clubs as an officer and writ
ing a thesis while in an honors
program. Usually, letters from two
faculty and one employer are rec
ommended.
There are “How To" books
galore on graauate schoois.
Peterson’s “Graduate Schools in
the U. S.” ($19.96) serves the usual
purpose for a “HowTo” book. It
covers the admission process,
GRE requirements for each
school, and deadlines. More
intrinsic books are available as
well.
For those who have accepted
the cyber space lifestyle, check out
“The Best Distance Learning Grad
Schools: Earning Your Degree
Without Leaving Your Home”
($18). This book lists all of the
graduate schools that have entire
programs taught on the Web.
For a general review of all
resources, check out “Graduate
School: The Best Resources to
Help You Choose, Get In, and Pay”
($24.95). This book serves as a
review on all books and Web sites
on graduate schools.
U. S. News & World Report:
Best Graduate Schools ($7.95)
breaks down schools by ranking.
Also, “Newsweek: How to Use
the Internet to Choose or Change
Careers” ($6.95) gives information
on finding resources for graduate
school success and getting financ
ing for fellowships.
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We invite you to visit our booth, however, if
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please call us for more information at
(402) 481- 8610, or submit a resume by
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