For those students who don’t intend to hop right into the job market and the big, bad, so-called “real world” right after graduation, or for those who are pursuing a career that requires more than just a bachelor’s degree, there’s another option out there: grad school. But in order to get to grad school, you have to take initiative and start doing some research, just like you did when you were a young and naïve high schooler touring colleges. But instead of the SAT, there’s the GRE, and instead of applying for colleges “because their sports teams are good” or “because their campus is pretty,” you’re applying to programs that best suit your academic needs and desires. Essentially, your search is more mature and serious this time around, to reflect the higher stakes and more specific criteria.
Thus, despite having undergone a similar application process for undergrad, grad school can still be a very daunting task. Where do I start? Do I need to go to grad school for my major in order to get a better job? What are the benefits? Can I afford to pay for more schooling? It’s perfectly normal to have these questions, and feelings of confusion shouldn’t overwhelm you; they should guide you. If you haven’t checked in yet with Pat Taylor, our Graduate School Advisor, then I highly suggest you schedule an appointment. But, beyond that, I suggest you stop by the Grad School Forum she’s holding this coming Wednesday, October 26, in the Student Center River Rooms 3102-3105 from 3-6 p.m. With representatives from over 30 colleges and universities attending, there will be a large variety of opportunities to get information on a particular school, program, or just to ask general questions about what best fits you. And, most importantly, remember that while it’s good to have a dream school and your eyes on the prize, it never hurts to look around at what other program’s requirements are. Maybe there’s a program out there that you didn’t even know existed, but it’s perfect for you. Keep an open mind. Ask questions. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Listed below are each of the colleges that will be in attendance on Wednesday. See you there! Caldwell University The City University of New York Clarkson University College of Mount St. Vincent College of St. Rose Columbia University Teachers College CUNY School of Law Drew University - Caspersen School of Graduate Studies Elon University Fairleigh Dickinson University Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service Hofstra University Hofstra University School of Law Levy Economics Insititute of Bard College Long Island University Manhattanville College Manhattanville College, School of Education Marist College Mercy College Mount Saint Mary College New York Institute of Technology The New School NYU Wagner School of Public Service NYU Silver School of Social Work Pace University, Elisabeth Haub School of Law Sacred Heart University The Sage Colleges Seton Hall Law School Seton Hall University, School of Diplomacy and International Programs Springfield College St. John’s Law School St. John’s University University of Hartford University of New Haven William Paterson University
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All too often, when going on a job interview or starting an internship for the first time, young adults stress over the tiniest things; for example, a lot of times they think, “But what will I wear?” And while this is a totally normal thing to be confused about, it also has a very simple resolution. Dressing for a professional business endeavor means that you should aim to look polished and presentable – no holes in your pants or tights, no low-dipping tops, no skirts that you wouldn’t feel comfortable wearing around your grandparents. For guys, this one’s pretty simple. A nice suit with a fitted jacket does the trick, just make sure it’s wrinkle-free and you add a nice tie to the ensemble. For girls, you have a few more options. While you could go with a nice, conservative dress or skirt paired with a blouse, the best option (especially for jobs where you’ll be meeting with clients who will expect you to look professional) is to find a nice pantsuit. A few of the examples here demonstrate what I mean by this, and not only does it catch the eye, but it looks sophisticated and helps build confidence so you can nail that interview/internship/client meeting. Another good option is a nice pencil skirt paired with a blouse and a suit jacket, like Veronica did in the following photos. In addition, keep your eyes peeled as Marist Career Services will be hosting an event on November 15 for students to get their photos taken in a professional environment, and in turn students can then use these photos for their LinkedIn profile. Whatever you choose to wear, wear it with confidence and pride. If you’re emanating these feelings, people will notice, and your day will go that much more smoothly. WHEN: Wednesday, October 12 from 11:30-1:30 WHERE: SC 3102-3105 (rooms right by Nelly Goletti and Student Activities) WHAT: Talk to representatives and professors from each discipline about the possibilities and opportunities in every major/minor offered With over 40 majors and 50 minors to choose from, pinpointing exactly which one is right for you can be a bit overwhelming. In fact, it can feel like if you don’t pick the right one, you’re doomed and bound to spend the rest of your life doing something you don’t like… MAJORS: Well, luckily for you, this is not the case. Not everyone works in their major field after graduation, but what’s even more important to realize is that if you reach out and do a little research now, you could be saving yourself a lot of trouble down the line. Opportunities like this fair give you a chance to reaffirm what it is you’re looking to do with your life now, and what your options are once you finish your education and look to move on to a career. Maybe you’re in the chemistry field, but upon checking out the biology table more in depth, you realize that interests you more. Maybe you thought marketing was your thing, but you actually are more suited for HR. It happens. The good thing is that you have time to fiddle around, and you can change your major pretty late in the game – as long as you’re willing to make up all the credits, even if that means losing free time in the summer or winter. Heck, I even know someone who changed from communications to political science at the start of her junior year, and still graduated right on schedule. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make it a priority right now. There’s no time like the present, and there’s nothing more important to you right now than your major. These are the classes you have to take, the coursework you must complete, and the credits you must achieve. If you look at your DegreeWorks with a sense of dread, maybe you should consider other options. Don’t spend the rest of your time at college dreading every single class. If you feel this way, how will you feel 10 years down the line when you’re doing this kind of work full-time? MINORS: When it comes to minors, this is where I really encourage people to have fun. Maybe you’re interested in something but just can’t see yourself working a job in this profession later on – add it as a minor, so you can still get something out of it – for you. For example, if I could go back and rework my schedule I would really, really try to incorporate a History minor for myself because I dabbled in and out of history classes freshman and sophomore year, but by the time I decided I wanted to add it as a (third) minor, I didn’t have room left in my schedule. History is one of those things that I’ve always loved learning about, but I never wanted to make into my career. Another tip that I wish I’d taken is to pursue a language for your minor. I know what you’re thinking – “Why should I learn a language when English is known virtually everywhere? And what if I plan on working strictly in the United States? A language would be useless.” That’s all good and well, but even if you never leave the U.S., you will deal with people who don’t speak English as well as you do, and there will be times when language acquisition becomes a great aid. Perhaps you’re on the phone with a foreign client, or perhaps you’re showing them around town. Besides, the U.S. is growing increasingly bilingual as more and more people speak Spanish; something you may notice when using an ATM in a major city, or calling a company where they give you options for which language you wish to use. Plus, it’s just plain good for you. It strengthens your brain and can broaden your job opportunities. Proficiency in a foreign language strikes employers as impressive, and can be the extra thing to make you stand out from the pile of other applications, no matter what job position you're going for. After all, if everyone else takes the time to learn our native tongue, shouldn’t we at least make an effort to understand the tongues of others?
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So what are you waiting for? Hopefully not senior year. Take action now! Look at the list of majors and minors Marist offers here:
https://www.marist.edu/academics/programs/ And check out the Majors and Minors Fair this Wednesday, October 12 during activity period in the Student Center rooms 3102-3105 (the big ones right by Nelly Goletti) and start talking to the people who know these programs best! The rest of your life starts right now. (No pressure) So you're going to the Career Fair at school and you're feeling a bit overwhelmed. Maybe it's your first one, or maybe it's your fourth. Either way, it can make you feel a bit nervous and unsure of yourself - "If they don't like me, will I ever get a job?" I can't solve those problems for you, but I can try to help you deal with them. My first time at the career fair was during the spring of my sophomore year so, needless to say, I was utterly confused and frazzled. But I'm here to tell you it gets better, and it's there to help you, so let it. If you're still confused about what to expect or how to act, though, here are some tips: 1. Be personable, not nervous. Treat it like any other time where you were exposed to new acquaintances, like first days of school and such. Try to find connections with the person you’re talking to and use them to continue the conversation. At the end of the day, these "scary business professionals" are just people, and they know exactly how you're feeling. They were once there too. 2. Bring resumes, but don’t expect everyone to take them. It tends to be more common now for them to take down your info somewhere or hand you a business card and tell you to email your resume to them, simply because everything is done online now. Paper applications are all but obsolete. 3. Take a look at the list of who’s coming, and try to do some quick research on the companies you’re most interested in; especially if you’re a senior on the job hunt, because it will just make things flow that much smoother when you can bring up things in conversation about their company. Plus, it will impress them, which is always a bonus. (click to enlarge the photos) 4. Dress professionally, but dress comfortably. Don’t wear those 6-inch heels that you wore to homecoming in high school if you can barely walk in them. Instead, find a nice pair of flats that enable you to get around quicker. Don’t wear something just because it looks fancy hanging in your closet; make sure it fits and is something you feel good in. If you don’t feel confident, you won’t look it. 5. Don’t panic if their booth is swamped. Remember that you are qualified and you have a right to speak to these representatives, too. Don’t give up before you've even had a turn up at bat. 6. You don’t get points for how many business cards you have at the end of the day. It’s quality of your conversations, not quantity of them that counts. And be wary of being that person who laughs at all the jokes a little too loudly, and seems a little too eager... enthusiasm is good, but don't overdo it. 7. Don’t be afraid to talk to companies that interest you, even if they’re not explicitly pertaining to your major and you just want to know more about their company. No shame in that, besides, what have you got to lose? 8. Send "thank you" emails. I cannot stress this enough. In order to retain their interest, you must follow up and acknowledge them with a thank you note!! This can even be the gateway to an internship or job somewhere down the line. In your email, try to mention things you talked about so that you stand out to them and they remember you personally, but don’t overload them. A few sentences is sufficient to jog their memory, keep their attention, and get the wheels spinning. 9. Take a deep breath, and relax. This is the beginning of a new era of your life. Everyone before you has done the same, and they’ve survived. You’re gonna be OK. In fact, you’re gonna be more than OK. You’re going to thrive.
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