What Am I Supposed to Be Doing Again? Part III: Professional Development During Junior Year9/26/2019 You’re at the halfway point of your college career and hopefully have some idea of where you would like your postgraduate path to begin. It’s likely that there are many options out there for you to choose from. Do you want to continue your education in graduate school, seek out research and fellowship programs, enter the workforce, or take another route? Each choice has its benefits. During your junior year you can begin to market the skills and experiences that you have acquired to attain the goals you have for your future. Here are just some of the ways you can seek assistance from the career coaches and staff members in the Center for Career Services at this point in your college years. Get Assistance Applying for Graduate School If you’re looking toward going to graduate school you should start researching programs and institutions right at the start of junior year or earlier. The application process involves a lot of introspection even before you begin drafting your application materials. Graduate School and Fellowship Advisor Pat Taylor specifically assists Marist students in their preparation for continuing postgraduate education. Pat Taylor works with students on their personal statements and other essays during one-on-one appointments in the Center for Career Services. You can schedule an appointment with her in FoxQuest. Test preparation is essential. You might be required to take the GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) or the LSAT (Law School Admissions Test) for example. Similar to when you took the SAT or ACT before you applied to college, it’s best to schedule these graduate school entrance exams multiple times to ensure that you receive a high enough score to get in to your desired program. Find out About Fellowships and Scholarships Fellowships and scholarships provide financial aid to your postgraduate academic endeavors. Some of these awards give students the ability to travel to different parts of the world or do research in a field of their interest. Marist students have received nationally competitive scholarships including the Barry Goldwater Scholarship for students pursuing STEM research careers, Udall Undergraduate Scholarship for students committed to environmental issues, and the Marshall Scholarship that funds two years of postgraduate study in the United Kingdom. The Fulbright Scholarship has many components as well, including an English Teaching Assistantship that places students in primary and secondary schools or universities overseas. Left to right: Tess Cimino and Daniel Knoll, both of the Marist College Class of 2019, were awarded Fulbright English Teaching Assistantships. Liana Frasca '19 went to Italy after earning a spot in the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. There is most likely some type of fellowship or scholarship that aligns with your goals. Pat Taylor also advises students in this area, so make an appointment with her to set and execute your plan to apply for these awards. Reach out to Marist Alumni to Make New Connections If career planning is still making you anxious know that you are not alone. A lot of Marist College alumni were once in your shoes and you can reach out to many of them through the Alumni Career Network. Members of the Alumni Career Network give professional development advice on topics such as practice interviews, job or internship referrals, workplace shadowing, and more, to Marist students and fellow alumni. You can access and search the Alumni Career Network through your MyMarist account. Search for alumni who work in your desired field using filters such as major, graduation year, location, and more. The Alumni Career Network will give you a list of all the Marist alumni that meet your search criteria as well as their preferred contact information. Marist alumni are often the most important resources during the job and internship search. You should consider reaching out to one of the alumni for an informational interview to learn about the industry, culture, and positions of the organization they work for. In our final post of this series we will discuss your senior year, a time where you can ease the transition from college life to the professional workforce.
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