Graduate School

The norm is that students will achieve an undergraduate degree and at some point will go for a master’s degree.  There are a variety of thoughts about graduate school and setting goals.

When to go for a graduate degree?

Some suggest going for a graduate degree immediately after your undergraduate degree.  Reasons might include:  

• You are used to studying
• You won’t have to interrupt your work/life
• Build your resume and experiences before seeking your first real job
• Continuity with professors, mentors, university
• Before you have a spouse and a family, and job responsibilities that may keep you from continuing

There are those that suggest waiting a few years before going for a graduate degree.  Their reasons might be:

• Gain some maturity before attempting graduate work
• Save up some money
• Have a better direction of where you are going and why you are going for a graduate degree
• Gain some professional experiences
• Work with your employer to get funding for your graduate work

Where to go for a graduate degree?

I suggest going to a new campus, a new environment.  Get out of your comfort zone. If you have been at college/university A for four years as an undergraduate, try university B for your graduate work.  Studies also suggest that it isn’t necessarily the school and the reputation of the school as it is YOU. There are CEOs who went to less prestigious state universities and there are CEOs who went to Harvard and Yale.  Malcolm Gladwell suggests that there is a “Big Fish in a Small Pond” possibility where going to a less prestigious university may actually be better than being a second class student with super over-achievers at a prestigious university.

I tend to be in the second group.  Having taught MBA (Master of Business Administration) courses, the students in a class with experience are generally head and shoulders better than those who just finished their undergraduate degrees and do not have many real-world experiences.  MBA (and other graduate programs) expect students to think and be able to solve problems. Gaining experiences that will help you think critically and solve real problems are generally best with business experiences, not just academic experiences.  

The emphasis switches from gaining knowledge to applying knowledge and thinking critically.  First jobs are generally not leadership positions, but managerial jobs need critical thinking and that frequently comes two ways – academic challenges and real-world experiences.  If a goal is to be a leader or a manager, then getting an advanced degree is important.  

And a comment about MBA degrees:  An MBA is a business degree. But … ultimately your job is in a ‘business’.  So, you are an engineer and you work in an engineering department or engineering company, but as you move up in the organization the skills become more leadership, people skills, accounting/finance/ business skills; marketing of your services – which are business skills and in the MBA program.  Can you get an MBA without an undergraduate business degree? Yes. You might have to take some remedial classes (some basic accounting or basic finance courses). Even in an engineering consulting practice, you need to balance the books, send invoices, collect payments, pay staff and do all the business processes. 

Quote: If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no. If you don’t step forward, you’re always in the same place. – Nora Roberts

Senior Year

Senior Year:  Keep your focus!!!  End strong.

You have been goal setting, keeping your attitude positive, networking, imaging your success for four years.  Let’s put some other obstacles in your way.

I know many people in their forties (give or take) that hate their job and their lives.  Maybe they are stuck in a job that goes nowhere, but with a family, a mortgage, car payments, braces, glasses, health issues, they think they can’t switch jobs and start over.  These people are also facing other issues – like having been out of college for several years, they have lost some of their technical skills. They have failed to ‘sharpen the sword’ and feel like they have a mountain to overcome to get back into the field.  Or, it might be a female who has taken time off to raise and nurture a family. And, a comment, if you ‘hate’ your job – that also is an attitude issue – adjust your attitude and talk to yourself. There are aspects of almost every job that are negative. Adjust your attitude and beat the problems.  For me, there are times when things seem bad, and if I can sleep on it, my attitude becomes better in the morning - and the problems become smaller!!! (I can even do that with a good nap!!)

As you go off into the work world, really work on what makes sense for you.  Do you want to be an entrepreneur? Would you prefer a small or large company?  What about work/life balance? The time it might take to get promoted? Getting experience in multiple areas (aside – some companies have leadership development programs where you in several departments over two to three years to really get to know the company). 

Time management:  Don’t lose sight of ‘the prize’ – that is graduation.  You may be out interviewing and could miss classes – make sure you communicate with potential employers about not wanting to miss classes and with faculty so they know that you are out interviewing.

In my experience, most companies like to hire new college graduates in the fall semester =- to start work right after graduation (assuming a traditional four-year/eight-semester program), so the fall semester can be a busy time with interviews and classes.  Also, many companies like to hire those that interned with them the previous summer.

Many students come into college with advanced placement credits.  Thus many students might have a lighter course load during their senior year.  Some students opt for early graduation and others opt for the lighter load. I suggest filling the lighter load with additional experiences.  Take more courses, get an additional minor, take some courses in other departments, take a psychology class about getting along with others, take an art class, take a biology class, take a computer class.  In many colleges, you can take a class as a “Pass / Fail” if you don’t want to work hard enough for an “A” – but sometimes you will slack off in a pass/fail class, so taking it as a graded class can keep you learning.  

This year is the LAST year that you are not working until you retire.  Find some friends and do a special spring break trip. Try some other adventurous activities.  Skydiving? Hiking the Grand Canyon?

As you make that transition to the workplace, add to your network.  Find new mentors. (And … be sure to thank your faculty mentors – take them for lunch to say ‘thanks’).

Adjust your goals for your new life.

As you leave, remember back to the adage that “College is the best four years of our life”.  Some students manage to never take an 8:00 class; never have a Friday class (three-day weekends are so nice!!); manage to avoid tough challenges.  Hopefully, you did keep the end in mind and forged on to meaningful experiences.  

And … continue to give back – and give thanks for those that have helped you on your way.  Honor your parents for their commitment to you (assuming they did); honor your professors, staff, and others on campus that made learning worthwhile.  

Continuing tomorrow - with graduate school - should you go right away or not?

Back to School - Junior Year

As part of my Back to School Series, I am giving my insights (opinion) about things that could be done in the academic years.

Today - the Junior Year

Junior Year:  Getting closer to graduation.

Internship:  You should (must?) have an internship this summer.  Even if you did an internship last summer, it is vital to get one this summer.  The next summer you will be a college graduate (assuming you do the ‘four-year’ route!!!).

What to expect. Find an internship that matches you and your goals.  Yes, it might be nice to get one with a prestigious company; yes, it might be nice to get the highest pay – but find a meaningful internship.  See if you can find previous interns from the companies you are investigating and talk to them. Did they do ‘real work’? Getting coffee, picking up donuts and making copies is not real work.  (Unless your goal is to be an administrative assistant).

Some times, smaller companies give the best internships - as you get to see many different parts of the company, not just doing work in one department.  

Will you have access to managers and even higher-ups managers?  Understand the ‘mission, vision, values’ of the company.  

Do NOT take an unpaid internship.  Yes, you can learn if you do an unpaid internship.   The author strongly feels that you should get paid.  When you get paid, the company expects you to deliver real value to the company.  For unpaid internships, you might get asked to do menial activities – because, after all, you are ‘free help’.  Paid internships help build character – show up on time, work hard, be of value.  

Get started early – and lean on your mentors and your network.  Ultimately you will decide on which company and where. But you need your mentors and network’s support.

Many companies use internships for the “try-before-you-buy” evaluation.  If you like the company, build your rapport so that you can receive a job offer either when you leave the summer internship or in the fall during the prime new hiring season.

And, realize that you are being watched and evaluated through the whole internship.  This is the ‘try-before-you-buy’ concept. If the company takes the interns for a social event, don’t guzzle beer - this is not your fraternity’s party day.  Smile - always; be on time - always; work late - if that is okay; volunteer for extra things; build rapport; ask questions about the job and the environment. For you this is like dating - is this the ‘company’ you want to marry?

Extras: 

Approach your mentor to see if you can do a joint faculty/student academic paper for a conference or journal.

While the author is suggesting not to do an internship with a non-profit company, but it can also be beneficial for you to work for a non-profit.  It will broaden your horizons.

Approach your mentor or professors to be a teaching assistant.  To be remarkable, you need to be able to interact, to be independent and to solve problems.

And … it is time for you to give back.  In your organizations, take a leadership role.  Be a mentor to freshmen students, be a ‘big brother’ or ‘big sister’ in the community.  Help on a ‘Habitat for Humanity’ project. This is your year to become a leader - not a follower!!

Study Abroad:

If you didn’t do a study abroad before, this might be your last chance.  In your senior year, you should be focusing on graduation and first real jobs.  Yes, they can be expensive. You have to work on the experience to make the value meaningful.  For example, a former student, Joe, did his internship in England but made trips to Scotland, France, Germany, Italy (and probably other areas) on his study abroad experience.  In Europe (especially), trains are frequent and student passes are reasonable. Get out of your dorm room!! Live life. Yes, go to the tourist places, but also go to local places.  Go to local churches, local bars, local music events like you were a native.  

Karen

Back to School - Sophomore Year

I’m doing a series of ‘back to school’ (meaning college).  Today, we are looking at things to do in the Sophomore Year!!

-1 First - keep working with your mentor.  Now, you might need to change your primary mentor.  Most of the Freshman year classes are more general but by your sophomore year, you start to get into your major courses.  If you haven’t found a mentor, or need to change your mentor this is a good time. Get a mentor that will stick with you (if possible) until you graduate.  

Stop by and just chat with your mentor every other week.  (Hint, you might find what the mentor likes to drink - and bring in a cup of coffee or tea or a soft drink).  This doesn’t have to be long, maybe 10 to 15 minutes. But, you are building rapport with somebody that can help you in your career.

-2 Network, network, network.  The campuses I have been on have speaker programs.  So, if you are majoring in (say) chemistry, find out when a chemistry person is speaking on campus.  Sometimes, such a person might speak to the Chemistry Club (if there is such a group on your campus).  If your campus holds a job fair, go to that and meet the various company representatives that are there in your field.  

-3 Academics.  Keep going with your grades.  Some companies only take students with overall grade point averages of 3.5 or higher.  Keeping your grades high is important.

-4 Socialize.  In my view on freshman year, I suggested work, work, work for the fall semester.  But, by sophomore year, you can work on your ‘people skills’. Join campus organizations (not too many) that relate to you - both it the academic and social areas.  I was in academic groups as well as in a social fraternity.  

People-skills (or soft-skills) refer to being able to converse with almost anybody.  Work on smiling, work on your body language, work on your handshake. Is your voice pleasing?  If not, work on that.  

-5 Take some tough classes and tough teachers.  Yes, going to college means going to classes. Too many students look for ‘easy-classes’ - maybe with teachers who give easy grades, or overlook absences.  Take some tough classes (especially in your major). An adage I like is “The turtle only makes progress by sticking his neck out”. If you take tough classes with tough teachers, you may need to work on networking and mentoring with that faculty member.  Go to their office hours, Get to know them!!!

-6 Tests and grades.  By now, you should be able to really anticipate what will be on tests.  What has been important in this class? Read, be able to discuss.  

[Aside, I took three classes from the same professor in history.  In the first class, I worked really hard. I asked for good and pertinent questions.  I got to know the professor well In the second class I took from her, I didn’t have to work as hard and still got my A grade.  And, in the third class, she knew - that I knew the material and I definitely didn’t work as hard and still got an A.]

-7 Summer job/internships

If you can get a summer job or an internship in your major field after your sophomore year, that is fantastic!!!  Get started on that in the fall semester with your advisor/mentor. (And, I shouldn’t have to say this - get paid for that experience!!!)

-8 Are you in the right major?

Are you in the right major?  If you aren’t in the right major for you, it is better to switch now (in your sophomore year than trying to do so in your junior or senior years.  I know students who graduated with their degrees and went out on their first jobs - and hated it!!!

-9 Study Abroad.

Study abroad experiences are great.  You live and attend school in a different culture and maybe in a different language.  Broaden your perspectives with a Study Abroad experience

And a quote from Calvin Coolidge - our 30th President of the United States

Quote:  Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan Press On has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.  Calvin Coolidge

Freshman Year - Part II

Back to School - Freshman Year - part II

Continuing our Back to School series

Freshman Year - Part II

Take notes.
In high school, I can’t really remember taking notes, in college I always took notes.

But, this is more than just taking notes in class!! Take notes over your book. I remember a learning expert who said that highlighting material in your textbook is nice - pretty pink or yellow highlight does make the text stand out - but writing it down really makes the difference.

Get your body involved in the learning process. Reading (using your eyes), taking notes (using your hands - the sense of touch); listening to the instructor (using your ears). If you are taking notes in your room, stand up occasionally.

After taking notes (in your room), stand up, walk around your room and read your notes back - ALOUD!!!

Determine WHAT is important.
In class, watch your professor’s body language and listen carefully. When a particular topic is important, most likely the professor will pause before and after making a statement. I know a good friend who stomped his feet when he made an important point. That was like: HINT - THIS WILL BE ON THE TEST.

As you read in the text, catch the BOLD words - look at the subheadings.

And, after class, after reading, after studying - as yourself (without looking at the notes) - “What is really important from today’s lecture, readings?

Networking / Mentoring
We have talked about these in the past. In your freshman year, get a mentor (like a faculty advisor), and start building your network. Go to your professor’s office hours at least once in the first two weeks to introduce yourself. Yes, in the past you might have been accused of trying to be a teacher’s pet - but this is college - it is okay to get to know your teachers and for them to get to know you!!!