Graduate School PreparationAre you ready?

ERAU Career Services Office www.erau.edu/career

Why go to grad school?Why go to grad school?

• Continue education directly after receivingContinue education directly after receiving undergraduate degree

• Professionals return to further their education• Professionals return to further their education and open new promotion/career opportunities

S i li i ifi• Specialize in a specific area 

• Strengthen job security

• Part of path to future career (professor, doctor, lawyer)y )

Education DifferencesEducation Differences

Graduate Education Undergraduate EducationGraduate Education• Specialized Education• Clear academic & career

Undergraduate Education

• Broader Education

• First stepping stone toClear academic & career goals

• Fewer classes & shorter 

• First stepping stone to career

• Heavier class load peroverall time commitment M i t hi h

• Heavier class load per semester and longer time commitment• More intense, higher 

level coursework & expectations

• Average outcomes are accepted easierp

Benefits of Higher‐level EducationBenefits of Higher level Education

• More specialized education studies andMore specialized education studies and research opportunities

• Allows more mastery of skillsAllows more mastery of skills• Can expand career options • Could create greater marketability• Could create greater marketability• Entry‐level to teaching at a university levelHi h l i• Higher salary over career progression

• Lower unemployment rates

Bureau of Labor Statistics, http://www.bls.gov/emp/emptab7.htm,  5/27/10

Career ConsiderationsCareer ConsiderationsExperience before graduate school

Flow‐through or no experience before graduate schoolschool

• Specialize in career area of interest

before graduate school• Not as clear of areas of 

interest/specializationd l bl• More mature perspective 

on graduate level studies and application

• Education not as applicable due to little, if any, professional experienceP i ll l i &and application

• Typically more career options due to having 

• Potentially lower income & fewer opportunities initially

• Educationally qualified but i i ll lifi d

p gexperience

• Command higher salaries

experientially not  as qualified• Extremely important to 

participate in undergraduate d/ d t l land/or graduate level 

internships before graduating

Grad School ResourcesGrad School Resources

• Peterson’s Guide

i i• Princeton Review

• Faculty – ERAU and/or other universities of interest

• ERAU Career Services website ‐http://www.erau.edu/career/grad_school.html 

Graduate SchoolGraduate School Admissions Process

Keith A. Deaton Jr.Student Center Annex Rm. 260 Keith Deaton@erau edu orKeith.Deaton@erau.edu or 

386.226.7166

Documents NeededDocuments Needed

o Application‐App feeo Application App. fee

o Statement of Objective/Intent

/Co Resume/CV

o Letters of Recommendation

o GRE or GMAT

o Official Transcriptso Official Transcripts

o Essay or interview if required

ERAU RequirementsERAU Requirements

o Application‐App Fee waived if you come too Application App. Fee waived if you come to my office

o Statement of Objectiveo Statement of Objective

o Resume

o Transcripts (I get these, no charge)

o Three letters of recommendation

o GMAT or GRE‐depends on program

Questions to AskQuestions to Ask

o Can you waive application fee?o Can you waive application fee? 

o What exams are required?

i hi h l hi ff d d ho Assistantships or scholarships offered and how to apply?

o Prerequisites and how long will it take to complete?

o When are the deadlines to apply?