(beta) MBA-Profile.com

Graduate school admissions is a seasonal event. Although applications typically are due in December or January, applicants begin the steps entailed in applying months and often a year or more beforehand. It is this time of year that many students begin to think about graduate study and wonder what to do with their lives. Many are college juniors, thinking ahead to their senior year and beyond. Some are people in the work force wondering if they should apply to school this fall. If you're one of these potential applicants, wondering if graduate school is for you, take some time to think it though. Then learn about the parts of a graduate school application.

Is Graduate School for You? originally appeared on About.com Graduate School on Friday, July 30th, 2010 at 05:51:53.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

At first glance, this seems crazy, no? Spend years earning a masters or doctoral degree just to turn around and go back for another degree? It's more common than you think -- and most returning students seek a very specific graduate degree for very specific reasons. Many wait to re-enter graduate school, until it's clear that a new degree is what they need to enter a new career. Julie Miller Vick and Jennifer S. Furlong write about this phenomenon in the Chronicle of Higher Education. Honestly, I once very very briefly considered going back for another degree. Emphasis on brief! I'm glad I didn't, but that's simply because it wasn't the right choice for me. Now or at some point in the future, a second degree might be right for you.

Go Back for a Second Graduate Degree? originally appeared on About.com Graduate School on Wednesday, July 28th, 2010 at 05:47:38.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Don't wait until you're a senior to think about applying to graduate school - often that's too late! Students who are most likely to be accepted to graduate school amass experiences and develop skills over the college years. Reserve your senior year for preparing your applications, not filling in holes in your experience. If you're about to begin your junior year of college, take some time to learn more about what you can do now to improve your odds of getting into graduate school later.

Juniors: Prepare for Graduate Admissions Now originally appeared on About.com Graduate School on Monday, July 26th, 2010 at 05:56:33.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

The prospect of studying for master's or doctoral comprehensive exams can be overwhelming. Cramming all there is to know about a field into your mind and being able to discuss it at a professional level is a huge accomplishment. So where do you begin? Here are some guidelines for preparing for comps.

How to Prepare for Comps originally appeared on About.com Graduate School on Friday, July 23rd, 2010 at 05:08:52.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Many new graduates with doctoral degrees (and sometimes advanced graduate students) embark on postdoctoral fellowships. A postdoc is a research position in which the fellow becomes part of an established scientist's lab, providing postdocs with the opportunity to gain additional research and publishing experience, build their own research programs, learn new techniques, and get their feet wet at grant writing. A good postdoctoral experience can make a young scientist's career. This Chronicle of Higher Education article by Zoe Smith and Ariana Sutton-Grier offers exceptional advice on making the most of your postdoctoral experience.

Make the Most of Your Postdoc originally appeared on About.com Graduate School on Wednesday, July 21st, 2010 at 05:31:38.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Love writing? Contemplating graduate study in creative writing? Take a look at these Master of Fine Arts (MFA) programs in creative writing to locate graduate programs and learn more about program requirements.

Creative Writing MFA Programs originally appeared on About.com Graduate School on Monday, July 19th, 2010 at 14:30:05.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

All academics, myself included, begin the summer with long list of writing tasks and goals. The first week of July, specifically after the 4th, left me with a sense of panic that my summer is slipping away and I won't completely nearly as much as a hope. Yet I still have a month and a half, at least, off. What gives? Kerry Ann Rockquemore makes sense of this odd feeling and explains how to move beyond it to be a productive writer this summer.

Also see: Stop Procrastinating to Complete Your Dissertation

The Summer is Not Yet Over originally appeared on About.com Graduate School on Thursday, July 15th, 2010 at 08:11:42.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Research is king in academia. If you are planning on an academic career, especially as a faculty member in the sciences or social sciences, you'll need to know how to get the funding to complete your research and advance your career. Although advanced for many graduate students, this important article by the Chronicle of Higher Education's David Stone, discusses how to become a successful principal investigator on a grant. Begin early.

Also see: Grant Writing Tips
How Can I Fund My Program?

Becoming a Successful Principal Investigator originally appeared on About.com Graduate School on Wednesday, July 14th, 2010 at 08:08:22.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

A few days ago I rand the following blog post but neglected to include the link to the content I recommended. Ooops!  Sorry! Here it is:

The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), the standardized test of choice for business schools,is undergoing change. A new section on "integrated reasoning" will be added in 2012 and one of the current essay section will be eliminated.For example, the test taker will be presented with a spreadsheet, table, and other information and then asked a series of multiple choice questions. The new section is designed to tap the competencies needed to succeed in management education.

Andrew Mitchell, writing for the Kaplan GMAT Blog discusses the new integrated reasoning section and links to a video from GMAC, the makers of the GMAT exam.

Also see: Introduction to the GMAT

New GMAT Section: Updated Post with Link originally appeared on About.com Graduate School on Tuesday, July 13th, 2010 at 12:56:37.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Have you ever taken an online class - one that is taught over the Internet? I'm teaching a couple of online courses this summer and I've found that new students are often anxious. It's a whole new way of learning - without face-to-face contact. Lack of eye contact doesn't mean that online learning is ineffective. However, you need to be prepared and take an active role in order to ensure that you learn what you need. Here are the three most important things that you can do as an online student to ensure your success:

1. Log into class often. Log in to see the professor's announcements, but also to keep up with the online discussions and other activities. An Internet class requires that you do a lot of reading. Log in often so that you don't fall behind.

2. Ask questions. There is no stupid question. Really. If you have a question about how the course work, at least a handful of other students will have the same question. Also ask questions about the material. If you're unclear about something in the readings and the lecture or discussions haven't helped, ask. In an online class the students have a big role in determining the pace of the class and what is covered. Ask questions.

3. Read before participating. If your online class includes a forum or discussion area in which students are to post and converse with each other, be sure to read before posting. When a student posts without reading, it's obvious to anyone who has read - and irritates students and instructor alike. I've students email to complain about others. It happens. Don't be that student.

Taking an Online Class? Read These 3 Tips originally appeared on About.com Graduate School on Monday, July 12th, 2010 at 05:26:04.

Permalink | Comment | Email this