Welcome! SCSU Students School of Graduate Studies St. Cloud State University Tuesday, April 16, 2013 Presented by: Annette Day Director of Graduate Admissions

Why Get a Master’s Degree?  Advance your career  Make more money  Empowers one to be an expert in a field/discipline  Pursue a love of learning  In today’s economy, highly knowledgeable people have edge over the competition  Graduate students are recognized as those who understand the need to keep pace with the changing workplace  Master’s programs provide a stepping stone to doctoral programs

Types of graduate schools  Research  Comprehensive  Private  Proprietary

How to choose a graduate school?  The most important factor should be how well the graduate program fits your particular interests, academic background, and goals.  Talk with faculty members at your undergraduate school to see where they completed their master’s and what they know about graduate programs in their fields.  Do you feel a connection to the campus department?  Do you feel you will be offered a mentoring relationship?

How many schools should be explored?  Safe schools (at least 2) 1/3 of your applications  Probably/Maybe schools (at least 2) 1/3 of your applications  Reach schools (at least 2) 1/3 of your applications

What are graduate programs looking for in a student?  Solid academics  Relevant work experience  Positive recommendations  Encouraging evaluations from faculty  Acceptable to strong score on standardized tests  Your professional goals  Want to know your academic interests

Some Good Advice  Start early so you are not rushed through tests and applications  Investigate all your options consider distance and satellite programs  Talk to everyone gather input and information from professors, professionals, family and friends  Trust yourself be confident you can achieve your dreams and to find a program that matches your needs and interests

When To Apply?  Check with your desired program. Deadlines are often set by programs.  Visit campuses the end of your junior year and over the summer  Start the application process early in your final year of undergraduate education.  Take the GRE or GMAT early in your final undergraduate year  Double check that all materials and forms have been submitted

Helpful websites to begin your search      programs.html programs.html  programs.html programs.html  programs.html oArea.aspx programs.html oArea.aspx

What to submit?  Basic materials  Application  Application fee  Requested test scores  Recommendation forms or letters  Statement of Intent

What to submit  Additional materials  Resume/vitae  Portfolio  Writing samples  Supplemental program application, music performance video  Interview  Doctoral- personal or department members  Master’s- group with department members

Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT)  A standardized test required for applicants to an MBA program  Contains a Verbal section, Quantitative section, and two analytical writing sections  The verbal and quantitative sections range from 200 to 800 and are rounded to the nearest ten  The analytical writing score ranges from 0 to 6 in half- point intervals  You can visit to register for the examination and access free preparation softwarehttp://  The GMAT cost is $250 in the United States

Graduate Record Exam (GRE)  A standardized test that plays a role in the graduate admissions process  Contains a Verbal section, Quantitative section, and two Analytical writing sections  The verbal and quantitative sections range from 130 to 170 in 1 point increments  The analytical writing scores range from 0-6 in half- point increments  You can visit for free preparation materials and test taking strategieshttp://  The GRE cost is $160 in the United States

How to write a statement of intent  Think of your statement of intent as an extended and formal answer to the question, “Tell me about yourself…”  Your statement should be at a minimum 1- 1 ½ pages long  Opening paragraph- Introduce yourself and your reasons for pursuing graduate studies. Briefly discuss your academic, professional, and volunteer background  Qualifications (1-3 paragraphs)- Build a foundation for your forthcoming work  Closing- Leave your reader with a statement of your perceived qualifications and why you will be successful in graduate school

Recommendation Letters  Three recommendation letters/forms is the standard across schools  It is recommended that two of the recommendation letters come from previous or current professors, and the remaining recommendation come from an employer or internship site manager

How are admissions decisions made?  1. Reviewed in the department of graduate school office  2. Reviewed by department committee or chair  3. Depends on competitiveness of the program  Score requirements  GPA requirements  4. A student’s entire profile is then reviewed  Undergraduate GPA  GPA in major  Internships  Volunteer history

How are admissions decisions made, cont’d…  Employment/career history  Recommendation letters  Essay or statement of intent  GRE or GMAT scores  Interview

Financing your education Grants and loans  This aid may come from the institution, state government, the federal government, or sometimes your employer  Assistantships  Teaching- Teach with a full-time Professor or you may teach your own class  Research- Spend your time performing research in a specific field or study  Graduate- Tasks can vary from grading papers to managing an office

Teaching, Research, Graduate Assistant Benefits  SCSU - 8 credit tuition waiver per semester, and $10,000 stipend per academic year  U of M - Each department has their own funding; therefore, tuition and stipends vary. Most GA’s get full tuition waiver and health insurance benefits. The average salary for 20 hours work/week is $16,000 per academic year  UMD - Tuition is covered and all or portion of University fees

Assistantships, cont’d…  NDSU - Each department has a specific amount of funding each year; therefore, each GA tuition/stipend varies on which department they work in  UND - The amount of tuition waived varies department by department, can range from 1-12 credits. For a stipend, if you work 20 hours/week you receive $1, per month and 10 hours/week you receive $ per month  St. Thomas - Fellowships offer tuition waiver and stipend; Research assistants receive $1,500 at the end of semester, and Teaching Mentors receive $1,200 at the end of semester

How to stand out?  Connect with a Professor  Build a relationship by asking questions and commenting on articles and their work  Send your vitae  Visit the program and graduate coordinator  Submit outstanding writing samples. Portfolio, etc  Discuss culminating project  Thesis- Your personal research and findings  Literature Review- A critical evaluation of material that has already been published  Portfolio- A collection of outstanding work you have completed

Best wishes to you and in your academic endeavors!