By Sabrina
I wrote a blog post (coming soon) about my reflections on grad school as a whole. However, I wanted to start at the beginning and explain why I chose the program I did. As the title states above, this is just my personal story. There are lots of different paths, but I wanted to break down the process for those interested and expand on how I broke down the four big questions about applying to grad schools and programs. The Big Questions to Consider
My Answers When I started my undergrad program at Seattle University (SU), I knew exactly what I wanted my career to be: high school English teacher. I even double majored in Humanities for Teaching and English to cover all my bases. While some undergrad Education majors allow you to graduate with your teaching certification, mine didn’t. This was a critical piece necessary for me to actually get into a classroom, either as a teacher or a substitute. So yes, I needed additional education to get a job in my field. This is where I started to explore my options: I could either get just my teaching certification which could take around 6 months; or I could get my master's in teaching in a year or two, giving me both a master's degree (meaning a larger paycheck) and my teaching certification. Pretty quickly, I decided that I was going to go straight from undergrad into my master’s program, instead of taking some time off of school. At the time, I was already used to being in school and assumed that while grad school would be more challenging, it would be similar to undergrad. I’m also the type of person who wants to see something all the way to the end; plus, I knew if I didn’t do it then, it was extremely unlikely I would return later. Fueled by chasing after the requirements for my dream job, and not knowing what else I would do instead, I began the search for a master’s program that could get me my teaching certification and my master's in education. There were three obvious options with the program I wanted: Seattle U, a large public school, and a small private liberal arts school as a back-up. My original plan was to apply to SU and the larger school, however I wanted additional options and struggled to find them as I researched on my own. Ultimately, I only applied to SU’s program, purely because the larger school’s website was almost impossible to find information on, and I missed the application date. To be overly honest, I even created my application for SU halfway through January and submitted it on February 1st for the priority deadline. The whole idea of applying to grad school was terrifying and overwhelming, and I procrastinated a lot but still finished strong. The Application Process There will be different requirements for different programs, however some things will remain the same for most. It is pretty standard to submit your academic transcript, a one-page Personal Statement, and 2-3 letters of recommendation from professors or other references. If you are struggling with the application process, I found going to the Career Engagement Office helpful, as they are a valuable resource for post-graduate applications. Additionally, I also looked for a professor or mentor in my department. I was lucky enough to rely on one of my Humanities for Teaching professors for advice and guidance throughout the application process. In terms of the Personal Statement, I sent my statement to multiple colleagues at the Writing Center and my professor to get different perspectives and advice as I made hundreds of small adjustments trying to perfect it. I wanted to ensure that anyone would be able to read my Personal Statement and understand what I was saying, not just people from my discipline. I would suggest using a personal voice in your writing so the reader can see who you are, especially since the rest of your application is very analytical, but ultimately, it’s up to you and how you feel most comfortable writing. If I had applied to multiple schools, I would have created different Personal Statements to be more tailored to each program’s values and focus. Another great potential option is to write confidently; you are your own worst enemy! Once your application is submitted, there is nothing to do but wait. If you pass the first round, you will typically be called in for an interview. I personally found the Career Engagement Office to be especially helpful for interview prep. In some programs, there may even be a second or third round of interviews. These interviews can also range from group interviews with other applicants to personal interviews. I was invited to my interview two weeks after submitting my application and had my interview on a Saturday at the end of February. Interviews will typically be in person, unless you are unable to physically be there, but mine was still close enough to the pandemic that it was held virtually. I was lucky enough to hear back about my acceptance at the beginning of March, about a week or two after my interview. While this is just my path and experience, there are lots of different ways to continue or return to education and follow different paths. I wish you the best of luck on your journey. You can accomplish so much and overcome so much more!
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January 2024
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