If you think back to the process you used to choose your college, it might have included collecting factual data on line about costs, majors offered, location, etc., consulting various rating services (U.S. News, Princeton Review), talking to your guidance counselor, parents, and friends, and (we hope) visiting the colleges on your short list. Most students find the campus visit extremely important to forming an accurate impression of what it would be like to attend a college.
Many of these same steps apply to choosing a graduate program or professional school (law school, medical school, business school), but in many ways the stakes are even higher. These graduate programs are usually your direct pathway to your chosen profession. Therefore you want to be very sure the program you choose is consistent with your strengths and goals.
Why visit?
Here are five good reasons to visit the campus:
1. To size up the location, housing, parking, transportation, and facilities (e.g., labs, library, studios, equipment, software)
2. To observe currently enrolled students, possibly in classes
3. To read (physical, cork) bulletin boards for announcements, ads, etc.
4. To talk directly to current students and faculty in the program
5. To get the “inside scoop” about admissions and funding sources—things they will tell you in person but might not want to put in writing
It would be highly desirable to have at least part of a day on campus when classes are in session and faculty are around. To speak with faculty, you should try to make an appointment in advance, making clear that you are serious about the program, have done your “homework,” and want to ask a few more “advanced” questions about the research focus of the department, teaching methods, etc. You will also want to make an appointment to talk to someone in the graduate admissions office—such as an admissions counselor or Assistant Director of Admissions.
Some programs have scheduled “information sessions,” “open house” or visiting days. These can provide excellent opportunities to meet a lot of key people without setting up individual appointments. Tours of facilities are often included.
INSIDE TIP: Take pictures, take notes, and write down the names and titles of people who gave you more than five minutes of their time. Send e-mail thanks to those people with pithy commentary on what you learned about the program on your visit (neutral or positive, of course).
What if you can’t visit, or at least not right now?
UMBC has deans or admissions officers from many graduate and professional schools visiting our campus to meet with students. You are wise to attend these extremely convenient and zero cost events, even if the school presenting is not on your very short list. What can you accomplish by attending these presentations and the Q and A following?
1. You can learn about their admissions criteria in more detail than is published on a website. For example, admissions staff will usually tell how many students apply, how many are offered admission, average GPA of admitted applicants, and typical application pitfalls.
2. You can learn more about the curriculum, philosophy, and history of the program.
3. You can learn about upcoming changes (such as expanding to a branch campus, requiring a field placement, etc.)
4. You can learn what types of students the program is eager to recruit.
5. You can learn about how successful the program’s graduates are in finding placements in the field and how the school supports their job search process.
6. You can strike up a rapport with the speaker and exchange business cards. Follow up later with an e-mail with supplementary questions.
Another very good option is to attend a graduate or professional school
“fair” either at UMBC or elsewhere. These events provide an opportunity to talk to the representatives of multiple schools and programs on one occasion. They may also include “how to apply” workshops.
Examples of upcoming opportunities
- Wednesday, October 26
Presentation by University of Maryland School of Pharmacy
Dr. Jill Morgan, Assoc. Professor and Dr. Wanda Williams, Instructor
Sponsored by UMBC Pre-Pharmacy Club
Lecture Hall 3, UMBC
12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Free, open to all, no pre-registration required
- Wednesday, November 2
Schools of Public Health Visit Day
Meet with representatives from all the accredited schools of public health and attend a workshop on applying to these schools.
Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Washington, D.C.
8:30 am to 1:00 pm
Free, register here: http://www.asph.org/visitday/RegistrationForm.cfm
- Wednesday, November 9
Presentation by Michele Hayes, JD, LLM, Director of Student Recruiting
University of Maryland Carey School of Law
Learn about admissions criteria, programs, and a new emphasis on environmental law.
Sponsored by the UMBC Pre-Law Society
Room 208 Public Policy Building
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Free, open to all, no pre-registration required
- Saturday, November 12
University of Maryland School of Law Open House
The event will feature a panel program, tours, table-talk information sessions and a catered reception. Learn about programs, career development, financing your education, specialized areas of study, housing, and joint degree programs.
500 West Baltimore Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Free, registration is required, space limited: click on link to register:
http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=223501
- Wednesday, November 16
Graduate School 101 Seminar
Meet representatives from area graduate schools and attend seminars about the application process such as “Preparing for Graduate Admissions Examinations (GRE)” and “Funding your Graduate Education.” Also hear from a panel of current graduate students.
Stevenson University campus, Rockland Center
Owings Mills, Maryland
Sponsored by the Maryland Careers Consortium (includes at least 14 Maryland 4-year colleges, including UMBC)
Free, register here: http://marylandcareerconsortium.org/gradschool101
EXTRA CREDIT BONUS QUESTION:
If you can't get away to visit a prospective grad or professional school this fall, what are two other ways to make a personal connection with the program?
