About Career Blog

To grad school, or to elsewhere? That is the question.

I refrained from imparting too much of my personal bias into my last entry, so this one will be a little more subjective. For many students today, grad school seems an inevitable and necessary step in the transition from their early twenties to full-blown adulthood. The constant advancement of one's education is certainly a noble goal, and one I believe we should all make an attempt to attain. However, education is not a commercial product, and it does not need to be obtained from any one specific place. Too few people seem to realize this, blindly hurtling themselves into several relatively aimless years of formal university instruction in a particular subject because, well, that's just what people are supposed to do. However, the decision to attend a graduate program, as natural as it may seem, is not one to be taken lightly, especially if you're unsure of your commitment to the degree. If you were never passionate about your undergraduate degree, don't launch your graduate career in the same field just because it'll be easier than following an educational path you have a legitimate and lasting interest in. If you're unsure of where you want life to take you in these next few years, don't attend grad school as an idle exercise. Take a year or two off. Travel the world. Read the classics. Work odd jobs. Learn to count cards. Occupy yourself in whatever way you see fit -- odds are, it'll be less costly and more fulfilling than a graduate degree you have zero real interest in. If you're positive that grad school is the right thing for you, by all means, dive right in. But if you're feeling the pressure in that cap and gown, take a moment to relax and weigh your options -- it's then, many say, that the real learning takes place. Grad school will always be there, but youth is fleeting. Take a break and live a little, if that's what your gut tells you. You'll thank yourself when you're too old to do anything but be settled and studious.

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Posted by Brian on 7/18/2009 08:45:00 PM
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Should I Change my Career Plans Because of the Recession?

So, you are not doing exactly what you intended after graduating from college? Welcome to the club. Perhaps you have plans to pursue a different career or go to graduate school, but with the recession in full swing, should you put your plans on the back burner for a while?

First, you should consider your finances. If you want to pursue a new career all together, or just a different position within the same industry in which you are currently working, hunker down. It may take a while given the current environment. Be sure you can pay your bills before making any moves – and having a little extra cushion in your bank account is a good idea too.

If you are thinking about graduate school, well, where there’s a will there’s a way. To lessen the financial burden, begin to research financial aid packages and scholarships. You may even want to consider part-time graduate programs that will allow you to continue working. But, if you are not entirely sure what you really want to be when you grow up, don’t pursue grad school until you’ve made up your mind.

In this tough job market, it may be unwise to give up a decent job. Of course, if being a bartender is sucking the life out of you, then you should probably make a change, even if it means working at the internet café down the street. However, if you are securely employed in a position that you can tolerate, make the best of it, learn as much as you can, and network with your colleagues to build your connections.

Whether you choose to keep your current position for the short-term or not, continue researching the industry in which you’d like to work. Subscribe to professional journals, read relevant blogs, attend networking events and professional association meetings. And, ask everyone you know to introduce you to professionals within that industry who could provide you with some career guidance. Every connection you make now will help you be better positioned to make a good career move when the economy rebounds.

In the meantime, maybe you’ll get lucky and find your dream job, or a way out of a career sinkhole, or maybe win the lottery… But if there was ever a time look before leaping, it's now. Good luck!

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Posted by Seymour Jobs on 6/05/2009 03:56:00 PM
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Comps

Why am I posting so much? Because I am settled in, working on my study guides for comps. I am 2/3 the way through one guide, for one of my three classes. I should have it finished by tonight/tomorrow.

I am totally burned out. I can't focus on job searching or anything really because I am stressing out about comps. Not fun.

It's spring break, and I am going to try to take a break by the pool for an hour before coming back for my weekend date with my laptop and four binders of notes.

its about 60 days until graduation. Just have to remember I am going on vacation immediately after....

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Posted by Christina on 3/08/2008 11:35:00 AM
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Motivation, Why Have You Left Me?

I have been so stressed out with all my work that my independent study is completely on the back burner, as is my job search. It's not that I can't get it done, or get started, I am just in that part of the semester where I am worn out, burned out and unmotivated.

It doesn't help that my last spring break ever will be spent in the library, studying for comps while everyone else is partying.

boooooo

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Posted by Christina on 3/02/2008 10:38:00 PM
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Getting It Done

I was looking at my schedule the next few months and the first thought was, "how am I going to get all this done? why did I do this to myself?"
I think we are all familiar with that form of panic. It didn't help that I have been sick, and as a result not getting any exercise, and I had to attend two weddings this weekend, which meant I got nothing else done.

So today I finished my work at my assistantship early, so I got some research done for my independent study, did two weeks of tourism homework and emailed out to people about my events. It's not going to get any easier until May when I am done, but I need to remember to do a little every day so that I don't freak out and drop it all.

I just need to write out my MBO (management by objective) for each class to get my schedule down.

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Posted by Christina on 1/29/2008 03:31:00 PM
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Welcome 2008!

Happy new year everyone!
I have been talking about resolutions, and here are my professional/school ones:

1. Concentrate on the present while planning for the future.
2. Start prospecting for jobs, beginning March/early April.
3. Streamline my resume since I am only applying for jobs within a certain field.
4. Start prepping early for comps and graduation.
5. Actually go to meetings and mixers with PRSSA (to my defense, last semester they were all during class time)


I'm ready to start the new year!

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Posted by Christina on 1/02/2008 11:04:00 AM
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Blending Theory With Reality

I had my internship review today, and it went really well! It is nice to know that real practitioners think I am on the path to success

. It's always great to hear that from friends or professors, but when actual people in the industry have faith, it's an awesome feeling.
I am also excited because I am going to start doing analysis of survey results and present them, AND I am researching the value of internet video and other new media for my internship (which is conveniently going to be the focus of my independent study next semester.)

I get to write up the proposal to launch video and other forms of new media on our internet media center, and my research will be the start of the white paper. How awesome!

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Posted by Christina on 12/10/2007 11:19:00 PM
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Buried

So the past two weeks have been crazy, with projects, work and school. On top of all this, I have had a few people come and visit, and what a breath of fresh air! Having guests has forced me to get out and have fun and disconnect from all the stress in my life.

It is so easy to bog yourself down with school that you don't even realize how stressed out you are, or how burnt out you are.

This week I celebrated Halloween and spent time with non-school friends, including my friend of 23 years that came for a week-long visit. As I sat outside at a tucked away french cafe, and then on the beach for a few hours, I felt myself relax more than I have in months.

Now I am in the last bit of the semester I feel recharged and ready for my last few exams and papers.

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Posted by Christina on 11/05/2007 12:41:00 PM
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When Will I Ever Use This?

So I got on this topic with one of the interns at my doctor's office the other day. We were talking about writing papers, class presentations and group projects, and how, as undergrads we always wondered how any of this would actually help us in the "real world."

And now I can see. No, nobody actually cares about the history of the field, and you will never end up talking about theory or obscure case studies in the work world.

But learning these things are valuable in a different way. You learn how to independently find information, you learn how to back up your arguments if you are proposing a new program at work, and you learn how to appropriately participate in meetings and such.

I wish I had realized these things when I was going through school the first time around, because I think it would have helped me shape my resume when I had no experience to speak of....

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Posted by Christina on 10/16/2007 11:51:00 AM
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survival guide

So someone posted a comment to my last entry about a post-grad school survival guide. Since I have yet to graduate (which happens in May unless I throw it all away to join a band of gypsies in the south of France,) I cannot write such a thing.
But I think it would be useful to suggest some survival tips for current students, graduate or otherwise. so here goes!

1. Get organized right away: I never organized my stuff in undergrad and I remember carrying around notebooks bursting at its binder because I stuffed papers and handouts from 5 different classes. I inevitably lost all the stuff I needed for finals, but honestly I doubt I would have studied that much in the first place. It did get frustrating when I was carrying around a bookbag full of stuff I didnt need. back problems at 20 = not awesome.

2. Branch out from your classmates: As you get to be a junior or senior, or if you go to grad school, you end up taking all your classes with the same people. By the end of the semester you end up hating half the people you called your friends (which, BTW, makes group projects even more fun.) I practice karate, which widens my social circle and lets me relieve stress.

3. DON'T be that person that freaks out over everything: We are all in this together, and we all know how boring the class is/how bad it sucks to have 4 papers due the same week as a major test/how the class will never help you in real life/how hard it is to work and study and have a life all at once. Relax! School isn't that bad! wait until you have to start looking for jobs and you realize that' even worse!

4. Develop your taste for coffee: Because when you are in the library writing your 4 papers due on the same day, you are gonna need a caffeine boost. But make sure you don't drink too much coffee (or espresso or lattes) without having eaten. Nothing is worse than sitting in the library with a caffeine headache and stomachache.

I could go on and on. But I am sitting in the library procrastinating so I am going to hop off and try to get some reading done before my 4 hours of classes tonight.

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Posted by Christina on 8/28/2007 01:58:00 PM
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