“Graduate students discuss experience”

Posted: 22 Oct 2010 02:25 AM PDT

October 22, 2010

Graduate students inform undergraduate students about opportunities during the graduate school discussion panel in the HUB auditorium on Thursday afternoon. (Christine Reckner/Collegian)

By Paul McMullen

Prospective graduate students had the opportunity to ask questions to current Penn State graduate students during a panel Thursday in the HUB Auditorium.

HUB-Robeson Center

Hetzel Union Bldg Pollock Rd

The event, hosted by the Penn State Graduate Student Association, was held in conjunction with Graduate and Professional School week, which has centralized in the HUB all week.

Panelists from a number of different graduate programs opened up the conversation to students, who came prepared to fire away at them with questions about applying to graduate school and what life is like after becoming a grad student.

"Compared to undergraduate programs, grad school is an entirely different animal," said panelist Carmen Gass (graduate-adult education). "Grad school is about critical thinking, networking and shaping a path towards a career after graduation."

After making that statement, Gass and other panelists began breaking down how graduate programs differ from undergraduate programs. The key differences between the two are time management and accountability on a more magnified scale, panelist Kaprea Johnson (graduate-counselor education and supervision) said.

"Grad school is completely independent. I have a class where it is literally only me and the teacher," she said. "Since you are basically your own teacher, you have to know your stuff, and you are held accountable for it."

But working to get the most out of the graduate school experience is only half the battle, panelists said. Figuring out which school is the best fit for your specific career goals is key for having a successful and productive experience, they said.

In order to find that perfect fit, they recommended researching schools from across the country and finding out which ones offer the programs that are tailored to what an undergraduate is looking for.

Penn State alumna Joanna Florano, Class of 2010, graduated with degrees in psychology and Spanish. She said her time gaining experience from different internships in State College has lead her to hunt for the graduate school that's right for her.

"Since there is not much you can do in my field without a graduate degree, it is vital for me to start exploring graduate schools," she said. "The discussion was extremely informative and put graduate school in more of a manageable context."

Although going to school after obtaining a bachelor's degree is important in the competitive job market, it is every bit as important that students know what they are in for and make the most of the experience, Gass said.

"In graduate school, you need to take the initiative for your academic future," she said. "Graduate school treats you as an adult and further develops you as a professional."

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