Interested In Graduate Or Professional School?
The CEC can help! The decision to attend graduate or professional school (MBA, law, medical, pharmacy school, etc.) can be exciting, complicated, and confusing - all at the same time. Here is what we can do to assist:
Counseling
Your counselor can "be there for you" at every stage of the process to help you:
- consider if and when to pursue graduate or professional school
- research schools and programs
- determine ways to strengthen your application
- discover what to expect in graduate or professional school
Uncertain about why or whether to go? Go to: Is Graduate School For Me?
Personal Statement Reviews
A personal statement (sometimes called personal essay or statement of purpose) is an essential component to most graduate and professional school applications. CEC counselors are available to give you constructive feedback regarding the content, structure, tone, and length of your essay.
When you schedule your appointment, ask specifically for a personal statement review. Please bring a hard copy of your typed draft at least ten minutes prior to your appointment for your counselor to read before giving you feedback.
For help with grammar or for proofreading, please visit the Undergraduate Writing Center or Graduate Student Writing Service. They will be happy to critique your personal essay, your resume, your CV or any other materials you prepare for graduate school applications, scholarship applications, and more.
Mock Interviews
Most professional schools and some graduate schools interview applicants prior to selection for admission. The CEC can help you prepare for this important event by conducting a mock interview with you. After the mock interview, your counselor will offer suggestions and give you constructive feedback on your responses, your nonverbal behavior, your attire and more.
When you schedule your appointment, ask specifically for a mock interview. Complete the Graduate & Professional School Interview Preparation Form by downloading it or picking up a hard copy in our Center. Please bring your completed form to the CEC at least 24 hours before your appointment to ensure your counselor has time to prepare. We suggest you come to your mock interview appointment dressed in your interview attire.
The CEC Resource Library
The CEC has many books and articles that will help answer your questions about how to apply, how to fund your graduate studies, how to write your personal statement, and more. Samples of personal statements are available. The library also has entrance exam study guides and program directories for specific fields.
Handouts on graduate school planning
The CEC’s handouts on graduate school planning address the many questions - from whether and why, to how and when. We invite you to download any of these helpful handouts, or come by the Center to pick up a hard copy.
Graduate School Questions and Timetable [pdf]
Researching Graduate Programs [pdf]
Graduate Degrees at UT [pdf]
Grad School Personal Statements [pdf]
Graduate & Professional School Interview Preparation [pdf]
Graduate and Professional School Day
Every October, the CEC hosts its annual fair Graduate and Professional School Day, where approximately 100 national and international programs come to campus to speak with students like yourself about their school or program. The CEC also hosts a Graduate School Admissions Panel Discussion the day before the fair. Panelists include a variety of experts who will discuss the application process and answer your questions. The date, time, and location for both the fair and the panel discussion are posted on our website by mid-September. We hope you can attend!