tis the season of college visits...

now that i've made my decision to go to graduate school, how do i go about picking the school i want to go to?

i have to think about*

• the graduate program itself
  
• the university's credentials and reputation
  
• cost
  
• scholarships
  
• tuition wavers
  
• graduate assistantships
  
• internship opportunities
  
• housing
  
• location
  
• application requirements
  

*this list is far from comprehensive...

i've started this research over a year ago by researching graduate programs, requesting information, and communicating to schools via email.

however, this past weekend i made an even bigger step in my search for graduate schools: i visited DePaul University in Chicago.

DePauls's MA in public relations and advertising has been my favorite program that i've researched. it involves both public relations and advertising in a synergistic way that i believe the two disciplines should be. the program blends both strategy and application of PR and advertising in a way that allows its students to succeed in the professional world and in the academic world. plus, the campus is in the heart of Chicago, a city with lots of opportunities for advertising and public relations practitioners.

on Thursday, I met with the Admissions Director for DePaul's College of Communication. She gave me a lot of great information and answered many of my questions. I then took a tour of the Lincoln Park campus, located in a beautiful part of Chicago. next, I met with a professor of advertising at DePaul, who gave me a good idea of what life could be like for me as a PR/ad graduate student at DePaul. lastly, I sat in on her class and listened to a guest speaker talk about a career in media planning, which I found especially interesting given my internship this summer with media buying and negotiating. 

visiting DePaul and learning more about the graduate program in which I'm interested really answered a lot of my questions about my decision (see above). now that I've visited the campus, I know that I am definitely interested in applying to this program.

 click here to take a look at DePaul's Master of Arts in Public Relations and Advertising. 

i'm graduating from college... now what?

in may 2009, I'll be wearing the old cap and gown with the senior class of Drury University. but in my lifelong pursuit of education, i've made the decision that i'm not ready to abandon the university lifestyle: i'm going to graduate school.

it's a decision i always knew i wanted to make, but i had never truly confronted the issue until these past few years. i see graduate school as an investment in my future and an opportunity to differentiate myself from my peers. it's an experience that will help me become a successful leader of the advertising and public relations industry. 

there are so many factors that go into my decision to go to grad school:

i first asked myself, "do you really want to be in school for another two years?" the answer is: yes. i enjoy learning in a classroom-style environment and i can easily see myself learning and growing in a graduate program. 

how am i going to pay for it? will my parents help me out? family? loans? tuition wavers? graduate assistantships? scholarships? internships? a job? 

where do i want to go? i know i want to have the graduate school experience in a larger city, but i need to find a program that suits my needs and career objectives.

when should i go? should i take a year off before applying? i've made the decision to go to graduate school the fall semester after i graduate from Drury. 

where am i going to live? housing in larger cities is expensive. how do i pay for it? how can i find an apartment? 

where can i work? most programs offer classes in the late afternoons and early evenings. are there paid internship opportunities available? a part time job? 

am i ready to truly be on my own? this is a question that all graduates must be asking themselves. to many people, going out into the "real world" can be a scary thought, but i see it as an opportunity to keep learning, growing, and experiencing new things. 

am i ready to abandon my love of theatre and music? NO. no matter where i am, i want to be involved extracurricularly or professionally in theatre, music, or musical theatre. many of the graduate programs offer groups and activities to non-major graduate students. if not, the cities in which i am looking offer rich theatre and music scenes. 

i've been doing a lot of research on graduate programs all across the US, and even some in Europe! i am truly excited about the prospect of graduate school, but i'm prepared to do a lot of work to apply for admission. most graduate programs are highly selective and i know i need to work hard on my applications, personal statements, essays, and the dreaded GRE. i also need to contact supervisors, professors, advisors and mentors for recommendation letters. it's a lot of time and work to apply for graduate school, but it's a process for which I'm ready.

Look for more graduate school-related posts in the future.