Write a Personal Statement or Statement of Purpose
- Some programs will ask for a Personal Statement (most common) and others will ask for a Statement of Purpose
- The JMU University Writing Center has tips and videos to help you with writing personal statements.
- The Purdue Online Writing Lab offers great advice on Writing the Personal Statement as well as a Statement of Purpose.
Attend the Graduate & Professional School Fair
This is an opportunity to collect information on schools and ask questions of program representatives. To learn more, please visit the Grad Fair page on the Graduate School website.
Talk to Faculty
One of the best places to get advice and information about specific graduate programs is to speak with a faculty member who’s already earned that degree! Interested in a Ph.D. in Chemistry, for example? The best person to speak to would be a professor in Chemistry who has their doctorate in your particular area of interest. Interested in an M.Ed. in Higher Education? Many staff around campus have this type of degree. If you’re not sure where to find someone with the degree you’re looking for, ask a staff member in the University Career Center!
Come to the UCC
UCC staff members are eager to help you in your quest of getting into the graduate school of your choice. Many graduate programs require both a resume and an interview, both of which we are more than happy to assist you in preparing for. You can make an appointment with any of our advisors by logging into Handshake.
