Tag Archives: graduation

Graduating Seniors Opt for Graduate School

November 05, 2012   granados

 

The Overlap Program at SFA allows students to begin taking graduate courses while finishing their undergraduate degree.

Graduation is a little over a month away for students graduating in December. Most students already have jobs or job interviews lined up after graduation. However, other students feel staying in school is a better option.

According to a survey done by the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) and the Graduate Record Examinations Board (GRE), schools surveyed received 1.88 million applications to graduate programs for the Fall 2011 semester. Nearly 1.73 million students were enrolled in graduate programs in 2011, 58 percent of those students were enrolled full time.

SFA enrolls approximately 1,590 graduate students each year. SFA offers 43 masters and three doctoral degrees in its six colleges. Theses include the college of liberal and applied arts, education,  fine arts, sciences and mathematics, business and the college of forestry and agriculture.

Admission to SFA Graduate Programs

In order to apply for a graduate program at SFA, students must fill out the graduate school application on applytexas.org. There is a $25 application fee.  Students must also submit transcripts from all previous universities. SFA does not have a minimum GRE (Graduate Record Examination) score requirement for admission. However, each department may require different scores. Certain departments will also require letters of recommendation. Students seeking a degree in business or accounting are required to take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). Also, students whose native language is not English, must have a score of at least 550 on their Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). For detailed admission requirements for each school view the Graduate Bulletin.

The Overlap Program

SFA offers the “Overlap Program” for current students. The Overlap Program allows current undergraduate students to enroll in graduate classes along with their undergraduate classes. These classes are limited to 12 hours. In order to be eligible to participate in the program, SFA students must have at least 90 undergraduate credit hours and an overall GPA of 3.0. Students can also be eligible if they have a total of 115 undergraduate credit hours, a 2.5 overall GPA, and a GPA of 2.8 in their field of study.

SFA Graduate School Costs

The cost of tuition for a graduate student at SFA is approximately $2,730 for full time students (nine credit hours). Graduate students can apply for scholarships, grants, financial aid, work study programs and assistantships.

Assistantships

Universities across the country offer students opportunities to be Graduate Assistants (GA), Teaching Assistants (TA) and Research Assistants. Graduate students who participate in these programs will be employed by certain departments in universities. They are offered a stipend that varies depending on the department that they are employed under.

SFA offers Teaching Assistantships, Research Assistantships and Administrative Assistantships. TA’s are usually lab instructors in science courses or primary instructors in undergraduate classes. Research Assistants are employed by academic departments to be part of a certain research project. Administrative Assistants are employed by offices in the university and work with the administrative staff of certain departments. Full time graduate students employed by SFA are limited to working a total of 20 hours a week.

Graduate School Admissions Tests

Schools across the country require different tests for graduate school applicants. The most popular is the GRE. The GRE tests analytical writing, verbal reasoning and quantitative skills. The GRE can be taken either by computer or on paper. The computer based test is three hours and 45 minutes long and is made up of two verbal reasoning sections with 20 questions per section and two quantitative skills sections also containing 20 questions per section. The analytical writing part is made up of one section with two different timed writing tasks. The paper version of the GRE is three and a half hours long. It is made up of three sections. It is made up of two quantitative sections and two verbal reasoning sections; each section containing twenty-five questions. The analytical writing part is made up of two sections with one task in each section.

Business schools require prospective graduate students to take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). The GMAT is a timed test made up of four sections. The analytical writing assessment is 30 minutes long and consists of one topic. The integrated reasoning section is also 30 minutes long and consists of 12 questions. The quantitative section is made up of 37 data sufficiency and problem solving questions, and is an hour and 15 minutes long. The verbal section is made up of 41 reading comprehension, critical reasoning and sentence correction questions. It is also an hour and a half long.

Law schools require graduate applicants to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) . The LSAT is made up of analytical reasoning, logical reasoning and reading comprehension questions. The questions are multiple choice, with five thirty-five minute long sections. For some sample LSAT questions visit petersons.com.

Medical schools require the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). The MCAT is also a multiple choice exam that examines students’ problem solving, knowledge of science and critical thinking. It is made up of general chemistry questions, biology, verbal reasoning skills, and physical and biological sciences cognitive skills. For sample MCAT questions, and MCAT e-course and test prep visit mcatquestion.com.

Value of A Graduate Degree 

Salaries of professionals with master’s degrees are higher than those with only a bachelor’s degree. According to a study done by Georgetown University college graduates with a masters degree make about 38 percent more than those with a bachelor’s degree. Business majors with a graduate degree made an average of $20,000 more in a year than those with a bachelor’s degree. Biology and Science majors with a master’s degree made an average of $35,000 more in one year than those with only a bachelor’s degree.

Additional Grad-School Information Websites

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May Graduation

May 06, 2012   Alicia Washington

Alicia12908@yahoo.com

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Graduates Find Difficulty in the Job Market Despite Success in Classroom

April 30, 2012   Micah Powell

As the calendar turns from April to May, SFA seniors work to put the finishing touches on their collegiate career. Caps and gowns are purchased and graduation invitations are mailed out as hundreds of Lumberjacks prepare to walk across the stage in the William R. Johnson Coliseum and begin their lives as college graduates.

For SFA alumna and Lufkin native Nicole Powell, graduation meant it was finally time to begin her professional career and move away from Deep East Texas. Graduating in December of 2010, Powell’s accolades had her on the fast track to finding a job in her field. Graduating Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Business Administration in Finance, Powell appeared to have everything prospective employers looked for.

But the job market turned dry and left even the most qualified of college graduates without employment in the field of her choice. It happens every year as graduates struggle to begin their career because they lack one thing — experience. One of the most important parts of any resume is work experience in the field. It is also arguably the hardest thing to acquire.

“I know that the only reason I’m not getting the chance at my dream job is because of my lack of experience,” Powell said. “I have the accolades and I am a hard worker, but employers always want a year or two of experience in the field and I don’t have that. I can’t even get it because every employer, it seems, requires it.”

Powell spends most days on LinkedIn, a social networking site for professionals to connect with peers in their field, while scouring the Internet and local newspaper ads for any sign of a financial analyst position, her job of choice. She then goes to her job in registration in the emergency room of Memorial Medical Center – Lufkin. Powell said that the process seems like a dead end, but she knows she must press on.

“Every day is the same,” Powell said. “Apply for jobs, look for jobs and hope to get a call back. The thing with LinkedIn, after a few days I’m competing against 50 or so people for one job. Many of those 50 have the golden ticket with some form of experience. Eventually someone will take a chance on me and I’ll make sure it was the best decision they ever made.”

Powell’s situation is felt by nearly 50 percent of graduating seniors. According to a study done by the  John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, only 53 percent of college graduates from 2006 through 2010 are holding full-time employment.

According to the study, the time a graduate enters the job hunt plays a factor not only in their search for a job, but also the amount of compensation the person will receive.

“On average, there was a 10 percent “penalty” for college graduates obtaining their first job during the recession, compared with those who entered the workforce just three years earlier,” the study stated.

With the economy appearing to be on an upward climb out of recession, job outlooks are starting to look better for Powell and other graduates. Powell has several interviews in the next few weeks that have given her newfound hope of finally landing that allusive first job.

“I have noticed that over the past month or so I have been contacted about employment far more often than in the past year,” Powell said. ”Although I still do not have that experience that employers are looking for, I am getting closer and closer to acquiring it. I just have to stay positive and not get down on myself because there are thousands, if not millions, in the exact same situation as I am in.”

Interview with Nicole

 

micahdpowell@gmail.com

 

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Senior Photo Op

April 02, 2012   Dustin Anderson

Chad Wallace frames the shot for SFA senior Accounting major Brittany Dornak for her senior pictures on Wednesday, March 28, 2012, in the courtyard between the Rusk and Austin buildings on the SFA campus.


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College Graduates. Lots of them and lots of debt.

February 16, 2012   Adam Helm


Photo Illustration

The one thing college students are concerned with after graduating is getting a good job that pays good money. The other thing  their concerned with is paying their student debt. According to the College Board in 2010 “the average college student has accumulated approximately $25,000 in student loan debt by graduation day”. 

This is not a fun fact but in the current state of the economy approximately 60% of graduates between the ages of 21 and 29 live with their parents and many of them are either unemployed or working jobs for minimum wage.

Allison Percival graduated from SFA last May. Since she graduated she has been working full time at a minimum wage job that her mom helped her get. She has sent out more than 200 job applications, and figured her odds were pretty good at landing a good job related to her field. Percival had an internship under her belt, had been working her whole college career ,and she had her degree which only cost her a cool $50,000.That was nine months ago.

With her 6 month grace period over it’s time to start paying her student loans. Percival said “I pay roughly $300 a month.” Her parents pay the other half. Even with her parents help and her working full time, minimum wage is roughly $12,000 a year after taxes. That means that almost a third of her income goes straight to student loans. If she didn’t have assistance from her parents and was living on her own she would only have about $5,000 a year to live off of that’s $416 a month. That’s less than the monthly rent for a one bedroom apartment in Nacogdoches. That’s a tough budget to live on. Especially since most college graduates expect a nice lifestyle because they went to college. Because of this “Approximately 14 percent of all students that graduate end up defaulting on their loans within the first three years of graduating”.

Unfortunately she is fitting into what is now becoming the norm. Some blame it on the economy and some on the worsening quality of the American college education. But the facts are that “U.S. college students spend 24% of their time sleeping and 51% of their time socializing but only 7% of their time studying”. Statistics show that today students spend approximately 50% less time studying than college students a few decades ago, and I’m pretty sure it’s not because their all so much smarter than past generations.

On top of all of this college tuition continues to rise at a rate that surpasses that of inflation. According to a recent CBS News article “Average tuition and fees at public colleges rose 8.3 percent this year and, with room and board, now exceed $17,000 a year”,  according to the College Board. You may also be glad to know that the cost of college textbooks have tripled over the past decade. Dr. Gary Mayer Professor at SFA said that he finds the textbook industry “appalling” with new editions coming out every year with very little additions in terms of material but costing upwards of $100 new.

It also doesn’t help that there aren’t too many jobs out there for college graduates. Many job applications have listed that you need a “minimum of 3-5 years of experience” or the increasingly popular “recent college graduates need not apply”. Unfortunately this is a product of our struggling economy. With so many people getting laid off the pool of potential employees that companies are looking at hiring consist of candidates who not only have real world experience opposed to the average student having none they’re also willing to work for less. Bottom line if possible find someone to pay for your college. Apply for all the scholarships and grants you can. Last year at the regional American Advertising Federation competition there were two $2500 scholarships being given away. Only four people applied out of four States so make sure and look at all your options they might not be as unattainable as you think.

You will be glad to know that not all the stories have unhappy endings. Percival did end up getting a job that is related to her field, which will allow her to live fairly comfortably and have her loans paid off in ten years. There are plenty of other success stories as well. June Parker the new supervisor of the SFA Graphic Shop in the Baker Pattillo Student Center got her job almost immediately after graduating. She had worked at the shop for a good while as a student and showed strong work ethic. Ralph LaRue the Assistant Director said that her skills and prior experience running the shop made her a perfect candidate and that he did not regret hiring a student fresh out of college.

I have also spoken with a number of different people who gave tips about finding a job after college. Dr. Gary Wilcox from the University of Texas in Austin has some tips about a job in advertising. He said that they look for many bright people but what they really look for is leaders. People who were active and well rounded in College, those who joined clubs went to competitions became officers and had internships. Many people think that their degree is all they need, but in an economy where “ there are more than 100,000 janitors with college degrees” and “approximately 365,000 cashiers have college degrees” you have to pull out all the stops. Some other important job tips such as keeping your resume updated and using contacts can be found here. There’ also plenty of useful resume and application tips such as keeping it simple and tailoring your resume for each specific job you apply for. Other tips can be found here. It’s also good to remember that many of your professors often know people in your related field and can provide internship opportunities and possible job contacts.

The job market is very competitive right now so you have to bring as much as you can to the table. Networking is very important as they say it all comes down to “who you know”.  Remember college isn’t a guarantee to a good paying job just a tool to help you get there.

adamahelm@yahoo.com


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SFA Graduate: Life after graduation

December 07, 2011   Tonishia Hagans

With graduation near, Antara Wherry, an SFA graduate from Dallas, gives insight to life after graduation. Wherry graduated from SFA with a degree in elementary education. Wherry, now a third grade teacher, has returned back to SFA to complete her masters in educational leadership.

“My college experience was a pretty typical college experience. My experience was like what you see in the movies. I was active in greek life, different organizations on campus, and studied hard academically. I managed to find a good balance between my social life and my academic life. I graduated with honors,” Wherry said.

Most college advisors would say being active around campus is a major part of someone’s college experience. Rather it be joining a sorority or fraternity, or organizations on campus, being active is an important aspect of college.

“Being in a sorority and being apart of different organizations helped me be more prepared by giving me real life experiences. I learned to multitask, plan events and even social skills. All of these things that may seem minor have really prepared me for the workforce and dealing with different people in that environment,” Wherry said.

Networking and taking time to really know what you want after graduation are some of the key things Wherry says upcoming graduates should focus towards.

Life after graduation can be grueling and with the economy being in unstable,  graduates are not necessarily taking jobs they want but jobs they need. Because of this, the jobs given may not always be what some would consider “ideal” positions but they pay the bills.

Working hard, taking initiative, and being humble are the things that Wherry account for being her key to success.

“Being humble is important because there may come times you have take on a task that may not be ideal but they are growing experiences,” Wherry said.

“You have a degree but your learning experiences don’t stop there. While in college I very seldom read my textbooks, and my junior or senior year I just stop buying them. Now that I’m in my field I find myself referencing back to some of those book,” Wherry said.

Wherry describes college in one word: overrated. Referencing back to the state of the economy and with a lot of graduates not being able to find jobs, if some graduates had to do it all over again would they go back to college or choose an alternate route.

“Me personally, I had no choice but to go to college because I wanted to go into the field of education. Although that may be the case, I do know a lot of people who didn’t go to college who are equally, if not more, successful than me. For certain jobs it’s not necessarily about your degree, but more of your work experience,” Wherry said.

Wherry does give her college experience credit for instilling in her to be persistent and never give up. She says she has always been driven rather it was a hard class she was trying to pass or now something that has to be done in her career.

“On a scale of 1 to 10 I would say my level of being ambitious is a 10. I’m pretty driven. Look at my circumstances, I’m 23, I have a one year old son, I’m planning a wedding, I’m finishing up my masters and applying for different doctorates programs,” Wherry says of her determination to succeed.

Wherry would like to one day be the founder of her charter schools. She would like to have multiple schools across the country. She is also interested in possibly to be a school psychologist.

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10 Things to do Before You Graduate

December 07, 2011   Adrianna Rodrigues

Growing up it is common to hear stories about what people did in college. Some are crazy stories, and some are things about what people wish they would have done. There are a lot of new and exciting things to be experienced along the rough road that leads to graduation. For some people it is easy to dive into all of the new things that the college lifestyle throws at them, and for some it may take a little pushing to get them to come out of their shell.

Here is a list of things to maximize the college experience:

  1. Join a club – Joining a club is a great way to make friends with something you all have a common interest for. A good way to find out about clubs is to look around at the posters on the walls of your department. There are always ads floating around with contact information and meeting times.
  2. Make new friends – Do not be shy! There are people from all walks of life on a college campus. Talk to people in your classes, chances are you will share things in common (besides being in the same class). Some of the best friendships are made when you least expect it.
  3. Have a roommate – Having a roommate not only provides company when you do not feel like being alone, it makes things a lot cheaper! For those who do not get help from mom and dad, find someone you can tolerate (there will always be disagreements, there is no such thing as the perfect roommate). “Having a roommate has taught me that sometimes you have to compromise, which is something I am not used to since I am an only child,” said Shelley Gibson, Round Rock senior.
  4. Join a fraternity/sorority – To some people, living the Greek life carries somewhat of a stereotype. While some of those stigmas can be true, joining a fraternity or a sorority opens a lot of doors in the journey of life. “As an active member, and most definitely as an officer, I always told our new guys that you may never have that awe inspiring moment when you stand up and yell ‘This is why I joined a frat!’ Of course you may have those moments two or three nights a week! But most likely down the road at some point when you are updating your resume, you are going to realize: You have more references than are required, that you know how to organize and work a room of 500 people, that you are both Frank Sinatra and Warren Buffet, and that whatever comes your way you have both the physical – and more importantly mental – confidence to take it on, mold its shape, and give it back better and more profitable than before,” said President of Sigma Alpha Mu, Adam Woodson, Boerne senior.
  5. Get a part-time job – Almost all college kids find themselves barely scraping by for cash. A great way to learn a little worth ethic, and some pocket change, is to get a part-time job. There are all kinds of jobs on campus, so check out the student employment office for a list of available positions. Also check out local businesses. A college town like Nacogdoches is always looking for a helping hand… wait some tables or deliver some pizzas, it will definitely teach you how to manage time better. It will also feel good not to have to ask the ‘rents for gas or food money.
  6. Take a Spring Break vacation – Everyone has seen and heard wild stories about Spring Break. This does not mean you should go to Mexico and get thrown in jail because you were trying to wave “hi” on the MTV cameras that were at the party you were at in Cancun… although that would be a funny story to tell the kids down the road! So, organize a road trip with some friends, chances are you might get lost or find a new path… and have fun with your friends along the way.
  7. Try out a new style – If you have ever wanted to step “outside” the box, now is the time. In college, nobody really cares what you are wearing or what color you hair is. Do not be afraid to branch out, shop in a new store and buy some funky sunglasses…you might start a new trend!
  8. Try new foods – A lot of people, especially upon graduating high school, have not been exposed to different types of foods. There are a lot of good places to eat on and around campus that offer really good food…sushi, burritos, crawfish. Also, do not be afraid to sit and eat alone, it will give you a new appreciation for the food you are eating and it will also help you step out of your insecurities.
  9. Date someone who is not your ‘type” – Even though there are far more women on the SFA campus than men, there is still a chance for everyone to make their love life a little steamy. Do not limit yourself to a certain type of mate, keep your eyes open. A college romance can be fun and add a little spunk to your life.
  10. Form a friendship with a professor – Professors are always interesting people to talk to, and are usually there to help you. Share stories and do not be afraid to state your opinion in class, they will probably respect what you have to say (as long as it is in context of the class of course). This is also a good way to earn letters of recommendations and help on your resume when the time comes to find a “real job”.

 

College is all about “doing something stupid” and learning from mistakes. So stay up late watching movies with some friends, pull an all-nighter and remember to make some memories along the way. Do not be afraid to be yourself… wear a funky t-shirt of the band you secretly love, and do not be afraid to state your opinion in class…part of college is learning not to care so much about what other people think – it builds confidence and character, which is a necessary part of growing up.

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Wearer of Many Hats

December 07, 2011   Randal Teater

Stephen F. Austin senior Charles Teater briefly discusses what it means to juggle being a husband, father and soon-to-be-graduated student.


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More than Caps and Gowns

December 05, 2011   Ambreishia Lewis

As the end of the semester approaches, many students are feeling the relief of long study hours, boring lectures and final exams to finally have that long awaited Christmas break. However, for some students, this will be their last set of finals as they will graduate from SFA on December 17th.

Graduating from college is a special event for any student and their family. But for one student in particular, she will be carrying the dreams and hopes of her family across the stage with her.

Maegan Prejean, Radio/TV and Public Relations senior from Austin, Texas, will be one of the hundreds of students recieving their diploma this winter.

“I never expected to learn everything that I’ve learned, let alone be graduating early,” says Prejean.

The youngest of two children, Maegan grew up loving school. “I always loved school and knew i was going to college but didnt know what to expect when I went.” Maegan recieved many honors in high school including National Honor Society and Whose Who in America. She also balanced her academics with playing basketball and running track.

When she came to SFA, Maegan didn’t quite know what to expect in a university setting. “When I came to college, I didn’t know quite what to expect. I just knew that I wanted to go to a small school” says Maegan. ”When I was able to come to SFA and see what all the Radio/TV program had to offer,  I became excited and ready to work.”

As the semesters went on, Maegan became very good in producing, hosting and writing for both TV and radio. Though she excelled, there were the times in which every student faces in being frustrated with professors, assignments and wanting to call it quits.

But Maegan knew that her struggle with professors and  having mandatory early morning classes were all part of a greater purpose. In addition to graduating early, MAegan wil be the first person in her family to graduate from college.

“My mother is one of five children and wasn’t able to go to college,” says Maegan. “My father did attend college, but wasn’t able to finish due to finances so he had to leave.”

The stories and struggles of her parents definitely motivated Maegan to stay focused on her schooling and take advantage of the opportunity her parents didn’t have.   ” I realize that I am blessed to have parents who are in a position to support me and help put me through school. Without them, I wouldn’t be able to do it.”

Maegan will be walking across the having achieved many goals and making many accomplishments. Maegan was Vice President and Alumni Coordinator for Ntional Broadcasting Society SFA chapter, member of the broadcasting honor society Alpha Epislon Rho, Whose Who in American Universities and has been recently inducted into the national honor society Omicron Delta Kappa.

Though having recieved many honors, Maegan treseaures most the people she’s met and the relationships she’s developed through her journey at SFA.

“I would have never thought that I would have met life long friends here at school,” says Maegan. “I’ve had opportunities to meet and network with people that I never knew that I would have ever met.” “If it wasnt for organizations like NBS or AERho, I would’ve been able to make the relationships I have in the broadcasting industry.” “Im just very fortunate.”

As Maegan crosses the stage, she will be walking in honor of those who didn’t have the chance to. While doing so, she will be leaving a legacy of resilence, dtermination and that hard work along with support and prayer has great results.

Maegan Prejean Interview

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SFA Graduation

November 09, 2011   Kelsey Jones

Graduation is a little more than a month away. It will be held at 9:30 a.m. on December 17 at the William R. Johnson coliseum. Seniors looking to graduate in the spring can apply now for graduation at the registrars office.

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