Prepping for Grad School

College deans offer tips for grad school success

Graduate school takes time, money and effort to reach that light at the end of the tunnel – the almighty degree. Today’s Chicago Woman spoke with department heads at four Chicago-area universities – Jacqueline Taylor, dean of communications at DePaul University; Donna Woods, co-director of graduate studies at the Institute for Healthcare Studies at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine; Kazuya Kawamura, department head at the University of Illinois-Chicago’s College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs; and Blythe Landry, admissions coordinator for the graduate program at Loyola University Chicago’s School of Social Work, to discover what working adults need to know in order to succeed.

How can an individual best determine if a university program is the right fit?
Jacqueline Taylor (DePaul University): Look for the quality of the program, the fit, and convenience. Working adults have to carefully consider demands on their time.
Kazuya Kawamura (University of Illinois-Chicago): I suggest they contact us (the faculty). Programs should be happy to meet with them. Don’t be afraid to talk to current students or even sit in a class. The school should be able to accommodate that; look at the lecture.
Blythe Landry (Loyola University Chicago): Make a list of your non-negotiables: Are you a person who needs a lot of one-on-one attention? Or are you someone who needs little structure and can work independently? Go with your vision and be open to possibilities.

How should someone who has been out of school for a while prepare for a return to academic life?
Jacqueline Taylor: Students need to be aware that grad school is different from undergraduate; the workload is more. Arrange your schedule so that you’re not only attending, but engaging in class.
Blythe Landry: If you’ve been out of school for 10 or more years and your grades weren’t great, take an inexpensive course as a non-degree seeking student at a local college and get an A in it. Schools are more interested in your recent experiences.

What goals should a potential student have in place before stepping foot on campus?
Jacqueline Taylor: Join organizations. If you’re in the journalism program, students can join the newspaper or the radio station. Take an opportunity to build your network through your classmates.
Kazuya Kawamura: You have to be opportunistic and look for networking connections. It’s never too early to start doing this once you come into the program.

Would you advise a student to work while undertaking a full-time course load?
Jacqueline Taylor: It takes a lot to be a full-time student and worker. They might not have a lot of down time, but if they have that supportive network of family and friends, use it.
Donna Woods (Northwestern): Our program is designed to allow students to keep working. It’s organized in blocks. The students are here for two weeks; focusing on coursework, class activities and projects, and then they return to work.
Kazuya Kawamura: It’s going to be fairly stressful. I don’t advise against it, but you have to ask yourself a very hard question: is it possible to do it?

What should students expect in terms of career placement help from their university? Is it realistic?
Jacqueline Taylor: Students are right to expect help with career placement. DePaul has a program that will get them ready for job-hunting through practice interviews and resume workshops.
Donna Woods: Our program provides a new career opportunity. There is a real need for these leadership skills in the health and safety field since 2005 when it became an institutional requirement at healthcare facilities.

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