So, I found the program and university that were the right fit for me. I was excited, I was motivated, and I was ready. The next step was getting clear on the application requirements and deadlines. Although it seemed straightforward, I kept thinking:
- “What if I missed something essential?”
- “What if I misunderstood the requirements?”
- “What if I’m actually not a good fit?”
- “What if I get rejected?”
Even though I’m familiar with the administrative side of academia – and even though I’ve supported Life Strategies’ own learners in their educational and development journeys, along with friends in their graduate study applications – the doubt was palpable. I needed more information than the website could provide to feel prepared and confident. I needed to get to know the people I’d be working with.
Because the program I was interested in was highly customizable, there was an added layer of uncertainty:
- “How will I know I picked the right program completion option – coursework, paper, or thesis?”
- “How will I know I picked the right electives from all of the options available?”
- “How could the program team advise me if they didn’t know anything about me (or my sector)?”
Luckily, whether your program is on campus, online, or delivered through a hybrid format, there will be a whole team supporting the application process and advisors who can point you in the right direction. Use them.
Live information sessions are generally scheduled strategically around application deadlines. Join them.
Alternatively, recordings are typically available – If not publicly, then by request. Watch them.
It can be helpful to hear people discuss requirements – not only to ensure your understanding, but also the rationale for why they exist and whether they’re flexible (or not). Much like job seekers assessing the corporate culture of a potential employer, these conversations can help you assess the institutional culture of the university, faculty, and support team. Graduate studies are expensive and time-consuming. Finding the right match is just as important as being accepted.
To do this, I needed a clear picture of what I was getting myself into. The conversations I had with application and program staff really helped. Similarly, I needed a clear picture of what I wanted. I drafted five potential program schedule scenarios by ranking all the course offerings based on my level of interest, grouping prerequisites and corequisites together. I was then able to discuss these with the program advisor, who was incredibly helpful in discerning which would be the best fit.
A match now made, I turned my attention to gathering my documents for the formal application.
“I’m just a girl trying to find a place in this world.” ~ T. Swift, A Place in This World
Did You Know?
Beyond our career coaching/counselling services to individuals and career-focused resources, Life Strategies has been supporting the career development sector through research, e-learning, and custom solutions for career development agencies, associations, or other community groups for more than 30 years.
You can see several of our research endeavors and partnerships profiled at Projects.
