Tag: Graduate School

CPS Opportunity

CPS Opportunity

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So today, I want to share with you all some great news!  A good friend and Loyola Alumni just provided me with some information that might be helpful to some.  As we are almost graduating, Yay!, some of us are not sure what will happen after Loyola.  I know some do, and that is GREAT!  But to those who are looking into graduate school, I want to inform you with this option.

There have been so many times when someone would tell me that I should’ve become teacher.  I am always tutoring, but I have never thought about it as a career.  I shared these thoughts with this friend because I knew that she was pursuing a career in teaching.  She explained to me that she is in a two year program in which you receive a Masters in Education and teach as Full-time teacher (including all of the benefits).

She absolutely loves teaching and says that she cannot see herself doing anything less.  She graduated as a Biology major and she teaches the sciences as well as English as a second language.  She teaches in an elementary school in Chicago and she absolutely loves it!  She mentioned that she hesitated in taking this opportunity, but it came so easy to her.  People are always saying that teachers make peanuts, but this is not entirely true.  She is doing fairly well and after she has her masters she will be very qualified for a great job!  It’s also a plus that she is bilingual and she will be receiving her ESL certification as well!

Also, many of her loans will be forgiven because she is a teacher teaching a very needed subject.  I recommend this opportunity to you because I, myself, am looking to find more information about it.  It is a great back up plan, and if you find out it is not for you than at least you know that teaching is not for you; what best way to find out while getting paid, right?  I was so excited that I decided to share with you all this opportunity!  I hope this helped some of you out there. 🙂

GRE Greatness

GRE Greatness

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I am NOT trying to scare you.  I know that many people detest talking about “the future plans.”  Are you applying to medical school?  Did you take the GRE?  What about the subject GRE?  What grad school are you going to?  So, what are you doing after graduation?  Did you ask for your recommendation letters?  Did you take the MCAT?  The DAT?

I know, I know.  I hate it, too.  We all had our future planned out, and then we got to college.  It changed and that’s OK.  With that being said, I do want to help out those who PLAN on taking the GRE (even if you don’t know why you’re taking it).   I would give tips on the MCAT, but as of 2015 they are changing the format of the MCAT, so my tips would not pertain to anyone anymore…womp, womp.

The GRE is more laid back than the MCAT, however.  It’s almost like an ACT/SAT on steroids.  Here ya go:

  1. REVIEW THE EASY STUFF.  Yes, easy stuff like algebra and geometry from high school.

  2. VOCABULARY.  Do you remember all of those AP English vocabulary flashcards?  Review that, too.  The GRE likes to throw in big, adult words; you’ll thank me later!

  3. PRACTICE.  I’m just stating the obvious!  Everyone knows this one, but it’s an important one.

  4. WORK ON YOUR WEAKNESS.  You know what it is, so work 10x harder.  Own it.

  5. STAY COOL.  If you need to take it again, then do it.  However, make it worth while.

You’ll be glad when it’s all over.  Just remember:  “If it was easy, then everyone would do it.”

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Loyola’s recent PhD graduate…

Loyola’s recent PhD graduate…

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Have you met Dr. Binaku?

Katrina Binaku, also known as Dr. Binaku, graduated last spring from Loyola University Chicago and received her PhD in Chemistry.  She was my General Chemistry Teacher Assistant freshman year.  She was always very helpful and nice, and I was lucky enough to bump into her last week.  She told me about her dissertation and work experience at Loyola, but was very relieved to be done.  A PhD, the highest degree awarded by a graduate school, is not an easy breeze.  Through her experience and her research at Loyola, she had to spend endless evenings and nights running experiments that sometimes worked and sometimes didn’t.  Chemistry is a lot of trial and error, and while it may be frustrating, Dr. Binaku expressed how rewarding it is!

As an undergraduate student she worked in industry, but decided on Loyola’s graduate program and worked alongside Dr. Shmeling, a Loyola professor.  Therefore, it comes to no surprise that she joined the Loyola team and is now a laboratory instructor for all the freshman laboratories.  Her smile and amazing personality make her an outstanding instructor, and I’m so glad to have witnessed her growth from a graduate student to a professional instructor.  I am sure you will see more of Dr. Binaku and her future research.  Keep an eye out…

 

Getting Personal

Getting Personal

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It’s hard to believe that graduation is just around the corner.  This first semester of senior year is flying by, and I have been forced to think about my options after graduation.  That means applications, and that means a personal statement.

Most graduate schools require personal statements in their applications processes.  Though it is only two typewritten pages, it has proven to be a daunting task to complete.  As a law school applicant, I am supposed to write why I want to go to law school and why that will help me achieve my life goals.  I have to place all my passions and motivations, my determinations and my goals, all in two short pages.  Yikes.

I am an English major, so writing is nothing new.  I’ve probably written hundreds of pages in papers and essays in college, so the writing itself is not the difficult part.  It is evaluating my life and putting it into words that has me stumped.  Which parts of my life should I include, and where’s the line between professional and too personal?

Luckily, Loyola has plenty of resources available to help me out.  The Writing Center is conveniently located in the IC and assists students in all things writing.  Undergraduate and graduate tutors are available for one-on-one tutoring sessions to help in any stage of the writing process.  I’ve made an appointment for later this week, so hopefully someone in the Writing Center will have some idea how to translate my thoughts into words.

There are countless other resources available to Loyola students.  A good place to start is talking to your advisor.  The advising office is always ready to answer questions and offer support.

When your future in graduate school feels like it depends on two typewritten pages, it’s a relief to know there are people to help.