March Madness in the School of Graduate Studies

By Gretchen Sullivan, Assistant Director  School of Graduate Studies

Welcome back from Spring Break!  We hope you have enjoyed some time off from your studies and are able to easily transition back into school mode to finish out the spring semester.

While many folks are busy keeping up with college basketball playoffs, the staff in the School of Graduate Studies at Western Illinois University is busy assisting graduate students with many aspects of their academic careers.  March seems to be a pivotal month in our office!  While our admissions staff has been frantically processing admissions applications for the upcoming academic year, our graduation department has recently passed an important deadline for spring graduation applications (March 10).  Also, it won’t be long until our staff will be able to begin writing assistantship contracts for the coming academic year.  Be sure to check with your academic departments as to when selection decisions will be made.

We are also in the planning stages for this May’s graduate commencement which is always an exciting time at WIU.  It is rewarding to watch as our graduate students, many of whom we have interacted with personally in the office or via email or phone, achieve their graduate degrees and receive graduate hoods on the stage.  It is a joy to see all of the families and friends come together to support their loved ones at such a happy occasion.  The Macomb graduate ceremony is scheduled for Friday, May 10 at 5:30 p.m. in Western Hall with the Quad Cities combined undergraduate and graduate ceremony being held at 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 12 at the iWireless Center in Moline.

The School of Graduate Studies also recently announced the award recipients of the spring/summer Graduate Student Research and Professional Development Fund.  We were able to award a total of just over $6,000 to 14 applicants.  These graduate students will receive funding to assist with research projects, professional presentations, and other scholarly activities. The list of award recipients is available at:  http://www.wiu.edu/graduate_studies/news_and_events/award.php.  Visit http://www.wiu.edu/graduate_studies/current_students/studentfund.php  to learn more about this competitive award and plan to apply for an upcoming semester!

While we are experiencing our own version of “March Madness” in the School of Graduate Studies, we recognize that the next eight weeks will be hectic for our graduate students as well.  Particularly, for those who may be working on completing capstone courses or who may need to submit theses/dissertations.  Please be aware of the theses/dissertation deadline which requires them to be submitted no later than the Friday before finals week.  Other details may be found at:   http://www.wiu.edu/graduate_studies/thesis_and_dissertation/index.php.

Please remember we are here to help our graduate students progress through the graduate school experience as smoothly as possible.  Do not hesitate to contact us with questions!  You may reach us via email at Grad-Office@wiu.edu, via phone at (309) 298-1806 or toll-free at (877) WIU-GRAD, or visit us at 116 Sherman Hall, Macomb campus.

Best wishes for a successful spring semester!

Graduate School – The Next Step by Graduate Student Ambassador, LaChina Cropes

LaChina Cropes

Your decision to attend graduate school will be one of the smartest decisions you could have made in your life—especially during this tough job market.  In fact, a number of students and nontraditional jobseekers alike are opting to return to the educational sphere because of the economic situation.  Whatever your reason, graduate school takes education and scholarship a pace further on one’s quest for knowledge and wisdom.  Graduate school provides the eager and curious mind an opportunity to focus and find its passion.  Furthermore, grad school allows you to delve into academic arenas that you think will affect the world in a major way.

When I decided to apply for grad school at WIU, I knew that I was making the right choice for the benefit of my family’s economic future.  According to CareerBuilder.com, a master’s degree pays between $10,000-20,000 more than a bachelor’s degree.  For example, a bachelor’s degree in Computer Programming pays $50,985 while a master’s degree in the same field pays $72,151.  While I do believe that many individuals will not seek degrees in Computer Science, this piece of economic information is an encouraging indication that significant financial gains are the rewards for investing one’s time and energy to achieving higher education.

Admittedly, the journey towards higher education is a challenging endeavor, but with the proper mental attitude and self-disciplining practices, success is only a step away.  Having said that, I have three practical recommendations for individuals who are considering graduate education.  First, cultivate firm discipline with your time management skills.  At the start of each semester, I make a detailed note of all my assignment due-dates in my electronic calendar.  That way, I have a clear vision of my obligations and am able to plan each assignment accordingly.  My second piece of advice is to make the library your second home.  As a communication major, I spend roughly 25-30 hours per week in the library—reading, writing papers, and at times conducting research.  Hence, cultivating discipline in your study habits is beneficial to your graduate school success!

The third and final piece of practical advice for successful navigation through grad school is to fire up your willpower as determination is the key to success!  You must understand and believe that you are capable of greatness—without a shadow of doubt in your mind.  Two techniques I use to cultivate the will are meditation and positive music.  While studying, I play inspirational music quietly or during my study break I meditate to regain my focus and willpower.  You can try it too!  Meditation and music are powerful forces that allow you to connect with your willpower and simultaneously find rhythm in your study.  There are many other techniques that exist, but these techniques are a direct reflection of my experiences and can vary depending upon the nature of the individual.  Therefore, use what moves you!

In closing, graduate school is a great option in the next step of your life.  Also, remember that there is an influx of information available to you in the form of scholarships, tuition, financial assistance, assistantships, housing and more.   For additional information, visit http://www.wiu.edu/graduate_studies/.  Good luck! LaChina Cropes

Welcome to our blog!

We are excited to enter this avenue of communication!  Throughout the semester one of our student representatives (Graduate Ambassadors) will post a message that will be of interest to you. We hope you enjoy the post.