GRAD 496A
Important Links
Grad School Interviewing: PowerPoint
National Fellowships:
Summer Research Programs:
GRAD 496a - Fall Semester 2012
Preparing for Graduate School: The Application Process
Fridays, 4:00 - 5:00pm, Stewart Observatory 204
Instructors:
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Andrew Huerta
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Nura Dualeh
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McNair House, 1031 N Mountain
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McNair House, 1031 N Mountain
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ahuerta@u.arizona.edu
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nura@email.arizona.edu
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626-6961
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626-7475
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Office Hours: By Appointment
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Office Hours: By Appointment
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Course Purpose:
GRAD 496A is a requirement of the UA Ronald E. McNair Achievement Program (MAP) and will count as the student’s mandatory meeting time with his/her McNair Advisor. This course is primarily designed to assist MAP and McNair Scholars work together in preparing final applications for graduate programs, national fellowships, or summer research opportunity programs.
Course Requirements:
As a community of aspiring professionals in academia, the following is required for all GRAD 496A students.
· Class attendance this semester is mandatory.
· Arrive to class on time and come fully prepared. Students who cannot meet this requirement are asked to drop the course and work with McNair staff individually.
· Develop a list of graduate programs and/or summer research opportunity programs that match your academic interests and present your final list at the end of the semester.
· Participate in the McNair Boot Camp at the Biosphere 2, Saturday, Sept 8th and Sunday, Sept 9th
· Complete a final and flawless CV to be used in applications to graduate programs or summer research experiences.
· Complete a final and flawless Personal Statement to be used in applications to graduate programs, national fellowships, or summer research experiences.
Course Assignments:
· All students are required to complete a CV. Requirements for your final CV will be handed out and discussed in class.
· All students are required to complete at least one version of a personal statement. Requirements for your final statement will be discussed, at length, at the McNair Boot camp.
· All students are required to present their top graduate programs. Requirements for these presentations will be discussed in class.
· Please note that full credit will not be granted to CV’s and Personal Statements that do not meet the requirements of the course.
Course Grading:
Grading will be based on the following course assignments. Final grades will be based on your total of 100 points.
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High Quality Presentation
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30 points
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Flawless CV
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30 points
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Flawless Personal Statement
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40 points
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GRAD 496A Course Schedule:
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August 24
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This Is What We Now Call GRAD 496A: Class Overview, Student Updates, & Introductions
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August 31
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Show Respect And Be Persistent: Requesting Letters of Recommendation, Semester assignment
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September 7
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Yes, We Are Going To Write Yet Another Personal Statement: Prep for Two Day Boot Camp
McNair Boot Camp at the Biosphere 2: Saturday, Sept 8th and Sunday, Sept 9th
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September 14
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Grad Student Panel: The Experience and Advice of Previous McNair Students, discussion will focus on the graduate school application process and working with a PhD advisor
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September 21
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Presentations: Tell Us About Your Potential Programs(5 students)
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September 28
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Presentations: Tell Us About Your Potential Programs(5 students)
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October 5
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Presentations: Tell Us About Your Potential Programs(5 students)
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October 12
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Final Personal Statement Due – Now Let’s See What Everyone Else Has to Say About Your Writing: Peer Review Session
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October 19
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Interviewing and interview weekends for Graduate School - What Do They Want to Know & How Should I Behave? What You Should Know About Grad School Interview Weekends
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October 26
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Grad Student Panel: The Experience and Advice of Previous McNair Students, discussion will focus on the interviewing process for graduate school and relocating to a new city
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November 2
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What We Like and What We Don’t Like: Writing the Curriculum Vitae
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November 9
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Final CV is Due: Class discussion
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November 16
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Week before Thanksgiving break: NO CLASS
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November 23
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Thanksgiving: NO CLASS
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November 30
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Final Discussion, Farewells, and Party Planning
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Syllabus Note:
Information contained in the course syllabus may be subject to change with reasonable advance notice as deemed appropriate by the instructors.
Information contained in the course syllabus may be subject to change with reasonable advance notice as deemed appropriate by the instructors.
University Policies:
All students are to be aware of and expected to follow UA policies (in addition to those of the Ronald E. McNair Achievement Program) since they will be receiving UA credit for this course:
Policies against plagiarism, etc., within Student Code of Academic Integrity:
Policies for student code of conduct:
Policies for the availability of reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities: