Young Alum Perspectives

By Brandie Ashe

One question most recent Mississippi University for Women graduates ask themselves after graduation is, “What now?” The next step will take young alums in many directions, in ways that are not always clear as students scramble to complete their final classes at the W. Will they continue their education, or go into the “real world” to find a job? Will they move far away, or is the road to the future a little closer to home? And how does one make those decisions, anyway?

As part of a two-part series, I recently spoke with some new members of the Long Blue Line, all of whom offered advice about taking those all-important next steps and reflections upon their own recent journeys.

This month, we will hear from five alumnae who chose to go on to graduate school: 2007 graduates Christie Collins, Lauren Dodd, Stephanie Evers, and Carrie Pate, and 2008 graduate Megan Stoner Morgan, all of whom have successfully completed at least one year of postgraduate work.

Some students decide to attend graduate school well before their senior year. Megan Stoner Morgan ’08, for example, has known for some time that she wanted to get her Master’s in English, and in fact began completing her applications several months before they were due Megan suggests not only beginning the applications as early as possible, but also making school visits a priority during the decision-making process: “Visit as many schools on your final list as you can.  Remember you're committing between 2-6 years of your life to a place, and particularly if you have family coming with you, you need a place that you can stand to make your home for that length of time.”  Megan adds that speaking with students in each program can also provide invaluable information.   “Ask lots of questions: what they like, what they hate, and where they hang out. If you don't like the answers, you may not want to choose that program, regardless of its ranking.”  After careful consideration, Megan enrolled in the English MA program at the University of Georgia, and is currently a graduate assistant in the English department.

Once you’ve made your choice, Megan advises that fostering relationships with graduate faculty is a must.  “Try and feel out professors and start thinking about who you might want as your major professor and who might be good for your thesis committee,” she says. “The earlier you build rapport with faculty, the smoother things will go.” Lastly, Megan stresses the importance of building friendships within the program.  “Your friends and some semblance of a social life will be your salvation and likely the only way you'll make it through grad school alive.”

While some students have few doubts about continuing their education, going to graduate school is not always part of a student’s original plans. Stephanie Evers ’07 says that the desire to continue in academia led to her choice to attend graduate school. “I actually never planned to go to graduate school,” she admits, “but when I saw my undergraduate days coming to an end, I panicked.  Like any good student, I dealt with my panic by applying to another school.” She chose the University of South Alabama because of the influence of a favorite teacher and because it was closer to home. The decision to go on to graduate school paid off for her. She completed her Master’s degree in English in May, and has accepted a position as an intern instructor at USA, teaching English composition courses.

Not everyone who decides to go to graduate school makes the move immediately. Christie Collins ’07 decided to take a year off before beginning graduate school in order to spend more time researching her options.  She chose to work for her Master’s degree in English, creative writing, and teaching English as a second language at Mississippi State University in part because of its location close to home, but more importantly, because it allows her flexibility in mapping a course of study.  “I discovered that of all the programs I looked at, MSU was the only one that would let me concentrate in more than one area of interest,” Christie explains.  “Upon contacting the program and beginning the application process, I found the faculty and the current graduate students to be helpful and friendly.”

For Christie, the ability to pay for her education was another large factor in the decision to go to MSU.   “I applied and interviewed for two assistantships from two different departments and I was offered both.  My position as a graduate teaching assistant has essentially paid for my education,” she states.  “I would advise students to consider funding over prestige. It is always good to be accepted into a great program, but funding should, in some cases, outrank a name.” 

Carrie Pate’s’07 path to graduate school also took a brief detour in the year following her graduation from MUW.  After moving back home to the Coast, Carrie began working for her mentor as an assistant at an outpatient counseling center.  “I got really lucky with that job,” Carrie explains. “The practical experience has been extremely valuable.”  She recommends that other alums consider getting some work experience before going back to school. “The year off helped me make my graduate school decisions, and it gave me time to take the GRE and do my grad school applications.”  She is now working on a Master’s of Social Work at the University of Georgia and will intern at Central State Hospital in Milledgeville, GA, this fall.

As one young alumna discovered, being open to a change in direction can lead to the perfect career. Lauren Dodd (’07) left the W for York University in Toronto, Canada, in the fall of 2007 to pursue a Master’s in English. However, upon entering her program and beginning the coursework, Lauren came to realize that English was no longer her primary academic interest.  Though she enjoyed living in Toronto, Lauren decided to move back home and begin the coursework for a Master’s of Library and Information Studies degree at the University of Alabama.  “There were several library programs I thought of applying to, including two programs in Canada, but I stuck close to home for in-state tuition,” says Lauren. Plus, she adds, “I knew UA has a good program, and that experience counts more in applying for library-related jobs than school rankings.”  Lauren successfully completed her first semester of MLIS work in May and spent a month studying abroad in London this summer.

Lauren strongly believes that prospective applicants to graduate school should concentrate much of their energy on creating a solid statement of purpose.  “The statement of purpose is one of the most crucial parts of the application, and even if one is a great writer, this is unfamiliar territory,” she cautions.  “Different schools, not to mention different disciplines, have varying expectations, and it's important to have someone experienced help you decipher what they are.”  Lauren recommends asking experienced writers and professors to help revise any statement before including it with the graduate application.  “I had one of my English professors look over my first statement when I had no idea what I was doing, and it was a huge help,” she explains.  “The second time around, I got a Writing Tutor peer to read my draft and offer advice.”

As these five MUW alumni demonstrate, much thought, preparation, and planning goes into the choice to take up postgraduate studies.   Those who choose to undertake further education beyond the undergraduate level—whether in law school, medical school, or other graduate programs—are in for a long, sometimes difficult ride.  Thankfully, though, as all five alums agree, taking advantage of the strong education provided by the W prepared each of them for the challenge of graduate school in exceptionally useful ways.