Professional & Graduate School Fair
September 30, 2009
12:00 pm–4:00 pm
Newcomb Hall, 3rd Floor
Once a year in the Fall semester, University Career Services sponsors the Professional & Graduate School Fair. Graduate school representatives attend this fair to meet University of Virginia students and recruit for their graduate programs. Students will have an opportunity to learn about particular schools and gain an early start on the graduate school application process.
If you are thinking about going to graduate school, this is the event to learn more about what options are available to you. Students may meet with school representatives face-to-face, which allows for personal interaction in asking questions of a specific school. You can:
- Explore the possibilities of graduate and professional education.
- Learn about the requirements for programs.
- Gain detailed information about various schools and their programs.
- Gather materials you can review later.
- Network with professionals in your future field, some of which are University alums.
Students are not required to pre-register and can simply check-in at the registration desk when they arrive.
Ways to Prepare
- Students are encouraged to research graduate schools of interest by reading their program descriptions and visiting their Web sites. View graduate school listings.
- You may also view schools that have attended this event in the past. º 2007-2008 Participants
- Prepare questions for schools of interest based on your research.
- UCS offers walk-in hours and appointments Monday-Friday; please click here for more details.
- Read the UCS handout on Navigating a Career Fair (pdf).
- Prepare a 30-second personal introduction to highlight the skills and knowledge you are building and your areas of interest.
- Be prepared to answer questions representatives might ask.
- Attire is business professional.
Sample Questions to Ask
You should prepare questions for information you need that you cannot find elsewhere. Below are some sample questions but feel free to ask any question relevant to a particular program.
- Are graduate assistantships available?
- What resources are available to help students find positions after graduation?
- Will I have a choice about where I do my internship/field experience?
- Are students admitted in both fall and spring semesters?
- Is it possible to work full-time and complete the degree as a part-time student?
- What types of financial aid are available (fellowships, assistantships, scholarships, loans)?
- Could you tell me more about student life on campus? (student organizations, housing, support groups, diversity of the students)
- What is the ratio of faculty to students?
- Do you have joint degree programs?
- What is the location surrounding the school like? (mountains, ocean, rural, city)
- How do you weigh the exam score and GPA of applicants?
