Tag Archives: the college of saint rose graduate admissions

Letters of recommendation etiquette

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Letters of recommendation can be a tricky business. They are needed to supplement your graduate application in order for the college to get to know you better. You want to ensure that your professors will present you in an appealing way, but it’s even harder to decide who to ask, or how to ask. Professors receive requests like these all the time, but what if they take on too much and have no time left for you? Who do you ask next? I’ve got a few tips that will help ensure a glowing recommendation.

1.) Choose someone who knows you – If you sat through a class, not participating, you probably shouldn’t ask that professor. Choose someone you worked with closely and knows your work ethic, drive, and class performance. Do not choose a family member or family friend. You want to make sure that the college reading your letter will get an understanding of how you benefit the classroom. The letter will be more personal if you have a connection with said professor or mentor. You can always get a letter from an internship adviser or field placement manager.

2.) Give adequate time – Professors have a lot on their plates. They have jobs to do and projects to complete. they are doing you a favor so be sure to give them an adequate amount of time to prepare and complete the recommendation. I would say at least a month in advance.

Photo Credit to www.chronicle.com

Photo Credit to http://www.chronicle.com

3.) Give them what they need – Make sure you give the recommender everything they need. Envelopes that are pre-stamped and pre-addressed, list of schools you’re applying to, and a list of achievements. The recommender may know who you are inside the classroom or on the job, but the additional information will give them insight to who you are as a whole. Give them your statement of purpose so they understand your drive and commitment to pursuing your prospective field. Also include your contact information. And last but not least, don’t forget the Thank You card. Maybe a small gift if you’re feeling generous.

4.) Ask nicely - Everyone loves a compliment. When asking for a letter of recommendation, tell that person why you’re choosing them. Educators teach for a reason and there’s nothing better than knowing your students appreciate you.

How to get back into the grad school groove

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It’s always hard to bring your brain back to reality after a vacation. Your heads are probably still filled with sugar plums and candy canes, but it’s time to focus. It’s time to start the semester off right and I’ve got some tips to bring you back from vacation and into the classroom. My tips will help you become organized at the beginning of the semester, and hopefully will become habits that last until the very end (then we can repeat after summer vacation).

1.) Start the semester off organized – Before the work starts piling up, make sure you have everything you need. Books. Pens. Highlighters. Calculators. Notebooks. Anything you may need in case of a homework crisis. Make sure you have a work area at home: the desk, a kitchen table, etc. It has to be clean. Stress will build quicker if you’re surrounded by a mess. Put your books on a shelf, and buy a file organizer to keep all of your papers throughout the semester. It will make finding information at the end of the semester easier.

2.) Turn off the TV – As soon as you get home from work or class, don’t sit on the couch and watch TV. You may have had an exhausting day and you may want to finish the show you started to watch over break, but try to refrain. You may sit on the couch with the intention of getting up and doing homework after just one episode, but as we all know, it’s never just one episode. The TV is addictive and it allows you to wipe productive thoughts from your brain and will make it even less productive after you’ve finished. Long story short, save the TV for after your homework.3.) Talk to your professor – Hang back after class to talk to your professor. Whether you want to compliment them on a good lecture or let them know how much you’re enjoying the readings, it will help create a bond between the two of you. Getting to know your professors early in the semester will make it easier for you to ask for help later. It’s easier to discuss your class difficulties with someone you trust, so don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation.

4.) Go to the library - Yes, the library is even open at the beginning of the semester. Check out the library early. Use a computer to check the news, check out a fun book to read, or just explore. Learning how the library works early in the semester will make it easier for you to research later in the semester. Sometimes doing homework in the library is more productive than working at home which has a number of distractions.

5.) Go to bed early – The beginning of the semester is the time where you should be saving up sleeping hours, because by the end of the semester, you will be exhausted. There are no medical researchers that concede this information, but nonetheless, going to bed early will help create a healthy sleep cycle that will no doubt increase brain function. It will also create a good habit.

Graduate Open House – January 8th

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Attend the upcoming Open House on Tuesday, January 8th to learn about the graduate programs that Saint Rose has to offer. Counselors and College representatives will be available throughout the event to answer questions regarding our programs, financial aid, and explain the application process.

The Open House consists of a short presentation, Q&A session, and the chance to meet one-one-one with a Graduate Admissions staff member who will help answer any questions you may have about the program, the staff, or the area.

Open House begins at 6:30pm in the Carondelet Symposium on the third floor of the Lally School of Education.

This is a general Open House, meaning that it is open to all prospective students, bearing in mind that students interested in applying to the Communication Sciences and Disorders program may prefer to attend our specialized CSD open house that is scheduled for this Friday, January 4th.

Can’t make it on the 8th? The next Open House event is March 5th.

If you’re planning on attending the event, please RSVP. If you have any questions about the open house, please contact Graduate Admissions at (518) 454-5143 or  grad@strose.edu.

How to succeed in a Skype interview

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Technology is an amazing thing, and believe it or not, the Internet is not only for Google, Facebook, and Twitter. Many colleges around the country are using Skype, and other video chat services, to conduct interviews with prospective students. This type of interview benefits students who do not live in the area, such as students, from the U.S. and international students.

A Skype interview may sound like a dream come true. You may think that you are able to interview without the added pressure of making yourself presentable. This, of course, is a common misconception. Skype interviews are just as important as if you were walking into an office. Here are 10 tips to succeed in a Skype interview:

1.) Be aware of your surroundings. The interviewer is able to see what’s next to you and what’s behind you. Straighten up your room. Remove the clutter, all the wine, cigarettes, stack of papers, or anything else you wouldn’t normally bring with you to an interview. Sit at a desk if you have one. The interviewer will then see you in a professional manner. It shows that you’re organized and confident.

Photo credit to http://article.wn.com

2.) Dress to impress. Although you’re not in the same room with your interviewer, they will still be judging your appearance, so you want to look professional. A nice blouse. A button-up shirt. A suit jacket. A tie. Wear what you would wear to an in-person interview. (If you want to keep your pajama bottoms on, that will be our little secret).

3.) Do a test run. Skype with a friend or contact your Career Center to see if they offer mock Skype interviews. Make sure you’re surrounded by enough light. Make sure they can hear you clearly. Have the person on the other end ask you a few questions and answer them in the way  you would in the interview. They will be able to give you feedback on your interview skills, visibility, tone of voice, and volume. They will be able to see what the interviewer will see. It will give you a chance to fix something before it becomes a problem.

4.) Close all other applications. Technology is often unpredictable. You don’t want to have to explain that you were watching The Hunger Games last night because the movie starts playing mid-interview. You don’t want “Ghangnam Style” to start blasting when you hit the space bar and set off iTunes by accident. Closing all other applications will help avoid that awkward, flustered moment during the interview.

5.) Look into the camera. Don’t look at the image of the interviewer. Don’t look at the thumbnail video of yourself. By looking at the images as opposed to the camera, the interviewer will see your eyes wandering. Eye contact is very important, even in a Skype interview, but in this case it’s eye contact with the camera, not the interviewer.

6.) Be ready for a technological hiccup. Keep your laptop plugged in to avoid a dead battery. Keep a fully-charged phone (on silent) and the contact information for the interviewer next to you at all times during the interview just in case the Skype call is lost.

7.) Speak slowly and carefully. On Skype, there is often a lag in the video, so wait for the interviewer to finish talking before you chime in. Waiting for them to completely finish their sentence gives you a few more seconds to think about what you’re going to say. Take advantage of the fact that you’re video chatting. Use those small gaps of time to collect your thoughts.

8.) Check your username. Your username is the first thing the interviewer sees. Make sure it is professional. Preferably your Skype name should contain your first and last name. Avoid: HoneyBunches, DevilQT, McKracken, or Wino54. Keep it professional.

9.) Minimize outside noise. Put the kids in another room, shut off the TV, put the barking dog outside, and lock yourself in a room. Even the slightest sound can carry through Skype, making it difficult to hear the person on the other side.

10.) Last but not least, prepare your interview materials in an organized fashion, making it easy for you to access them during the interview if necessary. Have your resume, cover letter, references, writing samples, and anything else you may need right in front of you. You’re better off being overly prepared than under-prepared.