Sunday, December 13, 2009
Oposing Views on December Graduates vs. May Graduates
Depending on who you are, graduating in December versus graduating in the spring has its pros and cons in terms of finding gainful employment opportunities. Many people may not pay attention to the differences in the time of year of the graduation dates, since the United States is experiencing an economic downtown.
MBA December 2009 graduate Matt Damiani feels as though graduating in December gives him a head start in looking for employment but overall does not feel that he has an advantage over May Graduates. “It gives me time to look for a job, while everyone else is in class still, but I would much rather prefer to graduate in May,” Damiani says.
Damiani feels as though employers, especially in the business field look more towards May graduations to hire new employees versus December graduates. “Companies looking at 2 year MBA students tend to hire more in June after May graduation versus in January after a December graduation, they are just more towards May graduates,” Damiani says.
According to Damiani the economy is showing some signs of improvement, but individuals graduating in either or December or May is going to have a hard time finding employment as the economy is not where it needs to be. Damiani does however, feel strongly about May being the ideal time to find a job, at least in business field.
Bette Scott, Director of Career Services does agree with how Damiani feels towards employers heavily hiring in the spring versus in the winter. Scott does not completely agree with employers hiring heavily in one part of the year. “Employers hire 365 days a year, they do not hire on an academic calendar,” Scott says.
According to Scott, companies that do hire new graduates have training programs that start in January as well as some that start in May for spring graduates. Scott feels that students that do graduate in December or not at a disadvantage, compared to May graduates.
“In some cases I would recommend that students graduate in December versus graduating in May as that will give them a head start in looking for employment,” Scott says. Another reason Scott says that graduating in December versus graduating in the spring is a good idea is because sometimes there are students that only have a few hours left remaining to graduate, and that could be time spent finding, and or working for a good employer and getting valuable experience.
Scott says that trying to squeeze too many hours into one semester to graduate early is where the spring graduation can be of good benefit to the student.
Treehugger.com
Melanie Jennings, advertising senior and a December graduate as well, agrees with Scott in seeing December graduation as an advantage to be taken rather than a disadvantage in terms of finding gainful employment. “I think that it is an advantage because there are so many May graduates, and there are not that many people going into the job market in January versus in May or June,” Jennings says.
Jennings says that she is planning on going to graduate school, but feels as though the time between January and May will be give her time to look for a good job, and have and have a 5 month advantage over spring graduates.
Heather Spencer, a career counselor in the Gaylord College of Journalism says that she cannot speak for all of the other respective schools on OU’s campus or campus across the nation, but feels as though December graduates do have an advantage over Spring Graduates. “That is time that can be spent getting your foot in the door of a potentially good employment opportunity,” Spencer says.
According to Spencer there is nothing wrong with graduating in May, but if a student has the opportunity to graduate when there are not a large number of students graduating, then that is a leg up in terms of finding a job.
Spencer reiterated that she could not speak for all of the different colleges on the campus and the different respective majors, but agrees with Scott in that employers do hire year round. According to Spencer the most important thing is to be prepared when looking for employment no matter when you graduate.
Spencer says “The most important thing is to be prepared, that means having a resume and cover letter, having a portfolio, if they need that for their major, and to network, network, network.”
It may seem to some that much emphasis is not placed on December graduates, but it is evident that they have a competitive advantage.
MBA December 2009 graduate Matt Damiani feels as though graduating in December gives him a head start in looking for employment but overall does not feel that he has an advantage over May Graduates. “It gives me time to look for a job, while everyone else is in class still, but I would much rather prefer to graduate in May,” Damiani says.
Damiani feels as though employers, especially in the business field look more towards May graduations to hire new employees versus December graduates. “Companies looking at 2 year MBA students tend to hire more in June after May graduation versus in January after a December graduation, they are just more towards May graduates,” Damiani says.
According to Damiani the economy is showing some signs of improvement, but individuals graduating in either or December or May is going to have a hard time finding employment as the economy is not where it needs to be. Damiani does however, feel strongly about May being the ideal time to find a job, at least in business field.
Bette Scott, Director of Career Services does agree with how Damiani feels towards employers heavily hiring in the spring versus in the winter. Scott does not completely agree with employers hiring heavily in one part of the year. “Employers hire 365 days a year, they do not hire on an academic calendar,” Scott says.
According to Scott, companies that do hire new graduates have training programs that start in January as well as some that start in May for spring graduates. Scott feels that students that do graduate in December or not at a disadvantage, compared to May graduates.
“In some cases I would recommend that students graduate in December versus graduating in May as that will give them a head start in looking for employment,” Scott says. Another reason Scott says that graduating in December versus graduating in the spring is a good idea is because sometimes there are students that only have a few hours left remaining to graduate, and that could be time spent finding, and or working for a good employer and getting valuable experience.
Scott says that trying to squeeze too many hours into one semester to graduate early is where the spring graduation can be of good benefit to the student.
Treehugger.com
Melanie Jennings, advertising senior and a December graduate as well, agrees with Scott in seeing December graduation as an advantage to be taken rather than a disadvantage in terms of finding gainful employment. “I think that it is an advantage because there are so many May graduates, and there are not that many people going into the job market in January versus in May or June,” Jennings says.
Jennings says that she is planning on going to graduate school, but feels as though the time between January and May will be give her time to look for a good job, and have and have a 5 month advantage over spring graduates.
Heather Spencer, a career counselor in the Gaylord College of Journalism says that she cannot speak for all of the other respective schools on OU’s campus or campus across the nation, but feels as though December graduates do have an advantage over Spring Graduates. “That is time that can be spent getting your foot in the door of a potentially good employment opportunity,” Spencer says.
According to Spencer there is nothing wrong with graduating in May, but if a student has the opportunity to graduate when there are not a large number of students graduating, then that is a leg up in terms of finding a job.
Spencer reiterated that she could not speak for all of the different colleges on the campus and the different respective majors, but agrees with Scott in that employers do hire year round. According to Spencer the most important thing is to be prepared when looking for employment no matter when you graduate.
Spencer says “The most important thing is to be prepared, that means having a resume and cover letter, having a portfolio, if they need that for their major, and to network, network, network.”
It may seem to some that much emphasis is not placed on December graduates, but it is evident that they have a competitive advantage.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Final Project Idea
I would possibly like to do my final project over student's perceptions of this past semester and what they want to accomplish over the winter holidays, and how they feel about the upcoming spring semester.
Why Students Love OU
Students at The University of Oklahoma really do enjoy their time on campus.
“I just love being on this campus, I am having a really good time in college” Danielle Bourgeois Chemical Engineering senior says.
Many students come to the University of Oklahoma to find a beautiful campus, an abundance of academic programs in which to be involved with, and a host of many extracurricular activities.
According to many students OU is one of the most diverse institutions that they may have encountered.
“One thing that is great about going to school here is how diverse it is, I think that the international program is very good,” Bourgeois says.
If positive reviews from students continue, OU will still see an ever increase of enrollment from across the nation and abroad.
“I just love being on this campus, I am having a really good time in college” Danielle Bourgeois Chemical Engineering senior says.
Many students come to the University of Oklahoma to find a beautiful campus, an abundance of academic programs in which to be involved with, and a host of many extracurricular activities.
According to many students OU is one of the most diverse institutions that they may have encountered.
“One thing that is great about going to school here is how diverse it is, I think that the international program is very good,” Bourgeois says.
If positive reviews from students continue, OU will still see an ever increase of enrollment from across the nation and abroad.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Grad School Fair At OU-October 21,2009
There was a Graduate School Fair in the Memorial Union at the University of Oklahoma this past Wednesday. This event was hosted by Career Services and featured a number of graduate programs from schools all across the nation. Tyeshia Waters a junior Petroleum Engineering major from Houston Texas says "I was kind of hesitant about graduate school before I attended the fair, but now I am considering it more seriously now."
Bette Scott, Director of Career Services, says that the graduate school fair is held once a year in the Oklahoma Memorial Union, and that it has been going on for at least the past 10 years. About 60 graduate schools attend the fair on average according to Scott. Graduate schools from the University of Oklahoma participate in the Graduate School Fair as well.
When asked about the student turnout Bette replied "Now that really varies!" The student turnout for the Graduate School Fair is usually around 250-300 Scott says.
According to Scott, the graduate schools that do attend the fair wish they had a more accessible venue to work in. The grad fair is usually held on the third floor of the union in the ballroom. The graduate school representatives feel they would have a higher turn-out of students if they were on the ground floor of the student union where the food court is Scott says.
"There is just not a large enough open space for there to be students and tables other than in the ballroom," Scott says. Scott feels as though enough students are familiar with the union for it not to be such an inconvenience for them to go the third floor ballroom.
For those graduate school representatives that were concerned about the fair not being in a more visible venue, there were signs posted around the student union informing students where the Graduate School Fair was being held. There were specific signs with arrows directing students to the fair.
When you arrive at the fair, there is a sign-in sheet, and Career Services volunteers give you bags in which to place information received from the different schools. From there the students walk in the ballroom where they are able to stop at tables and visit with the friendly graduate school representatives.
Theresa Foster, Program Director for the Saint Francis Hospital, School of Medical Technology, thinks that the Graduate School Fair is a beneficial event and was pleased to be involved with it. Foster says "I think this is a wonderful event for juniors, seniors and maybe even sophomores to participate in, not to just see what my program offers, but to get exposure to what other graduate programs offer as well!"
Foster says that some students do not feel as though graduate school is for them because a certain school may not offer a program that they may be interested in. This is when the graduate school fair makes a difference, as students may find a program that will help them in future careers.
Scott says in terms of having representatives from all the schools physically there makes graduate schools less intimidating for the students. "Having someone that they ask questions right in front of them is really helpful for students- asking questions to a real person that they can't get from the application."
Waters said that having someone to talk to from the schools helped ease some of the worries she had about graduate schools. Foster says that it is important for students to be able to talk face to face with school representatives or to "Put a face with a school or institution."
Scott says questions that are usually directed at grad school representatives include; “When do I need to start applying?” and “Are there classes now that will help me with grad school acceptances?”
When asked about the environment of the grad school fair Scott replied "This is a more laid back environment, we want the students and the representatives to be comfortable, no stress!"
According to Scott, no interviews were going to be scheduled at this time. The purpose of the fair is mainly to get information packets from the school and talk face to face with representatives, and to clear up any misconceptions or confusions that students may have about graduate school admissions and requirements.
Career Services keeps a working data base of the different graduate schools that offer a vast array of graduate programs. Scott says hundreds of physical invitations go out to the various graduate school programs across the country. The invitations are usually sent out between July and August, according to Scott. Scott says the graduate schools can register online if they want to participate in the grad school fair.
Bette Scott, Director of Career Services, says that the graduate school fair is held once a year in the Oklahoma Memorial Union, and that it has been going on for at least the past 10 years. About 60 graduate schools attend the fair on average according to Scott. Graduate schools from the University of Oklahoma participate in the Graduate School Fair as well.
When asked about the student turnout Bette replied "Now that really varies!" The student turnout for the Graduate School Fair is usually around 250-300 Scott says.
According to Scott, the graduate schools that do attend the fair wish they had a more accessible venue to work in. The grad fair is usually held on the third floor of the union in the ballroom. The graduate school representatives feel they would have a higher turn-out of students if they were on the ground floor of the student union where the food court is Scott says.
"There is just not a large enough open space for there to be students and tables other than in the ballroom," Scott says. Scott feels as though enough students are familiar with the union for it not to be such an inconvenience for them to go the third floor ballroom.
For those graduate school representatives that were concerned about the fair not being in a more visible venue, there were signs posted around the student union informing students where the Graduate School Fair was being held. There were specific signs with arrows directing students to the fair.
When you arrive at the fair, there is a sign-in sheet, and Career Services volunteers give you bags in which to place information received from the different schools. From there the students walk in the ballroom where they are able to stop at tables and visit with the friendly graduate school representatives.
Theresa Foster, Program Director for the Saint Francis Hospital, School of Medical Technology, thinks that the Graduate School Fair is a beneficial event and was pleased to be involved with it. Foster says "I think this is a wonderful event for juniors, seniors and maybe even sophomores to participate in, not to just see what my program offers, but to get exposure to what other graduate programs offer as well!"
Foster says that some students do not feel as though graduate school is for them because a certain school may not offer a program that they may be interested in. This is when the graduate school fair makes a difference, as students may find a program that will help them in future careers.
Scott says in terms of having representatives from all the schools physically there makes graduate schools less intimidating for the students. "Having someone that they ask questions right in front of them is really helpful for students- asking questions to a real person that they can't get from the application."
Waters said that having someone to talk to from the schools helped ease some of the worries she had about graduate schools. Foster says that it is important for students to be able to talk face to face with school representatives or to "Put a face with a school or institution."
Scott says questions that are usually directed at grad school representatives include; “When do I need to start applying?” and “Are there classes now that will help me with grad school acceptances?”
When asked about the environment of the grad school fair Scott replied "This is a more laid back environment, we want the students and the representatives to be comfortable, no stress!"
According to Scott, no interviews were going to be scheduled at this time. The purpose of the fair is mainly to get information packets from the school and talk face to face with representatives, and to clear up any misconceptions or confusions that students may have about graduate school admissions and requirements.
Career Services keeps a working data base of the different graduate schools that offer a vast array of graduate programs. Scott says hundreds of physical invitations go out to the various graduate school programs across the country. The invitations are usually sent out between July and August, according to Scott. Scott says the graduate schools can register online if they want to participate in the grad school fair.
Monday, October 12, 2009
My Soundslide Story
My Soundslide story is about the process that the HU (Hampton University) Sail team
goes through when they return from sailing around in the Chesapeake Bay.
The Sail team has to come into the bay, pull the sail boats up on the dock,
bring the sails down, and fold them completely, then wash the salt off the boats,
and finally cover them for the next outing. It seems as though it is a hard process
to put the sail boats away, but the HU sail team makes it look fast and easy!
goes through when they return from sailing around in the Chesapeake Bay.
The Sail team has to come into the bay, pull the sail boats up on the dock,
bring the sails down, and fold them completely, then wash the salt off the boats,
and finally cover them for the next outing. It seems as though it is a hard process
to put the sail boats away, but the HU sail team makes it look fast and easy!
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Midterm Project
On Wednesday, October 21, 2009 there will be a Grad School Fair.
The fair is going to be held in the Oklahoma Memorial Union Ball Room.
This fair will have representatives from grad schools all across the nation.
The representatives will come from a large array of disciplines.
The representatives from the schools will provide information as to what it will take to be accepted into grad school and what it takes to be successful in graduate school.
I think that it would be interesting to get their professional opinions about undergraduate students who wish to enter grad school and to get students' take on the requirements of grad school and do they feel like they are up to the challenge.
The fair is going to be held in the Oklahoma Memorial Union Ball Room.
This fair will have representatives from grad schools all across the nation.
The representatives will come from a large array of disciplines.
The representatives from the schools will provide information as to what it will take to be accepted into grad school and what it takes to be successful in graduate school.
I think that it would be interesting to get their professional opinions about undergraduate students who wish to enter grad school and to get students' take on the requirements of grad school and do they feel like they are up to the challenge.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
College Students are not focused
Students are not as focused as they once were. This is due to advancements in technology, hating of
classes, and the craving for social interactions, according to findcollegecards.com.
Jamie Birdwell, junior professional writing major says “I lose focus all of the time, especially this week!” Birdwell says that she would rather be face- booking and relaxing with friends than studying sometimes.
StateUniversity.com says that students enjoy their independence in being away from home at college but soon realize that a large amount of responsibility comes with this new found independence.
Students become burnt-out and discouraged because of course work load and quit regardless of GPA, according to StateUniversity.com.
Jamie Birdwell says in order to stay focused on school work “I will get off facebook, go to the living room and do homework with my roommate, and it’s kind of motivational for me.” Studies have shown studying with a group versus studying alone does improve focus and decreases college drop-out rates.
classes, and the craving for social interactions, according to findcollegecards.com.
Jamie Birdwell, junior professional writing major says “I lose focus all of the time, especially this week!” Birdwell says that she would rather be face- booking and relaxing with friends than studying sometimes.
StateUniversity.com says that students enjoy their independence in being away from home at college but soon realize that a large amount of responsibility comes with this new found independence.
Students become burnt-out and discouraged because of course work load and quit regardless of GPA, according to StateUniversity.com.
Jamie Birdwell says in order to stay focused on school work “I will get off facebook, go to the living room and do homework with my roommate, and it’s kind of motivational for me.” Studies have shown studying with a group versus studying alone does improve focus and decreases college drop-out rates.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Blog Mission Statement
I cannot claim to be an expert on any one subject, at least not on any one subject
that would be of interest to the general population. I consider myself to be a pretty
random individual . I think that my blog should reflect my personality.
With this in mind, my blog will not focus on one particular subject, but will focus on the interests of students, and maybe even faculty and staff members. It will focus on things, such as relationship advice, how to get over senior-itis, how to capture a particular someone’s eye and etc etc….etc.
This advice will not come from me, but from one to a collection of randomly selected individuals who think they may be able to speak on the matter. With this blog my goal is to keep things fresh and interesting not mundane and monotonous!
that would be of interest to the general population. I consider myself to be a pretty
random individual . I think that my blog should reflect my personality.
With this in mind, my blog will not focus on one particular subject, but will focus on the interests of students, and maybe even faculty and staff members. It will focus on things, such as relationship advice, how to get over senior-itis, how to capture a particular someone’s eye and etc etc….etc.
This advice will not come from me, but from one to a collection of randomly selected individuals who think they may be able to speak on the matter. With this blog my goal is to keep things fresh and interesting not mundane and monotonous!
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