Admissions - Undergraduate Admissions @ Rowan University

Where Do We Go From Here?

Classes are over for the semester, and all that is left for students is some final exams and the graduation ceremony. The commencement ceremony will be held next week, and it’s even going to be broadcast on a live webcast. This is a great way for the families of students to watch the ceremony, even if they live far off and are unable to attend in person. Some students come to Rowan from out of state, and others come from North Jersey and have a several hour drive to get here. For anyone who is far away, or who has another reason why they can’t make it to the commencement in person, the webcast offers a chance to watch the ceremony from a distance. It’s also an alternative for students who have very large families, since there are a limited number of tickets available for the ceremony. There are over 2300 graduating seniors this year, and it would be impossible for all of them to invite 10 or 20 people a piece. It’s helpful then to have an alternative way for friends, extended family, and others to still see the ceremony.

After graduation, students are going to be faced with the question of what comes next. While a lot of students might be looking for local jobs, there are opportunities available on a much broader scale. For example, a recent Rowan Today article shared the stories of some Rowan graduates who are doing amazing things after graduation, including one who is traveling to Africa as part of the Peace Corps. The article lists a lot of other amazing things Rowan graduates are doing, including some pretty interesting career opportunities.

Students who aren’t yet sure what they’re going to do can get help from the Rowan Career Management Center, which offers support to alumni and recent graduates. One of the ways they help Rowan students find jobs is by organizing job fairs, such as the Gloucester County Career Resource Event. They also offer support for resumes, interviews, and online resources for job searches.

Rowan Alumni can also keep in touch with each other through various events, which help graduates stay connected even if their paths take them in different directions in life. Keeping up to date on what’s happening at the Rowan Alumni website can help graduates keep in touch with the same community that supported them throughout their academic career.

Best wishes to all of the upcoming Rowan graduates!

Advisers

Though I plan to pursue a career in education, I have been told that it is vital to meet with both advisers in order to make sure you are right on track. As I am entering my last year at Rowan next year, I wanted to make sure everything was in order for me to graduate next spring with both of my degrees. With that in mind, I met with my Writing Arts adviser. I initially expected us to go over my courses, and I’d be out in ten minutes.

I was in for a pleasant surprise.

It turns out that my adviser has a background in education. We started talking about iPads, and he proceeded to show me a variety of apps that I could not only use in the classroom, but also to present when I go on interviews. I honestly expected my questions to be answered and nothing more, especially because I do not plan on really using my Writing Arts degree. However, he really took the time to show me how I can use the skills I’ve learned in my Writing Arts classes in the classroom. He understood how nervous I was about being able to get a job, so he gave me a lot of different strategies for how to make myself as marketable as possible.

Rowan has a program called GRAD that helps you plan out your courses. It shows you what requirements are filled by your classes, and it gives you a good idea of where you need to go with your education and what you need to do to get there. A lot of people rely on this and avoid meeting with their advisers. This is understandable to an extent because advisers aren’t always available, and you have to make an appointment. However, it is really important to make the extra effort to meet with your adviser. They can stop you from taking classes that you don’t need, and they can make sure that you graduate in a timely manner.

I’m so glad I made the effort to meet with my Writing Arts adviser. I encourage everyone to make this effort, because you never know what other benefits may come from it.

Published: April 15th, 2013
Author: Francesca Schiavo

Categories: Academics
Tags: Academics, Careers, Rowan University, Writing

Countdown to Graduation

With just over a month left in the semester, many students are thinking about final papers, projects, and exams. Some are likely thinking about what they plan to do over summer break. Others are registering for summer classes. Seniors like me, however, already have our sights set on graduation.

After four years (or more than that, in my case as a nontraditional student), graduation is more than just the end of college. It’s a huge accomplishment. It’s the day when all the hard work, late night study sessions, long projects, and exams finally pay off. It’s a major source of pride, especially considering how many people in the world might never go to college. Working so hard to accomplish something many people don’t is an achievement that earns you a well-deserved sense of honor. Everyone who makes it that far deserves a hearty congratulations.

Graduation time also means… graduation parties! A friend of mine just invited me to hers, and I’m very excited. It’s a big deal for all of us who are graduating together this semester, and I’m glad to have the chance to share the celebration with the same people I’ve shared my college experiences with. I hope there’s cake.

These connections with my fellow graduates might also be helpful for my future career. After graduation comes the job search, and knowing other professionals in the same field as me can be extremely good since we might be able to share job leads and information with each other. I’ve already connected with some of my fellow Rowan students on professional networking sites like LinkedIn, and I keep in touch with a lot of them on Twitter. I’m hoping for these connections to grow stronger over time, both to maintain the friendships and to develop a strong professional network.

And of course, for me, graduation day isn’t actually the end of school. I’m applying to Rowan’s graduate school program to get my Master’s degree. This means more time in school, but of course there will be a lot more to learn and a lot more career options available once I’m done. And since Rowan has a wide variety of post-graduate programs available, there are options there for any student who wants to get the most out of their education experience.

For everyone out there, whether you’re about to graduate, continuing on to grad school, or getting ready to start your first semester of college this fall, let’s hope for a great summer ahead.