Career Services holds last Workshop Wednesday

Workshop Wednesdays are saying farewell until next year. The Troy University Office of Career Services held its final Workshop Wednesday on April 22 with its biggest turnout yet.  

The workshop titled “Grad School Prep” showed students where to begin their graduate school application process and how to successfully apply to the school of their dreams.  

“It was an amazing presentation that was really informative and helpful for sophomores and freshmen who want to understand more early on,” said Vrund Shah, the Career Services graduate administration assistant and a computer science master's student from Anand, India. “It was also great for juniors and seniors who want to kick start their applications.  

“It also showed what things they do need, how to get everything correct and not miss out anything or have any faults in their application.”  

As a graduate student at Troy, Career Services thought it would be fitting for Shah to orchestrate the final workshop on graduate school prep. Shah gave a presentation outlining how to decide if graduate school is right for you, which school is right for you and how to adequately prepare for applications.  

“I didn't think about how serious the applications were for the graduate schools and how much action needs to be put into it,” said Jackson Perkins, a freshmancomputer science major from Panama City Beach, Florida. “Now that I kind of know what needs to be done, especially with how early I am in my university career, I feel like I should start preparing, even before I find out where I’m going.” 

The presentation also gave a timeline of when students should start research and begin their application process. Many were shocked to see that they should ideally start researching and building their resumes six months to one year in advance.  

Shah especially stressed asking professors for letters of recommendation well ahead of when they may be due.  

Anh Nguyen, a senior chemistry major from Vietnam, was one of the students in attendance and has already been accepted into Georgia Southern’s graduate program for applied physical science. His biggest piece of advice was to contact your school directly. 

“Talk to faculty,” Nguyen said. “I think I got in because I directly emailed the program director.”  

Nguyen said he found Georgia Southern’s faculty online and emailed them politely explaining that what research he had done in undergrad and how he really wanted to go to his school. He recommended other students step out of their comfort zone and do the same.  

Even though Workshop Wednesdays have come to close, the Troy University Career Services Office will still stay open until the end of the school year.  

Those interested in learning more can swing by Career Services in Eldridge 124 anytime or make an advising appointment on Handshake.