The Diamondback, Spring 2021 Grad School Guide

SCHOOL GUIDE THE DIAMONDBACK

SPRING 2021

Insider Tips: How to Get Into a Maryland Smith Business Master’s Program With several programs ranked among the top in the nation, the Smith School’s Business Master’s programs have grown to become a popular way for students to grow their marketable skill sets before heading into their careers.

Evaluating programs and applying to graduate schools can be a stressful process, especially when you pile it on top of an undergraduate course load. That’s why we asked Pasquale Quintero, Senior Director Full-Time MBA and Business Master’s Recruiting, at Maryland Smith, for advice on how to stand out among other applicants and set yourself up for success in your future career.

1. Don’t wait until your senior year to start thinking about graduate school.

At Smith, the Plus1 Program gives University of Maryland undergrads the chance to take graduate-level courses while finishing their undergraduate degree. This puts them on track to enroll in one of eight business master’s programs, which include programs like the Master of Finance, or the Master of Science in Business Analytics. Then, students are ready to graduate with both an undergraduate and a master’s degree in five years, saving time and thousands of dollars in credit hours.

Says Quintero, “If you’re ambitious or coming in with a lot of AP credits, adding a master’s degree is a great idea. A lot of students translate their credits into a double major, but in many cases when you graduate you’ll be more marketable with a bachelor’s and a master’s instead of a double degree.”

2. Use your essay to explore your career goals.

Being thoughtful about what you want to do professionally and how a particular

degree will help you achieve your goals earns a lot of points with admissions advisers. It also paves the way for conversations that will ultimately help you determine whether the program you’re applying to really will fit your needs.

Paired with your resume and application, you’ll want to give a full picture of who you are and why you’re such a valuable candidate.

3. Get to know the recruiters and the program.

Engage with the recruiting team, says Quintero. “It’s important that when we’re reviewing candidates and applications, we can recall having a conversation with that individual. It’s also helpful pre-application, when we can consult and advise students regarding their own unique circumstances.” Attending an information session, or taking part in something less formal, like a coffee chat or virtual drop-in, is a great first step to evaluate the program and to establish a connection with the recruiters.

4. Tailor your resume to show off your qualifications.

Use your resume to show admissions advisers what makes you an ideal student for their degree program. For example, if you’ve applied to a Business Master’s program, and are coming from an undergraduate program that isn’t known for its quantitative rigors, list stat courses you took, or make reference to projects that involved the use of regres-

sion analysis. Listing internships and extracurriculars and the lessons you learned therein can also help lend support to your case for candidacy.

5. Proofread. Then do it again.

“I can’t tell you how many times we’ve received applications or essays with another university’s name on them,” says Quintero. “While they give us a chuckle, they aren’t doing the applicant any favors.” Proofreading your application, resume and essay are essential to putting together an admissions package that will impress recruiters. It’s a great way to demonstrate attention to detail and pride in your work.

A graduate degree, and especially a Business Master’s degree from Maryland Smith, isn’t just about the diploma you’re handed at the end of all of your hard work. It’s also about the resources you gain from the program you attend.

At Smith, the Office of Career Services is an important partner in your career journey, setting you up for success both in the near-term and in the future with coaches, mock interviews and resume workshops, to name only a few of their services. Learn more about Plus1, and the Business Master’s programs, at go.umd.edu/plusone

UNDERGRADS! GET YOUR EDGE WITH A BUSINESS MASTER’S DEGREE

The Plus 1 program helps you save time and money by earning combined bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

• Take graduate courses at the same time as your undergraduate courses

Maryland Advantage offers admissions incentives for eligible UMD graduating seniors who want to apply for a business master’s degree.

Recipients can receive:

• Earn both your bachelor’s and master’s degrees in five years

• A scholarship award

• Save thousands on tuition costs

• Priority admissions decision

• Accelerate your career trajectory

• A personalized career coaching session before starting your program

• A GMAT/GRE waiver

• Apply while pursuing any undergraduate major

DEGREE PROGRAM OPTIONS • Accounting

• Marketing Analytics

• Business Analytics

• Information Systems

• Business and Management

• Quantitative Finance

• Finance

• Supply Chain Management

LEARN MORE Visit: go.umd.edu/msadmissions Contact: smithmasters@umd.edu

GRAD

SCH O O L

SURVEY

To get a better idea of what University of Maryland students are planning to do after graduation, The Diamondback emailed a survey to over 1,700 UMD seniors to learn more about their thoughts on graduate school options. Here are their responses:

49%

16%

Want to stay in the area

Want to leave the area

35%

Unsure abo staying in the a

63%

out area

Are thinking about applying for grad school

84%

Say financing is a concern to consider

TOP 12 GRAD PROGRAMS BEING CONSIDERED

Medical Occupational Therapy Engineering Psychology Architecture Chemistry Physician Assistant Nursing Economics

Business

Physics

Law

TOP W

80%

Want to go full time

S

82%

Want to go in person

P 4 REASONS STUDENTS ARE WAITING ON GRAD SCHOOL 1 Cost 2 Want work experience first 3 Considering other education options 4 Don’t think it’s necessary for their career

Apply now for Fall 2021!

Data Science and Machine Learning degrees Earn your master’s in less than 2 years.

Evening classes.

No GRE required.

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MARTIN GRANDJEAN / CC BY–SA 4.0

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2/3/21 2:09 PM

APRIL

MARCH

FEBRUARY

Are you thinking about grad school and the next steps you will need to take to get there? If so, here are the top tips for preparing for grad school this spring.

Credit: University of Houston, University Career Services