Fair thee well in grad School

The Whole Story

Graduate School

Why this story is important: I feel that this story is important because it provides awareness of the graduate school at VSU. It also shows how dedicated faculty and staff are at trying to help students succeed by providing them with information to continue their education.

What I did to get this story: To get this story I attended the graduate school fair Thursday, April 3 from 4-6 p.m., where I interviewed faculty and students and took photographs of the event. The following day, I interviewed Meg Giddings, coordinator of graduate admissions, to get more information about what graduate school has to offers its students. I also located information on the application process and programs available through VSU’s Web page.

Online links to the information used in this story: http://www.valdosta.edu/gradschool/

The VSU Graduate School hosted its yearly graduate school fair in the Bailey Science Building Atrium April 3, to provide students the opportunity to speak with faculty and graduate students about programs offered.

While Meg Giddings, coordinator of graduate admissions, hoped for a better turnout, those who attended were presented with a room filled with department faculty who provided
pamphlets, flyers, poster boards with detailed program information and one-on-one discussions.

Some of the students present were close to graduation or finishing up their freshman year, but what they shared was the desire to learn about what VSU has to offer.

“I’m getting ready to graduate here [at VSU] so I’m comfortable, I know the professors and I’m comfortable with the area,” Ashia Walker, a senior psychology major, said.

Other students, such as Shane Wilson, an English graduate student, were present to talk with students about their experiences and why they decided to attend graduate school.

“I want to eventually teach English at a university level,” Wilson said.

Meg Giddings, who handles the recruiting for the graduate school, was also present at the graduate school fair. She felt the goal of the event was to provide more awareness to students about what VSU has to offer, other than undergraduate degrees.

“I would really like them [students] to know that we’re here,” Giddings said. “I think that many undergraduates come to VSU and live in an undergraduate bubble. Graduate school is often sort of an afterthought.”

According to Giddings, VSU has approximately 45 programs to offer students. The programs fall under the following departments: college of education, college of arts and sciences, college of arts, college of business administration, college of nursing, division of social work and master of library and information science.

Through yearly graduate fairs and attending other VSU related events, Giddings hopes for graduate school to have more of a presence so that students know they’re here.

However, the number of applicants for graduate school is increasing. According to Giddings, for the fall of 2007 they received close to 1,100 applications. For this month, they have seen a 40 percent increase for the fall of 2008.

With an increase in applications comes competition, depending on the program.

“It means the students really need to come prepared as applicants to really get to know the process on our end and really prepare their applications very well,” Giddings said.

According to Giddings, VSU has a lot to offer its undergraduate students, as well as, students coming from other campuses.

“I think that in order to stay in keeping with our mission as a university and as a graduate school, I want out undergraduates to know we’re here, we’re available, and that there are a lot of opportunities for continuing [their] education in South Georgia,” Giddings said.
According to the VSU Web site, the general application deadline for the summer is May 1 and for the fall July 15. Specific program deadlines are available on-line. All applicants must apply for admission or readmission and pay the non-refundable fee of $40, or $35 if applying on-line. Applicants must also turn in VSU transcripts and those from previous institutions, submit test scores and recommendations. Specific departments may have other requirements.

For more information on graduate school or to apply, visit http://www.valdosta.edu/gradschool/.