Year Four

Fourth-Year Expectations

During first semester of Senior year, students should work intensively on job search or graduate school applications. Second semester students should prepare for transition to the world of work or graduate school.

Goal:
To plan and initiate a successful job search or admission to graduate school.

School-Year Activities:

Basics of Personal Growth:

• Continue to get good grades!
• Begin acquiring your professional wardrobe (Christmas and birthday wish lists, etc.)
• Continue involvement as a campus leader.
• Learn necessary skills for independent living:
• Purchasing insurance (health, disability, personal property); securing housing; establishing a personal budget and credit; finalizing transportation plans; relocating.
• Stay current with software revisions.

Basics of Academic Development:

• Register for January term internship.
• Conduct supervised research and consider writing a senior thesis.
• Study Abroad during fall semester if not done in Junior year.
• Apply technology skills in your internship experience.

 

Basics of Career Development:

• Attend a Resume Writing Workshop.
• Prepare or update your resume.
• Develop a specific job search plan:
• Develop a list of potential employers and conduct appropriate research on those
• companies/organizations.
• Identify the types of positions that fit your career goals, and the
• companies/organizations that hire such positions.
• Use multiple methods to prospect for job leads.
• Prepare cover and application letters.
• Continue to cultivate and expand your professional network.
• Contact potential employers, be persistent and follow through on all job leads.
• Attend Interview Skills workshop.
• Participate in a videotaped Mock Interview.
• Explore post-graduate internship opportunities.
• Master one additional specific major computer application, i.e. database, spreadsheet, graphics, desktop publishing, etc.
• Enhance personal web page to function as a job search tool which includes an on-line resume and personal portfolio.
• Register for and take the Tek.Xam.
  
  

If Graduate School:

• Prepare all graduate school application forms and submit before deadline.
• Prepare for graduate school interviews.
• Secure letters of recommendation from faculty.
• Develop back-up plan for employment if graduate school applications are unsuccessful.
• Finalize financing plans for graduate school.