Students Exploring Advancing Their Education Through 'Pathways to Graduate School' Course

Cassandra Thomas

GSIE interim Dean Curt Rom talks with students during a session of the Pathways to Graduate School course.

A course offered through the Graduate School and International Education is helping junior and senior undergraduate students explore the opportunities available in graduate school at the University of Arkansas.

Curt Rom, interim dean of the Graduate School and International Education, and interim Associate Dean Christa Hestekin, are each teaching sections of Pathways to Graduate School this spring. It's a 4000-level, eight-week course that pulls back the veil and mystery of graduate education for undergraduate students considering their next steps after graduation.

"This course is designed to help students plan for their future and to explore whether graduate school is right for them," Rom said. "Many students are unaware of the intricacies of graduate education — such as the range of degree programs which might be best for their life aspirations, and how to apply. We want to combat misperceptions and show that graduate school is an achievable for our students who want to take that next step."

The course guides students through the graduate application process, how to prepare a curriculum vitae, and how to write a personal statement, in addition to covering the different types of graduate programs at the U of A and how to research and evaluate them.

"We get so many questions each day from students — questions that are more reactive, meaning there's so many quality prospective students who have a lot of questions about graduate school that they're not able to find on their own," said David Tolliver, assistant director of graduate recruitment and outreach, who taught a section in 2022. "So we definitely saw a need to fill and thought a course like this would provide a good opportunity for students to not only learn more about graduate school, but get answers to the questions they're curious about."

Students completing the course were also entered in a raffle giving away five free GRE vouchers, each voucher valued at more than $200.

The course was first taught in Honors College last spring semester before expanding it across the university in the fall. Tolliver said they're exploring online course delivery options for the course as well.

"Students have been really engaged in the course — not just with me, but with each other as well," Tolliver said. "They really appreciate that someone is guiding them not just through a process, but they're completing all their application materials in the course and are prepared to apply to graduate school by the end of it. They have valued having the opportunity to complete the materials with an instructor who can give them instant feedback."

Student Tyler Trammell enrolled in the course as she wanted to attend graduate school and wanted to be prepared when she applied. She said the eight weeks in the course provided an abundance of knowledge and information about graduate education.

"This was one of the most informative and useful courses I have ever taken," she said. "I have told so many friends about how incredibly informative it is and so many had never even heard of it. One of the key takeaways from this class is that I learned it is never too early to apply and to always reach out to the graduate coordinator of interest to start building your relationship. Before enrolling in this course, I knew graduate school was competitive and demanding. While in this class, my thoughts were confirmed. However, I also learned that a successful school-life balance is possible."

For more information about Pathways to Graduate School, visit the course catalog.