This reflection paper examines a student's experience preparing to apply to two graduate programs: an MBA with a Certificate in Integrated Marketing Communication and a Master of Communication Management. The paper explores the applicant's mixed feelings of unpreparedness alongside genuine confidence in their qualifications, the challenges of writing personal essays versus interviewing, and the process of securing references. The author draws on prior undergraduate success as reassurance, and candidly discusses the difficulty of self-presentation in written form compared to in-person communication. Together, these reflections offer an honest portrait of the graduate admissions process from the applicant's perspective.
The two graduate programs I identified as possible places to continue my education were an MBA program with a concurrent Certificate in Integrated Marketing Communication and a Master of Communication Management program. Both programs are strongly business-oriented and offer extensive opportunities for obtaining practical experience and networking with professionals already working in the field. Either program would enable a direct and immediately practical application of the communications knowledge obtained during my undergraduate studies, as well as the new knowledge gained during the graduate program itself. In both academic and practical terms, these programs would serve quite well in furthering my opportunities for personal development and professional growth.
At present, I do not feel entirely prepared for graduate school. This is due to a variety of reasons, both personal and academic or professional in nature, and it is not a feeling I can claim to understand fully. One reason I feel unprepared is that I do not know exactly what to prepare for — that is, I am not entirely certain what to expect in graduate school. I also recognize that the experience could change quite drastically depending on which school and program I ultimately attend. This makes it difficult to prepare thoroughly for graduate study in general when programs can differ so significantly, not only in their academic content but in their overall environment as well.
Part of this feeling is simply the natural anxiety that comes with facing something new. I felt somewhat similar about beginning my undergraduate program, and that ultimately worked out incredibly well. I expect that after a week or two in a graduate program I will feel far more prepared for what lies ahead than I currently do. I am not genuinely worried about my level of academic knowledge in the field I am entering, nor about my experience relative to other students in the program. Once I understand the environment and the expectations of the particular program I enter, my sense of preparedness will likely increase quite significantly. There is no real way to prepare for something entirely brand new, however, and graduate school certainly falls under that heading.
"Strong qualifications and confidence in admission"
"Difficulty writing a compelling personal statement"
"Challenges reconnecting with potential recommenders"
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