CARRIER GOAL

 

What Education Do You Need To Reach Your Career Goals?

As mentioned in the preface, this chapter discusses a wide range of educational questions, beginning with those of interest primarily to undergraduates and ending with the transition to full-time employment. For quick reading, you can use the headings to pick out particular topics. However, we feel that most of the themes discussed in this chapter will be of interest to students at all levels, as well as to faculty advisers and administrators.

The Undergraduate Years

Many students start thinking about the possibility of a career when their interest is ignited by a high-school or undergraduate teacher or some other role model. This is the time to start meeting and talking with scientists and engineers in fields that interest you. These early contacts can be crucial in helping you to navigate the terrain of science and engineering as you move through your career.

The undergraduate years are probably your best chance

Suggested Citation:"4 WHAT EDUCATION DO YOU NEED TO REACH YOUR CAREER GOALS?." Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, and National Academy of Engineering. 1996. Careers in Science and Engineering: A Student Planning Guide to Grad School and Beyond. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5129.

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to take a broad variety of classes outside your primary discipline that might be useful later. For example, a mathematics major who takes accounting is better equipped to do actuarial work. An ecology major would gain perspective from classes in environmental engineering or environmental policy that can have lifelong benefits.

Classes in economics, sociology, history, philosophy, English (with emphasis on composition), foreign language, and psychology, spread through the undergraduate years, are immensely useful in helping you to acquire understanding, different experiences, and maturity. As science and technology become more central in our society, scientists and engineers become more involved with other, nonresearch domains of human experience.

An effective way for students to learn about graduate education is to join (or form) a study group to discuss homework and share concerns. In a university setting, you can meet with graduate students and postdoctoral researchers and gain insights about specific graduate programs, possible careers, and the current job market. You can join student chapters of scientific and engineering disciplinary societies, both general (such as the Society of Women Engineers) and specific (such as the American Chemical Society). These can help you gain leadership and communication skills and can often assist in networking with senior members who can provide advice and possibly employment opportunities once you graduate.

Work with your undergraduate adviser not only to plan the science or engineering courses you will need, but also to ensure a well-rounded experience in this, your last general educational experience. Ask your adviser to provided

Suggested Citation:"4 WHAT EDUCATION DO YOU NEED TO REACH YOUR CAREER GOALS?." Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, and National Academy of Engineering. 1996. Careers in Science and Engineering: A Student Planning Guide to Grad School and Beyond. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/5129.

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Sstudies and into your career.

Remember that you are partly responsible for building a helpful relationship with your undergraduate adviser. Prepare for meetings with your adviser by thinking about where your interests and talents lie; think of four or five points you will make. The more you take the initiative and pose carefully thought-out questions, the more likely it is that your adviser, a busy faculty or staff member with a heavy workload, will take the time and effort necessary to be an effective mentor. He or she cannot divine your concerns; you must express them.

If you are considering graduate school, take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) during your junior or senior year. This is a test required for admission to most graduate schools. Discuss with your adviser your potential for advanced study. The results of the GRE, your grade point average, and your adviser's opinion will help you to decide whether you have the potential for graduate school.

Decisions About Graduate School

As an undergraduate, you might find it hard to get a clear picture of the graduate environment. This is where an effective faculty adviser, as someone who has ''been there," can provide invaluable help. Seek out your adviser (or another mentor) and learn what you can as early as possible

Deciding Whether to Attend Graduate School

You do not necessarily need a graduate degree to have a career in science or engineering. 

Mature student personal statement pointers

1. Answer the question ‘why now…?’

A question mature students should address is why you've decided to change direction and apply to university at this particular point in your life.

Perhaps it was always the plan – but building on the context of your decision-making in your statement will help an admissions tutor get a picture of your commitment to and suitability for the course.

This may require some reflection as to why you didn't choose to go to university immediately after school or college, and perhaps how you have changed since then.

2. Show evidence of recent study

Even if it's in a non-relevant field, any evidence of formal study helps to show the admissions tutor that you enjoy studying, that you're capable of studying, and that you're ready to rejoin academia.

Whether it's night school, an Access to HE course, on-the-job courses, or anything else, make sure to reflect on it in your statement.

3. Demonstrate your personal progression

For a college leaver, it's easy to show that the next step is a degree in a subject that’s relevant to what they have already been learning. But it's just as important for mature applicants to show a sense of progression from their varied work, study, or personal experiences to show admissions tutors that their next natural step is into a relevant degree.

This could be done, for example, by mentioning your work experience, training courses, interests and hobbies, or your general reading.

The primary goal for many mature applicants is to train for a new career. If so, whatever career area you have in mind, show awareness of its specific challenges, and that you’ve researched this before you apply.

4. Understand the time commitments of degree study

Mature students can drop out of uni for a variety of reasons, but it's often centred around the difficulty of juggling other commitments (such as family, childcare, part-time work, or travel).

Show your understanding of what studying a full- or part-time degree would entail. This can be done by knowing what goal you are hoping the degree will lead to, and writing spiritedly about your desire to achieve this goal, despite the sacrifices you know it will require.

It can also be addressed head on, simply by demonstrating your awareness of the pressures and commitment needed, and your readiness and ability to see the degree through.

5. Keep your statement story honest – and personal

There might be less tangible reasons for applying to university as a mature applicant than simply training for a new career. We discussed this with 65 year old Peter White, who was successful in applying for a fine art degree.

After retiring from a programming career in the engineering industry, he wanted to fulfil his passion and maximise his own potential as an artist.

What was really striking about Pete's statement is how personal it was. He wrote a condensed version of his journey in his own words – his career, personal interests, the development of his painting and drawing, the constraints of his family circumstances, and his reasons for applying.

For him, the bottom line was simply this: 'I told them the truth

MATURE 

STUDENTS: FIVE THINGS TO INCLUDE IN YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT