This week, ACU’s Graduate School program is offering information and advice to students during Graduate School Awareness Week.
Brandon Lemley, director of graduate admissions and marketing, said the event started three years ago with the goal of raising awareness about graduate programs and graduate culture on campus.
“But we’re not just interested in getting folks to come to ACU,” Lemley said. “We really want students to think about furthering their education and understanding what program is right for them.”
Along with the many events representing ACU’s graduate programs, the school is hosting a Graduate and Professional School Fair with 25 representatives from other university coming to showcase what their universities offer on Thursday.
Bree Craig, graduate marketing coordinator, said ACU’s Graduate School is expanding.
“We added four new programs this summer,” Craig said. “We want to open it up so people are aware of our graduate school, not just that we have one but what our programs are and what we offer.”
During Graduate School Awareness Week, students will be given the chance to interact with current graduate students at events, Craig said.
“I think it’s a good time for undergraduate students to see that there are still graduate students on campus. I know we don’t have a lot of interaction between undergrad and grad, so there will be some times they can meet graduate faculty, staff and students,” Craig said. “It’s a good opportunity to ask questions candidly about graduate school, about certain programs.”
Turquoise Pipes, a second year clinical psychology graduate student from Sacramento, Calif., and Courtney Terry, a first year general psychology graduate student from Los Angeles, Calif., attended the Graduate School’s Coffee House event to mingle with undergraduate students.
“It gives undergrads an opportunity to get a feel for what they can expect,” Pipes said. “Having the opportunity to talk to someone who’s already been in a program and can really give them a birds’ eye view of what they need to do for grad school is important.”
A schedule of events can be found on the ACU Graduate School page on acu.edu.
“Start early,” Lemley said. “Really think about ‘what is your end goal’ and find the program that prepares you best for that goal.”
