Graduate Awareness Week is helping students prepare for graduate school Monday through Thursday.

Events throughout the week will prepare students to start considering their options after graduation, said admissions and student services advisor Jamie Bearden.

Bearden said the Office of Graduate Programs is hoping students will start asking questions, gathering information, visiting with faculty, and visiting with the graduate staff so that they can find the best path after graduation.

“I think the students are beginning to realize the benefits of pursuing a graduate education and they are starting to see that it opens up so many doors in their future and in their careers,” Bearden said.

Events started Monday with the graduate office serving donuts by the GATA fountain.  Other events include the Grad fest Monday night, information sessions for certain departments, and a GRE prep course on Thursday.

“What we are trying to do is raise awareness for all the graduate programs that we offer here,” said Jacque Alexander, director of graduate marketing. “I think a lot of students don’t even know that we have grad programs, so it is a really good way to bring awareness to it and let them know what their options are.”

At information sessions, students can get to know the program director and meet graduate students in the program.

“Students may think that grad school is a ways off, but it comes a lot faster than you would expect it,” Alexander said. “College flies by. It’s really good to start gaining information as soon as you can, and even if you don’t know if you are interested in grad school, it can’t hurt you to come and learn.”

For more information and a complete schedule, acu.edu/grad-events.