Making the Most of Your Virtual Information Session

1. Do Your Homework

Immerse yourself in the basics of the degree you hope to pursue. Some online research will lead you to more info about course descriptions, faculty expertise, application deadlines, class schedules, prerequisites and financial assistance. Spend some time looking into your program to develop some focused questions you can ask during the session.

At Sacred Heart University, a team of graduate admission counselors are ready to answer your questions about SHU’s more than 40 doctoral, master’s and advanced certification programs across diverse disciplines.

Pro tip: Create a list of targeted questions that will get the answers that you need for your life, academic needs and career aspirations, such as:

• What equipment and technology do I need to complete the course?
• What are the extra costs beyond tuition?
• Is there a vibrant professional network of program alumni?
• How does the program position me to find a job after I graduate?
• How many years will it take to complete the program?

2. Focus on Curriculum Details

Given graduate school is a major financial, intellectual and emotional commitment, listen closely to how the curriculum is structured to make sure the program aligns with your academic interests and professional ambitions. Is the curriculum progressive with little time paid to reviewing previous material? Can you participate in interdisciplinary studies? Can you create a personalized schedule to meet your unique goals? What’s the balance between theory and practice?

Pro tip: Make sure you have a handle on other curriculum details, such as:

• Capstone projects, thesis requirements or practicums
• Specializations or concentrations within the program
• Integration of real-world or hands-on learning opportunities
• Course waivers and credit requirements

3. Dig into Career Support and Professional Outcomes

Once you’ve earned your graduate degree, will you be prepared for your next steps? What’s your return on investment? Use your virtual session to identify the resources in place for career development and job placement, such as Sacred Heart’s Center for Career & Professional Development. SHU’s graduate virtual information sessions highlight real-world job experiences, industry partnerships, job placement stats and their alumni network.

Pro tip: Develop questions that provide you with answers about career resources, such as job-hunting tools, employment postings and one-on-one opportunities to foster mentorships or career coaching. You could ask:

• What career services are available to graduate students?
• Are there dedicated career coaches or mentors?
• Can you share job placement or salary data for recent grads?

4. Consider Course Scheduling

As you juggle and balance jobs, families and other commitments, you may wonder whether you have enough time to take courses, work toward your degree and live your life.

Pro tip: During your virtual information sessions, ask about course flexibility and program format. This information is key to achieving success or experiencing burnout. Important considerations include:

• Evening, weekend or online class options
• Full-time versus part-time paths
• Accelerated programs or dual-degree opportunities

5. Clarify Application Expectations

Perhaps it’s been several years since you’ve had to fill out a college application. Even recent graduates may find graduate school applications a bit more complex. Use your virtual information session to clear up what you’ll need beyond test scores and GPAs—and if you’ll even need those! This is insider advice that will help you to strengthen your application.

Pro tip: Don’t leave these important parts of the application out of the conversation:

• Prerequisite coursework or waivers
• Specialized application procedures
• Transcripts from previous colleges and universities
• Letters of recommendation
• Statement-of-purpose tips
• Standardized test waivers or policies

6. Explore School Culture

It may sound unrealistic to suggest you can pick up on school culture through your monitor, but virtual sessions can give you a sense of the community you may soon be joining. Beyond their words, what tone are the presenters setting? Do you feel welcomed and valued? Are faculty or current students available for questions during the session or for follow-up requests? How do they talk about the mission of the college or university or their specific program?

Pro tip: Some questions that get to the heart of a school’s culture include:

• What’s the academic environment like—collaborative or competitive?
• What support systems exist for new or international students?
• How connected are the students to their professors and peers?
• What is the overall grad school experience like?

7. Stay Engaged

Before the session ends, make sure you have the contact info for the graduate admissions office, so you can send follow-up questions or further clarify the information you received.

If you haven’t already signed up for more information about your program at Sacred Heart, now’s the time to do it.

Pro tip: Map out important deadline dates for application and make sure you’ve received the answers you need well before information is due.

Are you ready for your virtual information session?

These digital meetups can go beyond basic information and better inform you about your potential future—but that takes work on your part. When you approach these sessions with preparation, purpose and curiosity, you can gain the information you need to make a sound and confident decision of where you are headed on your graduate education journey.

Jot down your thoughts, grab your notebook, turn on your camera and get ready to ask the questions that matter.

Check out Sacred Heart University’s virtual information sessions for all of its graduate programs, including those in business & STEM, higher education, education, health care, communications & media and social work.

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