Page 94 - Phoenix1998-99

Thursday, December 10, 1998 - Page 14 FEATURES Graduate school forces students to become self-starters BV JOAN FAULKNER have to pay a lot of bills. School doesn't Staff Writer .always get the attention it deserves. It's hard to have a social life to a certain degree. but a Many undergraduates think that they defi- social life becomes less important the older nitely want to continue their education onto you get." graduate school. Although unsure what ex- Morrisseu is in her second year here at actly they want to do or what they're getting WMC. The twenty-four year old first at- themselves into, they do know that they want tended Bradford University in Virginia, ma- to make a lot of money in their chosen field. joring in psychology. Unfortunately, there is a lot of work to She decided to go to graduate school do to get ready for graduate school. As an mainly to make more money because "a undergraduate, although it may not seem-like psych degree gets 'you nowhere." it, college is pretty much a free life for a She also wanted to work with kids and while. Initially, of course, it is hard being decided that guidance counseling in an edh- away from family and friends, being inde- cation program was the kind of career she pendent, meeting new people, learning how wanted. to deal with finances, and getting a sense of Morrissett plans to get a certification in one's s·elf. guidance counseling, a master's in counsel- College is mostly a time to be having fun, ing, and, hopefully in four years, her license "Unless you're going to med school or have a direct laid out path and know for certain, I'd recommend working for a couple of years and holding a job in a variety of positions. " Jim Willis works at his desk in the college activities office. The operation supervisor chose to Jim Willis work/or three years before pursuing a masters degree in human resources, here at WMG. variety of positions." Willis himself took go about deciding about graduate school, though it is necessary to keep up with stud- to counsel. In exchange for free tuition, she three years off before deciding to enroll at Morrissett says, "wait until you're serious ies, but is not always a time to seriously has also helped create Hall Council. WMC as a grad student. consider a career at hand. Willis also has ajob that gives him free Both Morrissen and Willis are younger about a career you want to take on. Research the field you She to enter." want also Two graduate students from Western tuition. He got the job as supervisor first, than most graduate students. Most are in Maryland College, Jennifer Morrissett and before realizing that classes were free and their 30's to mid 40's, in the middle of a ca- strongly emphasizes job experience. • in short, is a very big Graduate school. Jim Willis, both agreed that graduate school deciding to enroll. reer change. step to make on the way to a career. Granted, is nothing like undergraduate school. As operation supervisor, Willis super- Morrissen only took a year off before it is often needed to really get serious about The biggest issue for both. and for most vises the information desk, game room, and moving to Westminster, where she grew up, one's direction in life. But it is not some- graduate students, is the money. In under- thirty-seven employees. He is in charge of and enrolling as a graduate student. What thing to rush into. graduate school, parents often pay the bills, the setup crew and the operation of Decker she looked for in a graduate school is "class It is a huge commitment, and therefore. but graduates are usually on their own. Center. working as supervisor of activities, availability, how well known a college it is, undergraduates should get as much experi- Morrissett juggles four jobs over the and general manager of the office. how well-respected it is as a school. and who ence in their field as they can and begin to course of a week, while attending three Willis. 26, attended Franklin and Mar- are the best professors." take on research projects to get a general- classes. Morrissett describes her life as a shall College in Lancaster, P.A. He always When asked how undergraduates should ized background in their field. "time crunch. You work full time, attend knew he wanted to go on to grad school, but classes, and still have to find time for a so- "didn't know what [he] wanted to study." ciallife." At first Willis was thinking about law or and hopes to get Aspiring musicians show As an undergraduate. Morrissett "worked medical school, but has since turned to hu- during the summer and blew all the money man resources development [she) made over year. but didn't owe a dime." a master's in this area by March of 1999. Her parents paid all her bills. but when she As advice for future grad students, Willis to Insight to Life with demo CD decided to go on to graduate school, her par- recommends that "unless you're going ents said it was her tum to pa~ up. med school or have a direct laid out path and Jim Willis, the operation supervisor for know for certain. I'd recommend working the College Activities Office agrees. "You for a couple of years and holding a job in a Cheap Thrills Hello. friends. 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