The Search for Graduate School: Part 2

The Big Moment:

In the six weeks prior to OPE weekend, all the candidates (who could make it) and myself got together once a week to go over how the weekend would go down.
- What to say in an interview.
- What kind of questions would be asked.
- What to wear.
- Events outside of the interviews.
- Resume reviews.
- Cover letter tips.
- Thank you card dos and don'ts.
And whatever else we needed to know to be fully prepared.

The week before OPE came, my boyfriend and I broke up due to, I guess the best way to say it is, irreconcilable differences. So that was pretty tough, but I guess it was good to get that out of the way and focus solely on myself and my own personal needs. At that point, I had nothing holding me back from going to any school anywhere. But I still wasn't about to move out west. Hah.

Anyway, the day came where it was time to drive to Oshkosh. I left class I little early that day so that I could make sure I had everything packed and loaded into my car and then my weekend roommate brought her stuff outside and we carpooled on over to OPE.

When we got there, my body was flowing with excitement, energy, and wonder. The conference hall was decorated in all sorts of posters from different schools that all said, 'Interview with us!" It was almost overwhelming. I remember seeing one certain advertisement that used memes to make light of the institution. To some people, they thought it was unprofessional. For me, I saw it as, "Hey, we're a fun laid-back school! Come interview with us." I actually had an interview lined up with them already and I couldn't wait to meet their interview team.

We brought our luggage to our room and then decided to explore the building. In the mail room, there was pizza, soda, people, and of course, mail. In our mailboxes were things called "swag." Notes from schools saying, "We can't wait to meet you," invitations to sign up for more interviews, energy bars, water bottles, snacks, and all kinds of other things. I knew then that I was going to have an Awesome weekend.

I went to every social I was invited to, every informational session, and by the end of the weekend I had attended 4 socials, 1 info session, and had 17 interviews. In two days. When I told my HR professors about it, I saw horror flash in their eyes.

Needless to say, there were two schools I had fallen in love with, one I was curious about, and a few I was on the fence about. And just as my advisors had told me before, the schools I had been excited for before, were schools I cared not about after interviewing with them. One school I loved on paper tended to appreciate football more than anything else, and when they found out I wasn't a fanatic, I knew I was out of the running. Hilarious, no? The school with the awesome advertisement? I was IN LOVE with them and they loved me. At that point, I thought, this is the school for me.

And then came time for On-Campus Interviews...

To Be Continued...

The Search for Graduate School: Part 1

The Beginning...

So, I know many of you have been wondering how my OPE experience has been for me. Well, finally, I am going to tell you. It's been a long, grueling, entertaining, educational, embarrassing, reflective, and whatever other big word, experience for me.

What is OPE?:
For those of you who don't know what OPE is, it is the Oshkosh Placement Exchange. It is an enormous conference that occurs in Oshkosh (obviously) and lasts about 3.5 days. There, is where candidates and employers from all over the country go to find jobs and employees. For candidates, which is what I was, we go to OPE to either find a full-time Bachelor's level job or a part-time job with fantastic benefits. My preference was the latter.

What was I looking for?:
I had a few simple requirements. First off, I needed a graduate school that had a GPA requirement lower than 3.0, because I'm not that smart. I think my final cumulative GPA was 2.98. (Because you need to know.) My second requirement was, it had to have a Higher Education type program, or Counseling because I was on the fence. As for benefits, I needed tuition to be waived. I've already got  a ton of student loans, thanks to UWW, so I didn't want anymore. (How much, you do not need to know.)
Hmm, what else? Oh yeah, I didn't want to move out west. Nothing's out there but loneliness. LOL.

What is this "Higher Education"?
Higher Education, Student Affairs, or College Student Personnel, are all basically the same program, just different names. If you're familiar with one, then you'll know the other. For those of you who don't know either, the easiest way for me to explain it is this: A master's degree in working with college level students.
Whether it be in Residence Life, Academic Advising, Career Counseling, Multicultural Services, etc, these are all (mostly) Master's level, Higher Education professionals. Unless they have their PhD. But you would know that by their names. :P

Before OPE:
I didn't sign up until December. Registration opened up in October. I knew I was going either way, but I hadn't wanted to sign up because I started the year with incredible mid-mid-life crises. I kept flip-flopping between what kind of program I wanted. I was afraid of the uncertain. Anytime the possibility of failure crept into my mind, I became terrified. How would I handle it if I wasn't able to achieve my dreams? My goals? The only thing I had been working towards my whole college career?

Then there was the money factor. Registration itself was $100+. Then there's lodging. Every application process was different. Some jobs required application to the graduate school before even being considered for an interview spot. Those are a pretty penny as well.

The TIME!! For every different opportunity, I made new cover letters, edited my resume a tad, and then depending on the employer, had other paperwork to fill out.

It was an intense process that took so much of my time, and when I had thought I was done, I was told to push forward even more and keep searching. On top of everything else that was going on in my life, I don't know how I managed. I really don't.

Then came OPE Weekend.

To Be Continued...

What I Think Your Music Taste Says About You

Since graduating, my life hasn't really been that interesting... well, not interesting enough to blog about. So, today, I'm just making up a bunch of stuff to entertain you and me.

Today's topic is relating your music taste to your personality. It may be filled with some bias according to my tastes.

Please don't take offense. Or do, I guess it doesn't matter. I'm making it up as I go anyway.

Top 40: You feel the need to 'fit in' and listen to music that everyone else likes because you're not creative or original enough to find your own music interests. Also, you claim fandom to artists but have never listened to anything that doesn't play on the radio.

Alternative: You want to be different from the Top 40 peeps but aren't committed enough to venture into other genres.

90s: You're stuck in your childhood and afraid to face the future and be an actual adult. You also love annoying others with your... not so great taste.

Indie: You're either creative in your choices of music or you're following the new trend that is 'deep,' 'emotional,' and 'new.'

80s or prior: You know what good music is.

Dubstep: You don't need interesting lyrics to get you through the day, just an bunch of bass-dropping and screeching that's arranged in way to almost sound like music.

R&B: You're either a romantic, or obsessed with the opposite sex. It depends on the artist.

Pop: You like to have fun and sing with your friends.

Foreign: You're in love with a language that isn't your own. You started learning this language in middle school and constantly wish you could live in a different country.

Deathcore: You're effing crazy and just need to tone it down a notch.

Rap: You either value the spoken word, or think you're a badass living the thug life. Stop it.

Oh let's see, what else is there?

Electronica: I don't understand you people. Ellie Goulding's first album, golden. Her second, horrific.

Boy Bands: You're a pedophile. And they're a bad influence. Shame on you.

Country: You were raised listening to this type of music and now you find yourself to be the supreme music fan because country folk are classy.

Ska: You're a kooky fellah, but I like you.

Multiple or Other: I'm sure you're cool, aaand we can be friends.


Did I miss any? Do you want my opinion?

Or is there something you want to see me rant about in particular? I have no life, let me blog and have some fun. :D

<3 Tawny