Grad School 101 videos help prospective students navigate graduate school application, financial aid process

September 26, 2013

idealist-fairThinking about graduate school? The Bloustein School’s Coordinator of Graduate Student Services, Lynn Astorga, recently worked with Idealist, one of the largest on-line forums for people interested in careers, internships and graduate study in fields relating to public service, community engagement, community development, and non-profits on a new Grad School 101 video series. The video series complements the Idealist Grad Fairs, and strives to help prospective students navigate the graduate school application and financial aid process.

“Whether a recent college graduate or out in the workforce for a number of years, the prospect of applying to graduate school can be daunting,” said Steve Weston, Bloustein School Assistant Dean for Student and Academic Services. “The Bloustein School has participated in Idealist’s graduate fairs for many years, as a way of reaching out to prospective students. When the Idealist team approached us with the idea of producing a series of videos where real graduate school student services and admissions counselors would provide guidance, we couldn’t be more pleased to be involved.”

Astorga, who attends numerous graduate school fairs across the country throughout the year, says the Idealist videos truly fill a need. “Potential graduate students often are not sure where to begin. They have a basic idea of what they want to do, but not how to go about getting to the point where they can do it. The Idealist videos are a great starting point for prospective students. I, and my colleagues from other universities, answer some of the more common questions asked at graduate fairs. By providing this general guidance, we hope to alleviate some of the initial fear and stress that may be holding people back.”

Aside from providing guidance on three specific areas—the big picture of the whys and hows of attending graduate school, the admissions process, and financial aid—the videos reassure prospective students that not only is there a program out there that is right for you, but that there are real people who can help you navigate the process.

For more information about the Bloustein School’s graduate programs, visit our website.

—> Click here to watch the videos! Grad School 101

 

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