Graduate school: the dream, the vision, the success by Melissa

Graduate school: the dream, the vision, the success by Melissa - August 2020 Scholarship Essay

People get a graduate degree because they have the determination and patience to learn more, in order to better themselves and society. However, often due to costs and the inability to make it fit into a full time schedule leaves prospective students to mull the decision to further their education. Keeping this in mind, my dream graduate program would: have flexible learning platforms, a low cost, provide alumni outreach services, and the college would also be located in a location with a tropical climate that is mostly sunny year round. The temperature however has to stay moderate year-round.
The importance of having multiple options to attend classes is as equally important as the curriculum and program design. Sometimes students are able to attend classes physically, or some do not due to life circumstances. Over the years, programs online have grown and are proven to be just as effective as having classes in person. Or sometimes, having a hybrid class would also be the perfect balance of attending classes whenever possible, but also accessing the material online and on demand. We currently find ourselves in a time of uncertainty, having to prepare ourselves for learning on multiple platforms. Being ready to provide any and all options makes a program ready to roll out in catastrophic events like the one we find ourselves in now. Also allowing those flexible options ensures that all students have equal access in order to further themselves as scholars.
Arguably, one of the most important factors determining the decision to continue higher education is the cost. After a bachelor’s degree, most of us were left with the financial trauma of paying back student loans. Most graduate programs often end up costing just as much as a bachelor’s program, which puts more burden on prospective students that are looking into gaining more skills through a graduate program. Keeping the costs low, but also implementing a direct payment plan would encourage more students to seek a graduate degree. It is often very tough to negotiate with the self about how much a graduate program will be REALLY worth in the long run. Lower costs also ensure that a graduate program will bring equity, rather than be seen as an investment that only few can afford.
I also think that a strong alumni outreach and guidance department will ensure both equity and equality among graduates. There should be guidance provided not only through the journey as a student, but also ensurement that graduates are set up for success outside of the classroom. Doing this also would give opportunities for the graduate program to continually have the opportunity to reassess their program goals and successes. There is no better way to grow a program than to make sure students are set up for success in their intended career path or content acquisition. There are times that after a student completes a program, their life path may change. I think colleges and universities should be more involved in the future endeavours and successes of their students after graduation. Education is a life-long journey that will always involve multiple institutions, people, hopes, and accomplishments. I think it happens too often that alumni are not put as a priority, simply because their biggest success may be seen as just their graduation.
Finally, the graduate program should provide housing at a low cost in the tropics. I did not specify a certain location, because if the graduate program ran all online, then it could ideally be done anywhere that meets that criteria. However, coming from a very warm summer right now, I do not want to be in a place that is unbearably warm. Ideally, the setting should be in the tropics, where diverse flora and fauna can serve as a backdrop to my studies. I will allow temperatures in the upper 80s, but anything other than that should be compensated with having a proper central air conditioning unit. One of the other important factors would be to have a beach with clear and cool waters, very little tourists, and a private area with a stable WiFi connection. That way, I have proper environmentally friendly lighting, with the lighting being the sun, cool waters where I can take a brain break, and animals I can also observe when I need to continue a thought flow. Although studying in a library is seen as a habit of students, libraries are now available online, so having a strong WiFi connection at the beach can make any and all learning possible.
By having all these criteria, I think it would allow for students to not only be successful, but also allow them to complete their studies in a sabbatical type setting. Providing options makes students feel more in control of their learning. In the end, any college or university program should provide power, engagement, and inspiration to its students. Content is the core of a graduate program, but the memories and emotions created alongside it should be equally as valuable as the curriculum.