TEM #013: Get credit… for your credits.

September 22, 2023

It’s the first Friday of Fall! 🍁

In honor of the changing seasons, The Education Mindset is taking a short break as we transition to (and learn to use) an incredible new email provider to manage our growth - yay!

The next edition will return on Friday, October 13.

This week’s highlights:

• Your education affirmation

• A guide to credit transfer

• Action steps for the next week

• Why 3 Musketeers are chocolate flavored 🍫

---

Education affirmation.

It’s okay not to know everything. I can always learn.

---

On the Blog.

Fast Track the Graduate School Experience: A Guide to Credit Transfer 📚

Did you know there’s a chance that some of your college credits might transfer and count toward your intended graduate degree?

Credit transfer eligibility ultimately saves time and tuition dollars, which are major factors in graduating sooner and with less debt.

As someone who graduated a YEAR early due to graduate credit transfer, it’s my moral duty to help others ask the same questions that saved me time and money.

---

Application Action Steps.

Choose your own adventure 🚁

1. Thinking about school in the future?

   • If you live in an area where you plan to eventually go to graduate school, you can do your future self a favor by taking a graduate course or two even before applying (this might even be covered through your employer’s tuition benefits).

   • If you have an idea of the type of graduate program you’ll eventually apply to, check out their required courses online.

   • Email their admissions office, tell them you’re interested in eventually applying, and ask for recommendations of which course(s) you could take to get a feel for the program.

   • Why ask instead of just picking a class? Some programs are built on a cohort model where it’s preferred that everyone take all classes together. In this case, you’ll receive a class recommendation that would still count toward graduation requirements if you were to be accepted later, but not affect your student experience with a cohort.
     

2. Actively applying later this year?

   • Then it’s time to ask the admissions office about credit transfers.

   • Ask specifically about:

     • The courses you already took that seem similar to required courses in the graduate program (example: intro to statistics)

     • Elective courses you took that relate to required courses in the graduate program

     • Graduate-level courses you took as an undergraduate student, through a graduate non-degree program, or even as a graduate student in another program

   • I recently spoke to someone who was surprised to receive graduate credit for 5 undergraduate courses, it’s always worth asking!

---

Fun fact.

3 Musketeers candy bars originally came in three flavors:

Chocolate, strawberry and vanilla.

During World War II rations, they had to choose one flavor.

If outside circumstances limit the scope of your graduate school search, go all in on your best option. It will work out!

---

~ Coming Soon ~

There’s so much happening behind the scenes that I’m looking forward to rolling out:

• A new email provider with even better functionality

• Opening The Application Shop

• A new quiz to help working professionals decide if or when to go back to school

Next week I’m also starting presentations to young professional groups on applying to graduate school, plus stepping up my networking game.

After being home-bound working on a doctorate, followed by the pandemic and starting a family for the past 5 years, this extrovert is having the best time connecting with new people locally and across the country.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being a part of what I’m building.

Hit reply and let me know what’s happening in your life and graduate school application journey, I’m here to help!

See you back here on October 13!

Dr. Jena

p.s. Have a coworker, friend or mentee thinking about graduate school? Forward this email so they can sign up here for The Education Mindset and get on track to apply.

---

---

Related Posts