Graduate and Professional School Information Day

The Library Quad was packed Wednesday as graduate school representatives from around the country lined up to offer students information on their various programs at the Graduate and Professional School Information Day.

The annual event -- coordinated by Sujan Burgeson, CSUS Graduate Diversity Coordinator, through the office of Educational Equity and Student Retention -- was host to approximately 100 graduate and professional schools throughout the state and around the country.

"This is a chance for universities to share information on Graduate, Ph.D., and other special programs they offer to the students at Sac State," Burgeson said.

Students were able to receive information from representatives from the CSUS graduate programs of Business, Social Work and California Studies and as far away Hawaii Pacific University.

The event gave students planning to attend graduate school the opportunity to make contacts, inquire about admission requirements and browse through the graduate programs offered by prestigious schools, such as the University of Notre Dame and the University of Southern California.

Burgeson said many schools return to CSUS for this event because they have been successful in recruiting students who do well at their institutions.

"We are here to be more active in recruiting students," said Sanford Irwin, USC Recruitment Counselor. "Typically USC lets students come to us, but we are trying to reach out to them."

Students were able to get financial aid information, and inquire about various scholarships and grants offered through California and through particular schools.

Jessie Singh, a CSUS biology major, is graduating in spring and attended the event to get general information about graduate schools.

"It's a place to start," he said. "I still have to contact the schools again to apply and receive more information."

The office of Educational Equity and Student Retention will offer a series of workshops throughout the semester on applying to graduate schools in November.