Preparing for Graduate and Professional Schools Fair/Showcase

students at a fair

What is the Graduate and Professional School Fair/Showcase?

The Graduate and Professional School Fair/Showcase is an annual event held in mid-to-late September in which representatives from various graduate and professional schools "come" to University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) to promote their programs and answer your questions.

See CLNx.utoronto.ca for the details!

Before the Event

  • If you know what programs you are interested in pursuing, conduct research to find out which schools offer the program. Visit the AUCC Program finder at www.universitystudy.ca
  • Research the programs to determine the individual deadlines and application requirements.
  • Visit the Academic Advising & Career Centre website to determine which institutions are attending the fair and what program areas they represent.
  • Prepare your questions.

 

Sample Questions

The following are a list of sample questions to help you generate a personal list based on your concerns.

  • What are the areas of specialty of your faculty members?
  • What are the benefits of attending your institution?
  • What opportunities are there for funding at entrance and through the course of the program?
  • How long do your students typically take to complete a Master’s or Ph.D. program?
  • What is a competitive mark to gain admittance? (Remember, no one can tell you with certainty what grade will guarantee admission, however, you can learn the average from previous years.)
  • How do you calculate this mark (e.g., is it the Cumulative GPA or the last ten courses)?
  • Does the program require admission tests (GRE, GMAT, etc)? Is there a cut-off score?
  • What are the other important factors that the admissions committee takes into account (e.g., volunteering, co-curricular activities, leadership experience and/or work experience)?
  • May I visit the campus to speak with students and faculty?
  • Are there any practicums/co-op/internships in the program?
  • Can the program be completed on a part-time basis?
  • Is it possible to receive advanced standing for work already completed?
  • If I took some time off between my undergraduate degree and this program, would this affect my admissibility?

During the Event

  • Have your questions ready when you approach the program representative.
  • Remember the importance of first impressions; conduct yourself accordingly.
  • If there is not enough time to ask all of your questions, ask how you can obtain further information. If the representative cannot answer your questions, ask for an alternate contact.
  • After having discussed your inquiries with the representative, take quick notes about what you learned.

After the Event

  • Check your notes to make sure you have all the information you need.
  • Following-up with contacts promptly may help them to remember you when you asked questions.
  • Attend the relevant professional and graduate school seminars offered by the AA&CC and your academic department(s).
  • Have a conversation with a career advisor or a Professional and Graduate School Peer Coach