Symposium aims to foster interest in graduate school

by Stephanie Kitts

Daily Lobo

While some students look forward to finishing their degrees, others are looking for ways to stay in school longer.

The Graduate and Professional School Symposium will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today in the SUB.

There will be a graduate school fair with more than 60 graduate programs from UNM and across the country, including the University of Michigan and Stanford University.

"Students can ask questions that will make their application packet more competitive," said Mary Monta§o, coordinator for the event. "We want to get students in the door and help prepare them for grad school."

There will also be a conference with workshops and information about graduate school applications.

"The conference works so that you can attend a session in the morning or in the afternoon," said Tanya Campos, a career development facilitator. "The idea is that you have time to go downstairs and see the recruiters as well as attend the workshops."

There are two workshops facilitated by graduate students.

One is designed to suit those looking for specific information, Campos said.

"This (workshop) is much more detailed and will get students more of the information that they're looking for," she said.

The other is geared toward students who haven't considered graduate school, Campos said.

"We're trying to capture a group that might not have thought of continuing their education in the first place," she said. "Both of these workshops are about how to begin the process and then how to do the process."

Campos said the workshops will provide more than just information.

"Students will get structural material, but at the same time, they will develop relationships," she said. "It's a dynamic workshop, not just a lecture-based workshop."