While researching and applying for grad school, time moves very quickly. It feels like just last week I was trying to decide which program I wanted to join. North Carolina and UNC Charlotte are packed with many different options when it comes to finding the institution or program that best fits you.
My decision to join Charlotte’s nationally-ranked Master of Social Work program was based on the transparency of the director and the responsiveness of the administration of the program. The goal of this article is to guide you through helpful resources on the Graduate Admissions website and to explain some of the ways you can get in touch with any of the programs you have an interest in.
I would suggest you start by visiting the Graduate Admissions program search webpage. This will take you to a list of all the master’s, doctoral and certificate programs offered. You can filter the list by:
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Field of Study
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Keywords
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College
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Location/Delivery
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Program Type
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STEM Designation
Once you find the program you are interested in, you can click to read more. On the program page, you can find a description and contact information for the Graduate Program Director. You can also fill in your information to receive helpful information from Graduate Admissions. There is also a ‘Program Webpage’ button that will take you to learn more about the program you are researching. These are all great first steps to learning about the various programs at Charlotte.
One of the best ways to learn about the programs is to attend a virtual informational session. Virtual information sessions are designed for prospective students or students starting an application. They provide a general overview of admission requirements and what you can expect during the application process. They also include valuable information about standardized test requirements, funding opportunities and financial aid.
On this same webpage, there are several program-specific information sessions near the bottom of the page. These are opportunities to learn more about the pace and structure of the programs. This is also the best time to ask any burning questions that you may have that you couldn’t find answers to on their site, or even get information on how to set up a private meeting with a Graduate Program Director.
My experience at the social work information session was a factor in my decision to attend Charlotte. Dr. Hales, the program director, was very direct and transparent with us. If you know what to expect you are more likely to succeed, and at the end of the day, UNC Charlotte wants you to succeed!
Article Written by Nolan Winters
Nolan serves as a Graduate Admissions Ambassador and is studying in the Master of Social Work program from the College of Health & Human Services.