It’s not everyday one sees the banners of Penn State, University of Michigan, and Purdue when walking into of the Favrot Student Union.
Yet, for one day the these very prestigious institutions set up shop on the checkered-floors of the Black and Gold Room to recruit Gramblinites as potential students at their very own schools.
The caravan of schools has been coming to Grambling for the past five years and travels to campuses such as Southern, Alcorn, and Jackson State universities to name a few.
“Why Grambling one might ask?” An obvious answer is that many of the masters programs at these schools are lacking “under-represented” groups, and are seeking eligible and eager candidates.
“ Blacks need to further their education after college and graduate school is the first step, blacks don’t know that there are a lot of opportunities to experience graduate school and eventually make more money,” said senior LaMar Queen.
Many undergraduate students and recent graduates came looking for information on the possibilities of graduate school.
However, these schools were offering more than just information, as the conference gave tips for learning about graduate degrees, things to consider when looking for Graduate schools, entrance exams required before entrance, registering with locator services, and also financing graduate school.
The conference was not only for those who graduated, but there were also opportunities for undergraduates.
Deans representing such schools are currently seeking students, sophomores through seniors, to attend the CIC program, an internship/fellowship style program specifically geared towards nurturing the interests.
Some students who participated in these programs gained valuable skills.
“I came to the conference because I participated in the SROP program last summer, and I got a lot of research tools and abilities,” said junior Christopher Jackson.
The Conference proved beneficial to some students undergraduate and graduate.
“I received a lot of useful information on the summer research program for about three different schools I’m applying to,” said junior Karletta White.
Michael Ohene, a recent LSU graduate said, “ Since the job market is not so great, I’m looking at the possibilities of getting into graduate school.”
Other Big 10 schools represented at the fair were University of Chicago, University Of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Indiana University and University of Iowa.
It’s not everyday one sees the banners of Penn State, University of Michigan, and Purdue when walking into of the Favrot Student Union.