Maximizing Your Graduate Program Experience: Tips and Insights from a Northwestern Alum

Time flies, I’m celebrating my five-year journey since graduating from my Master’s at Northwestern University. Reflecting on my experience, I wanted to share five valuable tips on how you can make the most out of your higher education academic program.

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Know what you want and prioritize your goals

Before starting your program and diving in, understand what you want to achieve and get from the program. it’s helpful to analyze the curriculum and classes offered before you enroll. Ensure that the career outlooks align with your interests and career aspirations. How If you’re set on a specific path, evaluate if the classes offered in the program caters to your needs. There’s so many distractions — classes, international programs, and more. Being clear about your objectives is crucial in making the right choices.

For example, your priority may be to obtain a work visa to secure working rights in the US post-graduation. In that case, it might be more critical to pursue programs that are in STEM-related fields so theres a longer OPT period.

For me, it was important to be able to explore various career options in my graduate program as I wasn’t sure which specialized field with in marketing I would pursue. So, I decided on the Masters of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications at Northwestern University. It was the right program for me, but might not be the best for others that are certain on their trajectory and want to focus on sharpening their technical skills.

Push outside of your comfort zone

Embrace the unfamiliar paths and expand beyond what you’re familair with. Your time in school is the best opportunity for you to widen your aperture. Explore diverse classes and engage with different peers. Pushing boundaries and embracing the unknown can lead to unexpected passions and perspectives. This exposure is invaluable, especially in an academic setting, where such opportunities are abundant.

You might have never considered yourself as a technical person or an artistic creator. That doesn’t mean that it’s not who you could be. Explore what you might consider unconventionally ‘you.’ Before you know it, this might be a side hobby you pick up. You might meet new people and shift your outlook on life. Who knows? The possibilities are endless, don’t put yourself in a box.

Don’t focus solely on school, build connections

While academics are essential, so are the friendships and professional relationships you cultivate. Some of my closest friends were made during my program. These connections not only become your support system, but they’re also great career resources. People go everywhere. Some end up in tech, some in the arts, and some might become lawyers. Invest time in understanding your peers. Their diverse experiences can broaden your horizons.

Even if you all stay in the same or similar fields, chances are that your personalities are close or complementary. Though there aren’t scientific proof of it, but there’s high correlation between the personality type and the type of career that people pursue. There’s a high percentage that you’ll be making your lifelong friends in the program, so don’t miss out on them!

Take advantage of what your school has to offer (not just your program)

Similar to the previous points of pushing outside your comfort zone and making meaning connections with your peers, the other thing to consider is think outside of just your program. The comfort and proximity of a cohort is a great safety net, but don’t let it limit you.

Your school offers a wealth of resources beyond your immediate program. Explore clubs, organizations, and events within the university. For many schools, there are incubator programs and resoures where start ups are built. If that’s your cup of tea, don’t miss it. It might be where you meet your future business partners.

For me, I found immense value in connecting with the dance teams at Northwestern, leading to unforgettable experiences and memories. As a photographer, I was able to exercise my creativity while fostering new friendships.

Make meaningful connections with alums

Networking isn’t just about asking for favors. Alums aren’t just referral machines. I invite you to engage with alumni and professionals genuinely. Seek their advice on their career paths and decision-making processes.

If you’re speaking to them, it’s highly likely that what they’re doing today interests you. Learning from their experiences can provide valuable insights and mentorship on how you can also get to where they are today; Maybe there’s things that they wished they did differently that you can learn from; Or that they have a small tip that benefited them in the interview process for a specific role. The alums you’re speaking to have been through the journey that you’re embarking on today. They are perhaps the most helpful guide you can find.

Remember, your academic journey is not just about the courses you take but also the experiences you accumulate and the connections you foster. Embrace every opportunity, the familiar and the foreign, within your program and the university, or even in the community at large.

If you have any questions or need more details, feel free to comment below. I’ll catch you in the next one.