Senior Guidelines

Purpose

In the senior year we help guide the seniors as they determine their next step. For some students it will be looking for full time employment, and for other students it will be applying to graduate schools. Some students will pursue both options until they make a decision toward the end of the year. For both goals, there is a lot of preparation that should be done in the fall semester of the senior year. All students will have already begun preparing for interviews, job searches, or graduate school applications, in prior years with suggestions from the faculty. 

On this page is a listing of suggested resources for students in their senior year. CPaMS Seniors will meet with the CPaMS faculty to discuss at the start of the fall semester, and as needed throughout their last year at Loyola.

Suggestions for All Seniors

• A meeting in early September with CPaMS faculty to get a feel for where everyone is going.

• Use Loyola Connect to find a Loyola alum who works in your area of interest and has signed up to answer questions.

• Update/create LinkedIn profile. Go to Career Center event for a professional looking headshot (see Handshake for dates).

• Oct. 24th Loyola Connect Live (Green and Grey Society’s networking event).

• Have resume reviewed by the Career Center. Contact a faculty member in your major department for major specific suggestions.

• Career Center has drop in hours 1-3PM every day for quick questions or resume review.

Students Considering Graduate School

1. Consult the Career Center website.

2. Make appointment with Career Center for details on applying to graduate school.

3. Prepare for and take the GRE.

4. Talk to a faculty member in your discipline about where to apply, and tips specific to your field by November 1st.

5. Write essays, and ask a faculty member to give you feedback on your essays by December 1st.

6. Ask for recommendation letters from faculty who know you well, especially if you've done research with them.

7. Use Big Interview to practice answering questions related to graduate school.

8. Submit applications December/January.

Students Considering Full-Time Employment

• Use Big Interview to watch videos on how to do a good interview and practice answering some of the hard interview questions. Can record self and watch to see how you come off in your answer, so you can improve.

• Oct 2nd go to STEM Fair.

• Go to Math fair, if relevant.   

• Schedule interviews via Handshake.

• Look at job opportunities on Handshake.