Applications for admission to graduate schools have increased nationwide for the second year in a row. Many graduating students are preparing for the process of applying to graduate school at the start of this new semester at SUNY Cortland.
Senior Julia Devivo, who’s graduating with a B.A. in psychology, admitted that she may be a bit behind in applying to grad school while seeing other students and friends who may have already applied and been accepted.
“Luckily, the school I want to go to, Russell Sage in Albany, has rolling admissions, so I can apply at my own pace and not feel pressured by a hard deadline, which usually stresses me out,” said Devivo. “This way, I can take my time with my recommendation letters.”
Devivo plans to apply to the Professional School Counseling with Counseling services focus at Russel Sage. She is planning on pursuing a career in school counseling while staying local to her hometown, Saratoga Springs, New York.
“I chose Russell Sage because it’s fairly close to my house so I can commute,” Devivo said. “Grad school will already be expensive, so living at home with my parents would offset that cost a bit.”
Other graduating seniors like Cecile Lessard are ahead of the curve. Some have already been accepted into their programs and must now weigh their options and decide which school to attend.
“I’ve applied to a few schools, and so far, the only one I’ve heard back from is Newhouse [School of Public Communications] at Syracuse University,” said Lessard, who is pursuing a career in journalism. “Newhouse has a really fantastic journalism school that would be an amazing opportunity to attend.” Lessard makes note cost will be a big factor in her final decision.
“I chose SUNY Cortland because it’s cost-effective, and I’m hoping to find a grad school that’s the same, so somewhere on Long Island or in New York City might be the best option for me so I can live at home, but I’m still not sure yet,” Lessard explained.
While going to school nearby has financial advantages, some Cortland students aren’t planning on staying local. Some seniors, such as Jake Baglio, are also looking internationally.
Baglio recently visited and got guided tours of several schools in the UK, including the University of Glasgow, University of Edinburgh, London Film Academy, and University of London.
Baglio will be graduating with a B.S. in media production and is seeking to get accepted into a film program for grad school, whether locally or not. He hopes to pursue a career in filmmaking and cinematography.
“If I stay local, I can get an MFA, which is rarely offered in the UK, and go to a more in-depth three-year program. I’ll also save money by living at home,” Baglio said. “I’ll also be in New York City, which is a filmmaking hub.”
Baglio states, “If I go internationally, it would be a very exciting life experience, and their master’s programs are typically only one year, so I can get out of school faster.”