UPWARD
ONWARD &TRITONCAREERGUIDEC A R E E R .U C S D. E D U

Welcome!
In the ever-competitive and rapidly
evolving employment market, the top
graduate school and career candidates
must have more than just an exemplary
education—they must also be adaptive
researchers, effective communicators,
and creative spirits.
To help you uncover and strengthen thetraits employers and academic
institutions are looking for in prospective
candidates, work through this guide withyour Career Center coach.

Cont ent s
0 1 / G E T T I N G S TA R T E D

Plan for Your Future
Build Your Road Map
Identify Your Key Competencies
0 2 / S U C C E E D I N YO U R S E A R C H

Develop Your Résumé
Develop Your CV
Draft a Cover Letter
Network
Set up Informational Interviews
Prepare for the Interview
0 3/ S E C O N DA RY D E G R E E S A N D B E YO N D

Is Grad School Right for You?
Pre-Health and Pre-Med
Develop Your Statement of Purpose
04/ ADDITIONAL RESOURCESI F F O U N D, P L E A S E R E T U R N TO
N A M E : ______________________E M A I L : ______________________

2

Getting Started
The Career Center is dedicated to helping students just like you find and land the ideal job,
internship, or graduate/professional school opportunity. Use these next few pages to figure out thebest path to achieving your goals.

Pl a n for Your Fut ure
Wherever you are in your career journey, there are plenty of things you can do to accelerate yourmomentum as you move upward and onward—and meeting with a Career Center coach is a great
first step.
From Monday through Friday, the Career Center offers comprehensive advising to meet all of
your career needs:• U N D E R G R A D U AT E A DV I S I N G• P R E- H E A LT H A N D P R E- M E D A DV I S I N G ( H E A LT H B E AT )• G R A D UAT E A DV I S I N G
Visit career.ucsd.edu/advising to see options or use Handshake to schedule an appointment.

A S K YO U R C A R E E R C E N T E R C O A C H• W H AT T Y P E O F C A R E E R (O R M A J O R ) I S A P P R O P R I AT E F O R M E ?
• W H AT S T R AT E G I E S C A N I U S E TO M A K E A C A R E E R D E C I S I O N ?
• HOW CAN I FIND AN INTERNSHIP?

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4

Buil d Your Roa d M a p
Whether you are an undergraduate or graduate student, use this timeline for general careerplanning purposes.

J U S T S TA RT I N G O U T
S E L F-AWA R E N E S S A N D S E L F- D I S C OV E RY
Discover your interests and strengths through coursework, like Career Readiness (HDS 98) or
Medical School Prep 101 (FMPH 198), participating in student activities and organizations, andon- or off-campus part-time jobs.
Gain experience through the Student Employment Office, which offers a variety of work-study
and on- and off-campus positions that provide experiential learning opportunities, transferable
skills, and competencies necessary for future employment.
Or try a career assessment tool. The Career Center offers resources like GoinGlobal,
ImaginePhD, or myIDP to help identify career paths that fit your personality, preferences, andskills. Visit career.ucsd.edu or use Handshake to explore online tools.

P L A N N I N G F O R YO U R F U T U R E
E X P LO R AT I O N , D E C I S I O N -M A K I N G, A N D P R E PA R AT I O N
As you continue to consider options, attend a career fair, an employer information session, or acareer seminar/career panel to familiarize yourself with companies and graduate schools.
Connect with alumni on LinkedIn to better understand careers and industries and to set up
informational interviews. Begin to gain career-related work experience and develop skills
through part-time jobs, internships, and research. If you’re applying to graduate school, look
into programs and prepare a timeline. Application deadlines are typically about a year prior toyour start date.
Narrow down your choices and make tentative career and/or graduate school decisions. Get
your résumé, cover letter, and/or application essays critiqued by a Career Center coach.

5

APPROACHING THE FINISH LINE
PROFESSIONAL GOAL EXECUTION
Meet with a Career Center coach, mentor, or faculty member to discuss your job searchstrategies—typically a few months before your graduation date.
Continue looking on Handshake for full-time job opportunities and start applying between six
to eight months from graduation.
If going to graduate school or starting your professional career right away isn’t part of yourplan, consider taking a gap year. A Career Center coach can help you plan it out and identify
some options that will help you meet your current and future goals, such as traveling abroador doing community work.
As you consider what you want to do after graduation, it is equally important to consider thekind of lifestyle and benefits you want—and need. This may change as you progress in yourprofessional journey, so revisit these questions regularly:• WHERE do you want to live? Are you flexible with location?
• WHAT salary range would you like?
• WHAT benefits are important to you: 401(k), paid leave, health care, etc.?
• WHAT other perks do you want: flexible hours, ability to work remotely, travel, etc.?

Us e this cha r t to map out your p la n

PLANNING FOR
YO U R F U T U R E

GOALSTIME UNTIL
G R A D U AT I O NJUSTS TA RT I N G O U T

6

APPROACHING THE
FINISH LINE

Identif y Your Key Comp et enc i es
You go to college or graduate school with the goal of leaving with a degree and the knowledge
that comes with it. But this experience teaches so much more—skills that are critical to successbeyond the classroom, like teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership.
To help articulate your transferrable skills, UC San Diego has defined twelve competencies
obtained through academic, co-curricular, and experiential learning that prepare you for life.
Work with your Career Center coach to identify the competencies you have already developed
and which competencies you should strengthen to better position yourself for prospective
employers or graduate schools.
Learn more about the competencies and get real world examples of how other students havedeveloped them at career.ucsd.edu/competencies.

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CRITICAL THINKING &P R O B L E M S O LV I N G

U N D E R S TA N D I N G
G LO B A L C O N T E X T

PROFESSIONALISM& INTEGRITYI N N O VAT I O N &ENTREPRENEURIAL
THINKING

CAREERD E V E LO P M E N T

D I G I TA L I N F O R M AT I O N
F LU E N C Y

LEADERSHIPRESEARCH ABILITYS E L F- R E F L E C T I O NTEAMWORK &C R O S S - C U LT U R A L
C O L L A B O R AT I O N

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT& SOCIALRESPONSIBILITY

8

ORAL, WRITTEN &D I G I TA L C O M M U N I C AT I O NSucceed in Your Search
Finding, applying, and interviewing for what’s next can be intimidating. These next few pages will
help you develop the basics—from the résumé to networking to the interview.

D evel op Your Rés um é
The résumé is your opportunity to market yourself to a prospective employer—allowing you to
showcase your experiences, strengths, and core competencies.
Use this worksheet to reflect on your experiences and identify the skills that will demonstrate
your qualifications.

T I P S F O R G E T T I N G N OT I C E D

Optimizing your résumé by using key words from a position description will help yourrésumé get noticed by Application Tracking Systems—software that sifts through résumé
submissions to surface the most qualified candidates. Increase your likelihood of getting
selected by including key words from the posting on your résumé.

9

RÉSUMÉ EXAMPLEFIRST (MIDDLE INITIAL) LAST
Name@ucsd.edu or Name@gmail.com | (Area Code) Phone-Number | linkedin.com/in/yourname

SUMMARY
A short (2–4 lines) overview of your qualifications as they relate to the role you’re pursuing, demonstrating you are agood match for the role with your experience, knowledge, and skills—consider adding words from the role as part of yoursummary.

EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY NAME
Degree, Major/Program• Include any relevant certifications

		

UNIVERSITY NAME
Degree, Major/Program• Optional: GPA (if relevant to your industry)• Include noteworthy academic honors and study abroad experience

Month 20XX [or, “Expected Month 20XX”]

		Month 20XX

EXPERIENCE(Optional: tailor sub-headings to role or student club–e.g., “Leadership Experience,” “Volunteer Research Experience”)
Reverse chronological order, start with the most recent experience.
COMPANY/ORGANIZATION NAME, City, State
			
				
			
Month 20XX–Month 20XX
Position (e.g., Intern, Research Analyst)• 3-5 bullet points describing your outcomes and accomplishments, tailored to the position.
• Focus on the results rather than just listing your responsibilities; quantify when possible.
• Highlight leadership roles and demonstrate how you’ve found solutions to challenges.
• Begin bullet points with a variety of direct action verbs (e.g., Led, Directed, Researched) and avoid passive verbs(e.g., Responsible, Assisted).
COMPANY/ORGANIZATION NAME, City, State
		
			
		
Month 20XX–Month 20XX
Position
Keep position summaries short and to the point. Many hiring managers spend only 20–30 seconds scanning a résumé
–being clear and concise is essential.
• Don’t try to include all of your job duties; only highlight the ones most relevant to the job you’re applying for andyour most important accomplishments.
• Make sure to include any internships and unpaid/volunteer work under the experience section.
COMPANY/ORGANIZATION NAME, City, State
		
			
		
Month 20XX–Month 20XX
Position• List various positions under one employer with dates to show progression if applicable.
• As a general rule, the amount of information beneath each position should decrease as you move toward
older positions.

SKILLS• List hobbies and interests (Be specific–e.g., list
volleyball rather than sports, Thai cooking rather
than cooking, write poetry rather than author, etc.).
• Include native, fluent, or conversational for language(s).

• This section helps show an employer you’re thecomplete person with experiences listed above.
• Include certifications, awards, and honors.
• Include hard skills (e.g., C++, Spanish) but not soft
skills (e.g., communication).

Find a standard résumé template at career.ucsd.edu/resume.

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C O N S T R U C T I N G A N A C C O M P L I S H M E N T S TAT E M E N T
One of the most difficult parts of writing a résumé is constructing the accomplishment
statements. Each of the roles you list under Experience on your résumé should have several
bullet points describing your accomplishments, tailored to the position. To write an effective
accomplishment statement, use the APR (Action + Project + Result) formula:
1. P I C K A V E R B ( A C T I O N W O R D) .
2 . B R I E F LY D E S C R I B E T H E P R OJ E C T.
3. D E S C R I B E T H E R E S U LT O R I M PA C T O F YO U R D I R E C T C O N T R I B U T I O N .
4. Q UA N T I F Y W H E N P O S S I B L E .

E X A M P L E : Raised over $5,000 to fund three-month research project in Brazil by successfully
writing three grant proposals to organizations, including the National Science Foundation.

USE STRONG ACTION WORDS LIKE THESE

ASSESSEDFA C I L I TAT E D

R E V I TA L I Z E D

CLARIFIEDF O R M U L AT E D

SPEARHEADEDC O L L A B O R AT E D

G E N E R AT E D

S YS T E M AT I Z E D

C O O R D I N AT E D

IMPROVEDTRAINEDD E V E LO P E D

I N I T I AT E D

DEVISEDO V E R S AW

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D R A F T I N G YO U R A C C O M P L I S H M E N T S TAT E M E N T S
JOB/ROLE #1

Action I took: _______________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________
Project or task this was for: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Result or impact my action had:___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Revised version for a résumé bullet point: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________
JOB/ROLE #2

Action I took: _______________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________
Project or task this was for: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Result or impact my action had: __________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________
Revised version for a résumé bullet point: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________
JOB/ROLE #3

Action I took: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Project or task this was for: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Result or impact my action had: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Revised version for a résumé bullet point: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________
12

D evel op Your CV
While CV (curriculum vitae) is often used interchangeably with résumé, the two documents
are actually quite different. The CV is used widely throughout academia, research, and medical
professions, whereas the résumé is used for applications to nonacademic jobs and internships.

C V (C U R R I C U LU M V I TA E )RÉSUMÉ

AC A D E M I C , R E S E A R C H , A N D
MEDICALN O N AC A D E M I C

O F T E N S E V E R A L PAG E S LO N G

N O LO N G E R T H A N 1 –2 PAG E S

P U R P O S E LY F O R M U L A I CTA I LO R E D TO D E M O N S T R AT E
YO U R F I T F O R T H E J O B

L I T T L E VA R I AT I O N
B E T W E E N AC A D E M I C D I S C I P L I N E S

VA R I AT I O N B E T W E E N I N D U S T R I E S

E M P H A S I Z E S E D U C AT I O N

EMPHASIZES EXPERIENCEA N D AC C O M P L I S H M E N T S

NO BULLET POINTS:

B U L L E T P O I N T S : explain how yourinclude lists with few decriptions

experience prepares you for the job

13

T I P S F O R D E V E LO P I N G YO U R C V

1
2
3
4

REMEMBER: Your CV should be a repository of all your academic

accomplishments, particularly those related to research, teaching,and service to the profession.
ASK PROFESSORS IF YOU CAN LOOK AT THEIR CV FOR
REFERENCE. But don’t get overwhelmed by the length—yourprofessors have had many years of experience to gain theiraccomplishments.

UPDATE YOUR CV REGULARLY SO YOU DON’T FORGET ACCOMPLISHMENTS ALONG THE WAY. Be prepared and you’ll never feelrushed when you need to submit your CV.

KEEP INTERNATIONAL DIFFERENCES IN MIND.

Some countries require that the CV include a variety of personal
information that is not typically used in the United States. Do yourresearch and adapt your CV as appropriate before applying.

For examples of a standard résumé and a standard CV, visit career.ucsd.edu/resume.
You can also schedule an appointment with a Career Center coach to go over your documents.

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D ra f t a Cover Let t er
You never get a second chance to make a first impression. Use your cover letter to add clarity,
more details, and context to your résumé or CV. Even if the cover letter is optional, it is a greatchance to persuade an employer of your qualifications and fit.
Start by identifying what skills or qualifications a specific job posting is targeting and match themwith relevant experiences that showcase your qualifications for the position. Use the following
prompts to try this out:F I N D A J O B D E S C R I P T I O N YO U A R E I N T E R E S T E D I N A P P LY I N G F O R .

Write down EVERY action verb in the description.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________N O W, R E F L E C T O N YO U R TO P Q U A L I F I C AT I O N S A N D M ATC H T H E M W I T H T H E
AC T I O N V E R B S I N T H E J O B D E S C R I P T I O N .

This will help determine which experiences are most relevant.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

TIPS FOR WRITING A GOOD COVER LETTER

MAKE IT SPECIFIC

MAKE IT STAND OUT

MAKE IT PERSONAL

Customize your cover letter by

Give a sense of your personality.

Do the research so you canhighlighting relevant experience,

Always be professional, but use

address your cover letter to askills, or personal traits thatthe cover letter to show how

specific person or search

make you a qualified candidate.

you’d fit with the organization’scommittee. This small act

Demonstrate that you

culture. Hiring managers can get

will show that you’re willing tounderstand the requirements ofhundreds of applications and theput in extra effort.

the role.

cover letter is an opportunity tointroduce yourself.

15

C OV E R L E T T E R T E M P L AT E
YOUR NAME Address | Phone Number | Email Address | LinkedIn[Date]
Jane Doe
Senior Associate
Smith & Associates Accounting Group123 Barbary Lane
San Francisco, CA 94105
Dear Jane Doe,
[State the position you’re applying for] I am submitting my résumé in consideration for thetax intern position with Smith & Associates Accounting Group. [State why you’re a strong
candidate] Given my background in accounting and extensive leadership experience, I believe
this position is a strong match for my skills and career interests. I am especially interested in
Smith & Associates Accounting Group because [state why you’re interested].
[Outline your relevant experience] I developed a keen interest in public accounting whileworking toward an undergraduate minor in accounting at Rady School of Management.
Specifically, my intermediate Accounting class allowed me to develop a solid foundation in
preparing and interpreting accounting information. In addition to my academic training, I
bring strong interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills. My experience as presidentof the Undergraduate Accounting Society has provided me with the opportunity to successfully
lead an organization of more than one hundred students while managing all operations of theorganization.
[Restate your qualifications and interest] As a proven leader, team player, andproblem-solver, I feel my skills and experience make me an ideal candidate for the tax
internship position. I would welcome the opportunity to interview for the position and hope tohear from you soon. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,[Signature]
Your Name

For more tips and cover letter basics, visit career.ucsd.edu/cover-letter.

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Networ k
Networking is the most efficient and effective way to find a job that’s a good fit for you—and you
can start networking immediately. By meeting classmates or engaging fellow alumni andprofessors, your network of friends and acquaintances can help you identify career matches andprepare you for your job search.

W H E N N E T W O R K I N G , T H I S I S A H E L P F U L TO H AV E A T H I R T Y- S E C O N D “ E L E VATO R
P I TC H ” P R E PA R E D I N A DVA N C E . T H I S I S A S U C C I N C T S A L E S P I TC H A B O U T YO U.

Introduce yourself: ________________________________________________
Share your educational background: _____________________________________
State your purpose (why you want them to listen): ____________________________
Provide relevant skills: ______________________________________________
Let them know how they can help you: ____________________________________
And always remember to thank them for talking with you.

Where possible, you should tailor your elevator pitch to the person you’re speaking with. Below
are recommended steps to prepare for an interaction with a prospective employer:

1
2
3
4

RESEARCH THE COMPANY. Find out if they have internships and/or

full-time positions available.

CHECK HANDSHAKE. See if the company will be participating in an

upcoming career fair or employer information session and register forthat event.

TAILOR YOUR PITCH. Practice saying it out loud.

PUT YOUR PLAN INTO ACTION.

17

TO :

S U B J E C T: E X A M P L E E M A I L

Hi, my name is Jim Triton.
Though we’ve not met, I am a third year undergraduate student
at UC San Diego studying communications. I am exploring career
opportunities in public relations and sports marketing in
Los Angeles and looking to expand my network of people inthese roles. I have had a couple of volunteer opportunities andinternships that have given me excellent practical experience as
I build my early career.
I’d welcome the opportunity to talk for 20–25 minutes about yourrole, opportunities for growth, and potential openings at yourcompany. Would either next Tuesday, March 12 at 11:30 a.m. or
Thursday, March 14 at 4:30 p.m. work with your schedule?
Thank you in advance for your time, and I look forward toconnecting soon.
Best,
Jim Triton

SEND

18

S et Up I nfor ma tiona l I n t erv i ews
An informational interview is an informal conversation that you can have with someone who’s
working in a job, career, industry, or company that interests you. It is not a job interview, and theobjective is not to find a job—but it’s a great way to better understand different career paths andopportunities.

You may initially feel uncomfortable reaching out to people you don’t know, but understandthat informational interviews are very common. And most people enjoy taking some time to talkabout their professional journey and give advice to someone interested in their career. Get more
comfortable by practicing with people you already know.

01 /Think about any family friends, professors, and/or mentors who could answer careerquestions and provide advice.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
19

02/
Prepare for the interview by developing a brief introduction of yourself and your goals forthe meeting.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________03/
OUTLINE SOME OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS THAT YOU’D LIKE TO ASK. SELECT TWO OF
THESE STANDARD QUESTIONS AND CREATE TWO MORE OF YOUR OWN:

How did you begin your career?
How would you describe a typical day or week in your role?
What skills and training are needed to be successful in your position?
What are some rewards and challenges with this career?
What advice would you give someone considering this job/career?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
20

04/
Now you’re ready to set up the interview. You can request an informational interview byphone or email. Either way, draft a script to help prepare you for what to say.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
05/
Conduct the interview (in person, on the phone, or by video call). Make sure to present
yourself as you would for a job interview: be professional, be early, and be prepared.

06/
Follow up and thank the person for their time. While the informational interview isn’t anactual interview, the interaction could lead to a real interview or networking opportunities
down the line. Make sure to leave a great impression.

21

07/
CHECK IN WITH YOURSELF AFTER THE CALL:

What did you learn (positive or negative)?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________How did their career fit with your interests, skills, values, and goals?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What do you still need to know?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Outline your next steps:________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________For more tips on how to set up an informational interview, sample questions and scripts, andhow to conduct the interview, visit career.ucsd.edu/informational-interviews.
22Prepa re for the I nte rv i ew
More and more organizations are using behavioral interviewing, which focuses on experiences,behaviors, and skills specific to the position. For example, if successful leadership is a necessary
skill, you may be asked to talk about an experience in which you were a leader as well as what you
think makes a good leader. Build your confidence with these types of questions by getting as muchpractice as possible. You can find helpful resources on Handshake like Big Interview, where you
can practice mock interviews that are tailored to your specific industry, job, and experience level.

TIPS FOR A GOOD INTERVIEW

1
2
3
4
5

BE PREPARED —Anticipate which skills the employer will be looking forby reviewing employer literature, speaking with contacts who work forthe employer, and listening carefully during the employer’s information
session. Then prepare examples of how you’ve demonstrated those skills.

GET CLARIFICATION —Listen carefully to the question, but don’t be afraid

to ask for clarification if necessary. It is important that you answer thequestion completely.

BE SPECIFIC —Talk about a particular situation that relates to the question.

Briefly explain the situation, what you did, and the positive result or
outcome. Your answer should contain these four steps: situation, task,
action, result (or STAR).
PROVIDE DATA —Quantify your results whenever you can. Numbers

illustrate your level of authority and responsibility.

KNOW HOW TO PIVOT —Make sure to have one or two examples of a time

when the results didn’t turn out as you planned. Share how you handled it
and what you learned.

23

E X A M P L E S O F B E H AV I O R A L Q U E S T I O N S :DESCRIBE a situation in which you wereable to use persuasion to successfully
convince someone to see things your way.

GIVE ME A SPECIFIC example of a time
when you used good judgment and logic insolving a problem.

TELL ME ABOUT a time when you had togo above and beyond the call of duty inorder to get a job done.

CONVINCE ME that you can adapt to a wide
variety of people, situations, andenvironments by providing examples.

Now practice developing a response to one of these questions using theSTAR method:
01 / S I T UAT I O N : What is an example of a situation you were involved in that resulted in apositive outcome?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
02 / TA S K : What were the tasks involved in that situation?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
03/ AC T I O N : What were the various actions involved in the situation’s task?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
04/ R E S U LT S : What results directly followed because of your action?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Remember to prepare your own questions for the interviewer. Not only can this show that you did
your research on the company and are invested in the interview, it also gives you the opportunity tomake sure the company is a good fit.

24

Secondary Degrees and Beyond
Graduate school or professional school is a great opportunity for some students, but before youcommit, work through these questions with a Career Center coach to determine if graduate schoolis the right next step for you.

Is Gra d School Rig ht for You?
Do you have a career/life goal?
Consider four key areas—skills,
strengths, values, and network—
YES - to determine if grad school is the rightnext step for you

See a career coach - NO
Do you know whatskills your goal
requires?

Does your goal
fullfill your true
values?

YES - Write down
those skills:

NO - See acareer coach

Do you alreadyhave those skills?

NO - See acareer coachNO - Will a gradprogram train you
in those skills?

YES - Then why
are you going tograd school?

See acareer coach

I DON’T KNOW Fair enough: see a
career coach tofigure that out

YES - Write down
exactly how:NO - Then why are
you going to grad
school?

See acareer coach25

YES - Write down
your values:

WHAT ARE TRUE
VALUES?
See a career coachSee a careercoach
YES - Can they help you
get started in the field
without you getting
another degree?

Do you know people
in the field? (a.k.a., doyou have a network?)

NO - Have you talked tothem about how careers
in their field work?

NO - Will the
program expand
your network?

Can you leverage
your strengths toachieve this goal?

NO - Do you havea plan to expand
your network on
your own?

NO - Grad school
might be unrewarding:
See a career coach

YES - Great,
list whichstrengths andhow you thinkthey’ll help:

YES - Then why
are you applying
to grad school?

YES - Did they say
grad school was
worth it?

NO - Ask a careercoach for help

NO - Then why are
you applying to grad
school?

YES - Write down
exactly how:

YES - Write down
specific programs
they recommend
and write down
specific skills theirfield needs:

YES - Great, but
why do you need agraduate program
then? See a careercoach

NO - See acareer coach

WHAT ARE STRENGTHS?
Fair question: see a career coachfor help figuring this out

If you have decided to pursue a graduate degree, there are some critical steps and timelines toconsider. For step-by-step instructions on how to apply, work with a Career Center coach or visit
career.ucsd.edu/grad-school.
26

Pre- Hea lth a nd Pre - Med
Before you start working toward a health profession, consider if it is the right path for you. Start
by asking these questions and then meet with a Health Beat adviser to talk through your options.

01 /WHY HEALTH? WHAT KIND OF HEALTH CARE DO YOU WANT TO PROVIDE?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________WHO DO YOU WANT TO PROVIDE THIS HEALTH CARE TO?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________HOW DO YOU WANT TO PROVIDE THIS HEALTH CARE?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
WHERE DO YOU WANT TO PROVIDE THIS HEALTH CARE?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
02/
DO YOU HAVE A STRONG APTITUDE IN SCIENCE?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

27

03/
HOW COMPETITIVE ARE YOU?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
04/
WHAT KIND OF LIFESTYLE DO YOU ENVISION FOR YOURSELF?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
05/
DO YOU NEED ADDITIONAL TRAINING OR EDUCATION PRIOR TO APPLYING FOR A
HEALTH PROFESSION?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
06/
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO ACCOMPLISH YOUR GOAL?

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________07/
WHAT WILL BE YOUR RETURN ON INVESTMENT IN TRAINING OR EDUCATION(DEBT ACCRUAL VS. SALARY)?

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Devel op Your Sta tement of Purp os e
Making the decision to apply for graduate school is an exciting step toward achieving yourprofessional goals. There is a lot to consider when applying to graduate school, but one of the key
elements is your statement of purpose. This is your opportunity to convince the admissionscommittee of your qualifications. However, don’t confuse a personal statement with astatement of purpose. A personal statement is about who you are and your personal reasons for
applying, while a statement of purpose is about what you will do at the institution where
you’re applying.
Work through the following guide to start formulating your statement of purpose—and remember
to share it with a Career Center coach for feedback. Below are general tips to help you
develop your statement of purpose. For additional resources and insights, visit
career.ucsd.edu/statement-of-purpose.

1
2
3
4
5

MAKE IT SPECIFIC. Always review the requirements of the

program and follow its guidelines.

USE WHAT YOU’VE LEARNED. Remember writing persuasive andinformative essays in your Arts and Humanities classes? You can put
those skills to use in your statement of purpose. While the form might
be different, the basic concepts apply.

WRITE FIRST. EDIT LATER . No one has a perfect first draft.

Focus on getting your thoughts down and then go back and edit forclarity and simplicity. More is not better: if you can cut out a sentence oreven a word and the rest still makes sense, do it.

GIVE YOURSELF TIME. Plan ahead to ensure you have thenecessary time to perfect your statement of purpose.

MAKE IT STAND OUT. Admissions committees can get hundreds,

if not thousands of applications. The statement of purpose is an
opportunity to introduce who you are and show how you are uniquely
qualified.
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Where To Sta rt
INTRODUCTION: Explain who you are and why you are writing. What are the life or careergoals that you hope graduate school will help you achieve?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
How will this specific program aid you?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What attributes do you have that will allow you to succeed?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
BODY PARAGRAPH(S): Provide evidence to back up the claims you made in the introduction.

How do you know the program will advance you toward your goals?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What past examples of your attributes support your claims? Think quality over quantity—
highlight the relevant research you’ve done to prepare you for this next step.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CONCLUSION: Summarize your points without adding any new arguments. You want toreinforce what you presented in the introduction (goals, attributes, etc.).

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Additional Resources
The Career Center provides a variety of online tools to help you achieve success—from careerassessments to interview practice to career planning. Visit Handshake and career.ucsd.edu.

C O N TAC T U S

MAILING ADDRESSThe Career Center is located just off of Library Walk.

Career Center
9500 Gilman Drive # 0330

P H O N E : (858) 534-3750

La Jolla, CA 92093-0330

E M A I L : careercenter@ucsd.edu

UNDERGRADUATE ADVISING

Career Peer Educators: 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Trained student interns offer advice on writing résumés and cover letters, searching for internships and jobs, and more. These ten-to-fifteen-minute drop-in sessions are best for help withquick questions. Drop-in advising is also available with professional staff advisers. For schedules,
visit career.ucsd.edu/advising.
Advising by Appointment
Career Center coaches are available for thirty-minute appointments. Schedule throughHandshake.
Pre-Health and Pre-Med Advising (Health Beat)
If you are a junior or senior interested in a health profession, professional staff advisers areavailable for thirty-minute appointments. Schedule through Handshake.
Drop-ins are also available with Pre-Health Career Peer Educators (Health Beat CPEP) andprofessional staff advisers. For the schedule, visit healtbeat.ucsd.edu/advising.
GRADUATE ADVISING

Advising by Appointment
Schedule an appointment with a graduate career coach through Handshake.

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HANDSHAKE

Handshake is a recruiting platform for UC San Diego students and alumni. Use Handshake to search
thousands of jobs and internships, register for events and advising appointments, and accessprofessional development resources. To get started, visit ucsd.joinhandshake.com.
STUDENT EMPLOYMENT OFFICE

Located in the Career Center, the Student Employement Office helps you identify and secure
on-campus work experience that can help you reach your professional goals.
For more information, visit career.ucsd.edu/student-employment.

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