Graduate School Advising

Calendar

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Be a Star! How to Create a Competitive Graduate School Application

Thursday, May 18, 2023 |  11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

In this free live session, experts in graduate education will discuss the graduate school application process from the faculty reviewer viewpoint and offer a specific set of tasks to help students put together a competitive grad school application.

Register here.

A Deep Look at the GRE® General Test

Monday, May 22, 2023 | 8 am - Noon

In this free webinar, attendees will get information about GRE question types and test-taking strategies to help prepare for the Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Analytical Writing sections. Actual test developers will be on hand to answer questions.

Register here.

 Previous events:
Spring 2023 Recent Graduates & Students Career Fair

Thursday, April 13 | 10 AM - 2 PM | Trousdale Parkway

The fair connects juniors, seniors, master’s students, and doctoral candidates, as well as recent graduates (up to three years out) with employers from a variety of industries just in time for the summer. Employer tables are organized alphabetically by organization name. All types of organizations attend our Career Fairs, from Fortune 100s to non-profits and government agencies. The USC Recent Graduates and Students Career Fair is an outdoor event taking place on Trousdale Parkway, rain or shine. Register here. 

POSTPONED: Date To be determined

Breaking into Tech for all Majors through an MS in Data Science or Computer Science 
Join us to learn more about how Northeastern University’s grad programs are specifically designed for people who want to launch into the tech space without prior programming experience.  Discover how Northeastern facilitates students’ career development and employment opportunities through their Employer Engagement and Career Design program, including their optional paid co-op program! 
 A Deep Look at the GRE® General Test

April 13 |10-1 pm PT | Virtual 

Hear directly from the people who make the GRE® General Test! In this free preparation session, you’ll get information about:

  • Question types and test-taking strategies to help you tackle the Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Analytical Writing sections
  • What to expect on test day, scores, and score reporting
  • Tools to help you prepare for the test
  • Services available to help you stand out, including tools that can make it easier to connect with graduate program recruiters
  • Resources that provide more information

If you are unable to attend, we encourage you to still register so you can receive a link to the recording the day after the event.

Register here!

4th Annual Financial Literacy Conference (Presented by the USC Career Center)

April 4-5 | Various times | In-person & virtual

USC students and alumni will learn about investing, saving, budgeting, credit score, salary negotiation, debt management, retirement benefits, and more. First in-person session on “Understanding Taxes, Savings & Investing” is open to current students only. The three virtual sessions on “Salary Negotiation”, “Budgeting & Credit Score”, and “Building Financial Wealth & Independence” are open to all USC students and alumni.  Learn more here.

A Conversation with Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard

Thursday, March 30 | 6-8 PM PT | Lewis Hall (RGL), 101

Latinx Graduate Student Association (LGSA), in collaboration with GPAC & PLSA, is proud to host Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard on campus for a conversation with USC students. For nearly 30 years, she has advocated and fought for the Latino community in the Los Angeles Area. Her track record as the first Mexican American woman elected to Congress, the first Latina chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and an original co-author of the DREAM Act is an inspiration to students at USC. RSVP here. 

Sustainability Careers Networking Night With USC Alumni

Wednesday, March 29 | 6-8 PM PT | Virtual

Learn about sustainable career opportunities and expand your network with link-minded students, faculty, and alumni working in the industry. RSVP here. 

LinkedIn Personal Branding
Tuesday, March 21 | 12-1 PM PT | Virtual

Learn how to optimize your profile and content to build your personal brand and audience. Students of all class levels and majors are welcome! RSVP here. 

How to Create a Competitive Graduate School Application by ETS
Thursday, March 16 | 12 PM PT | Virtual 
The graduate admissions process can be complex to navigate. In this session, experts in graduate education will introduce you to the graduate school application process from the faculty reviewer viewpoint and offer a specific set of tasks to ensure you put together a competitive grad school application. RSVP here.
A Deep Look at the GRE® General Test by ETS
Thursday, March 9 | 9 AM PT | Virtual
In this free webinar, attendees will get information about GRE question types and test-taking strategies to help prepare for the Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning and Analytical Writing sections. Actual test developers will be on hand to answer questions. RSVP here. 
Columbia Business School MBA Info Session
Tuesday, March 7 | 9:30-10:30 AM PT | Virtual 
Join the virtual information session to find out more about Columbia Business School and its many MBA programs such as the Deferred Enrollment Program and Full-Time MBA Program.
Graduate Schools Fair
10.20.22 | 10am-2pm
USC Career Center and Dornsife Career Pathways partnership

 

 

 

Advising

USC Dornsife Graduate Advising provides resources including advising, application material review, events, and educational materials designed to support students and alumni preparing for graduate school.

 

Jen O’Connor, Pre-Law & Graduate School Advisor

Dornsife students and alumni, please use Compass to review Jen’s availability and schedule an appointment. Select the Counseling tab after sign-in.  Click the icon below to get started. 

Non-Dornsife students, please use this scheduling link to review Jen’s availability and schedule an appointment.

Additional Graduate School Advisement

If Jen O'Connor's schedule is full, USC Dornsife students and alumni can meet with Kristine Anassian or Octavio Avila for advisement appointments.

Students and alumni are welcome to schedule one appointment at a time.  Click the icon below to get started.

Non-USC Dornsife student Graduate School appointments: Please e-mail either Octavio Avila, oavila@usc.edu or Kristine Anassian, anassian@usc.edu to schedule an appointment.

Resume review

Receive a resume review through VMock Smart Resume- AI software tailored specifically for USC students.  Enjoy targeted, personalized guidance designed to help you improve your resume.  Try it now!

 

Statement of Purpose Review:

OUR STATEMENT OF PURPOSE REVIEW SERVICE WILL RESUME JUNE 19, 2023: For tips on what makes a great Statement of Purpose, please review this handout.  After personally proofreading your Statement of Purpose for grammar and content using the handout as a guide, feel free to submit the final draft for review.  The graduate school advising team will return the draft to you within 5 days with constructive feedback