Continuing+Your+Scholarship

//Attending graduate school is one way to continue your scholarship. These links will take you to resources that will be helpful to you as you attempt to navigate the various steps in that process.//

=**Finding the Right Institution**=

//1) What kind of a career would you like to pursue that would allow you to capitalize on your studies in education? (The answer to this question will, in part, determine the kind of an institution you should consider attending.)

2) What credentials, qualifications, experiences, and professional contacts would contribute to your success in such a career? Are there particular institutions that would be likely to provide you with access to these?

3) Where are exciting innovations in your chosen field occurring? Are many centered in a particular institution or geographical region of the country?

4) Of the people who are engaged in the work of interest to you, who seems highly regarded by the field at large? Are they affiliated with a particular institution?

5) What kind of support do you need in order to build on your talents while strengthening your weaknesses?

6) In what kind of an academic environment are you most likely to thrive?

7) Are there particular institutions that seem to address many of these issues simultaneously? Which institutions provide the widest range of alternatives and the most flexibility?//

[|America's Best Colleges] - U.S. News & World Report's national rankings

=Professional Communication=

//Every single interaction you have with another person further establishes your professional reputation (either positively or negatively).//
//How do you know a professional when you meet one? What do professionals look like and sound like? How do they behave? What are some things you've seen "professionals" do that have caused you to doubt their credibility? How might you avoid some of these mistakes?//

**Professional Communications**
E-mail has become an important tool for communicating with others in professional settings. Some things to keep in mind:


 * The e-mails you send are representing both you and your institution
 * You should do your best to keep confidential information confidential and to communicate with integrity
 * You should assume that any e-mail you send may be forwarded without your consent, thus becoming public information. Consequently, all messages should be phrased in such a way that you would not be embarrassed to see them published in a newspaper, or to hear them read aloud in a court of law

Professionals communicate with people they do not know for many different reasons. Here are just a few:


 * To ask for an expert opinion about a project you are working on
 * To consult with an expert, parent, or other professional
 * To follow up on a professional conversation
 * To inquire about an educational program, job opening, or professional opportunity
 * To invite someone to deliver a speech, give a presentation, or participate in a special event
 * To provide promised information to participants in a professional conference session you delivered
 * To remind someone of a deadline on something they promised to do (such as a letter of recommendation, a review of an article, etc.)
 * To request a copy of an article, dissertation, etc.
 * To request a letter of recommendation
 * To request handouts or additional information following a conference presentation
 * To request resources or materials

When writing a professional e-mail, consider including the following elements:


 * Subject Line
 * Salutation (in