Lady Lennia Chelsea Palumbo: Grad School
When I first was thinking about what life was going to be like after I graduated, I always knew I was eventually going to go for my Masters, but I was not clear on when. In my major you require an internship before you can sit for your register dietitian exam, and since internships are based on blind matching it is highly competitive. I started to apply for graduate schools when I realized for some internships you had to get into their graduate program before you can be considered. I thought to myself, “I was not planning on going to graduate school just yet but what would applying hurt?” so I applied. I later found out I got into the graduate programs for the 
internships but was not matched to the internships. I was pretty bummed for a while and then I thought, “wow this really could be something great,” and well, I never looked back.
Deciding on whether you want to go to go to graduate school is pretty tough decision, but it is a pretty wise one for our generation. Not only does going to graduate school further your learning but it makes you more applicable and it ups your competitiveness. Now-a-days it is hard to be even be considered for jobs without a Masters in most fields. Also, if you apply to certain programs at certain colleges you should apply to their graduate schools as well, it shows how dedicated you are to that school.
Another choice is deciding when to go. I did not have too much of a choice since I did not get my internship, but I had other options. For me going right after I graduated was best because I was still in “college mode” and I could have slipped out of that mode if I waited too long. I also decided to go because it gave me the upper hand when I applied again for internships. Some people may get a job, and the best time to go is maybe when your job will pay for the extra learning. Since having a Masters is so valuable these days some companies pay for their employees to go back to school, so look for opportunities like that. Other people might wait till they have built up more of a income to pay for school. Also, some graduate schools like Kent State, give two years to enroll in classes without having to reapply. Either way you WILL find your way whether it be the fast track to graduate school or the scenic route. Be sure to reach out and grab it! It could change your life!
Your Lady Lennia,
Chelsea
