Career Exploration & Graduate Planning
A successsful graduate path begins with careful planning and an organized step-wise approach to ensure that all application requirements are met. This includes course planning, gaining clinical exposure, research programs, and planning your application timeline.
Which career is right for me?
- Explore fact sheets by profession
- Visit the Mayo Health Careers Navigator to learn more about career paths in the health sciences.
- My Health Career Navigator provides resources and information about health care careers and paid summer internships in health-related fields.
- The Occupational Outlook Handbook contains job descriptions, education & training requirements, job outlook, earnings, and links to professional associations.
- Take a career aptitude test using the Focus 2 icon on my.stmarys-ca.edu
Graduate School Planning
- Research graduate/training programs for those occupations in the by looking up programs using US News and World Report Graduate School Rankings
- Visit Career Services for assistance in perfecting your resume and seeking internships.
- Look up job opportunities on Handshake and meet with your advisor to connect with SMC alum to gain relevant experience.
- Sign up for Linked in and connect with LinkedIn SMC for potential internship and shadowing opportunities.
- Conduct an internship or volunteer to gain experience and exposure to the work environment relating to you career path (see below).
- Attend info sesisons at schools of interest to connect with current students, faculty, and opportunities
Graduate School Resources
Nursing
- AACN Resources for prospective students: https://www.aacnnursing.org/Students
- Discover Nursing: https://nursing.jnj.com/schools/#no-filters
- Learn about programs and prerequisite coursework: http://www.nursingcas.org/explore-schools/
- Apply to programs: https://www.nursingcas.org/
Occupational Therapy
- AOTA Resources for prospective students: https://www.aota.org/Education-Careers/Considering-OT-Career.aspx
- Learn about programs: https://www.aota.org/Education-Careers/Find-School.aspx
- Apply to programs: https://otcas.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login
Optometry
- ASCO Resources for prospective students: https://optometriceducation.org/students-future-students/
- Learn about programs: https://optometriceducation.org/students-future-students/member-institutions-and-affiliate-members/
- Program prerequisites chart: https://optometriceducation.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/ASCO-Prerequisites-April-2018.pdf
- Optometry Admission Test: https://www.ada.org/en/oat
- Apply to programs: https://www.facebook.com/OptomCAS
- YouTube Channel
Pharmacy
- AACP Resources for prospective students: https://www.aacp.org/resources/student-center
- Pharmacy is Right for Me: https://pharmacyforme.org/
- Learn about programs: https://www.aacp.org/resources/school-locator
- Learn about prerequisite coursework: https://pharmacyforme.org/admissions-requirements/
- Apply to programs: http://www.pharmcas.org/
Physical Therapy
- APTA Resources for prospective students: http://www.apta.org/ProspectiveStudents/
- Learn about programs: http://aptaapps.apta.org/accreditedschoolsdirectory/default.aspx?UniqueKey=
- Learn about prerequisite coursework: http://www.ptcas.org/ProgramPrereqs/
- Apply to programs: https://ptcas.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login
- Important Skills for Physical Therapy Students: https://www.edumed.org/online-schools/physical-therapy-dpt-programs/student-skills/
- Guide to Online Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Programs: https://www.edumed.org/online-schools/physical-therapy-dpt-programs/
- Guide to Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) Programs Online: https://www.edumed.org/online-schools/physical-therapy-assistant-programs/
Physician Assistant
- PA Focus: http://pafocus.org/what-is-a-pa/
- Learn about programs: http://directory.paeaonline.org/
- Apply to programs: https://paeaonline.org/caspa/
- The PA Life
Public Health
- ASPPH Resources for prospective students: www.aspph.org/discover/
- Learn about programs: programfinder.aspph.org/
- Apply to programs: sophas.org/
Speech Path/Audiology
- ASHA Resources for prospective students: https://www.asha.org/students/
- Learn about programs: https://www.asha.org/Students/Planning-Your-Education-in-CSD/
- Apply to programs: https://csdcas.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login