Careers
Look Before Making Leap
Into Graduate School
your career,
your life
In poor economic times, many new col- lege graduates unable to find jobs in their
chosen fields are opting for graduate school
as a substitute. Unfortunately, the quest for
an advanced degree, driven by a lack of
career choices rather than a desire for continued growth and competence, can have a
less than positive outcome. Instead of opening doors to new opportunities, acquiring
an advanced degree might simply lead to
increased debt and added frustration.
Without an understanding of self and a
clear direction, a graduate program might
make a situation worse rather than better.
As we all know, it takes significant time,
money and energy to pursue an advanced
degree. To make the most of the investment, you need to start with the end in
mind. What is your goal? Do you need an
advanced degree to achieve it? If you don’t
know, you need to gather more information
before you make a decision to enroll in a
graduate program.
■ Talk to people who are doing the
type of work that interests you. Ask
them about their career paths. What
degree do they have, and where did they
get it? Was the degree a significant factor
in their career success? Where do people
with this degree typically work? What do
they like and dislike about their career?
What advice would they give someone
like you?
■ Don’t be seduced by the course catalog. The offerings might sound interesting, but what are you going to do
with the degree when you finally get it?
Be specific. Do you see yourself making
policies to improve society, or are you
managing a feeding station in a war-torn
country? Are you teaching high school
history or wheeling and dealing on Wall
Street? Are you selling biomedical devices
or designing them? Are you drilling for
oil or making hybrid cars? Whatever you
decide, the big question is whether an
advanced degree will make you more
marketable in your chosen field.
■ Does the school you are considering
have a good reputation? How is the
specific program regarded by people in
the profession?
Linda Conklin, GAA manager of Alumni Career Services,
provides career coaching and monthly teleclasses. The
Oct. 15 teleclass will be “Networking.” Find her advice
and career-related information at
alumni.unc.edu/career. Contact her at
linda_conklin@unc.edu or (919) 962–3749.
ONLINE: Want to volunteer your time and
expertise to fellow alumni in your field? To find out
how to get involved with the Alumni Advisor
Network, visit
alumni.unc.edu/career.
GAA Board of
Directors
2011
2012
Officers
Donald W. Curtis ’ 63, Raleigh. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chair
D. Jordan Whichard III ’ 79, Greenville . .Immed. Past Chair
Eric Montross ’ 94, Chapel Hill. . . . . . . . . .Chair-Elect
Sally Price Ormand ’ 58, Monroe . . . . . . . . .1st Vice Chair
Draggan P. Mihailovich ’ 83, Stamford, Conn. . .2nd Vice Chair
Anthony Eden Rand ’ 61, Fayetteville . . . . . . . Treasurer
Dwight M.“Davy” Davidson III ’ 77, Greensboro . .Asst. Treasurer
William P. Aycock II ’ 65, Greensboro . . . . . . . .Counsel
Douglas S. Dibbert ’ 70, Chapel Hill . . . . . . . .President
Tar Heel Network Chairman
Thomas W. Lambeth ’ 57 . . . . . . . . . . Winston-Salem
Directors
APPOINTED AT LARGE
James E. Delany ’ 70 (2014) . . . . . . . . . . .Hinsdale, Ill.
Timothy K. Moore ’ 92 (2014) . . . . . .Kings Mountain
Robyn S. Hadley ’ 85 (2013) . . . . . . . . . . . . .Graham
Teresa H. Williams ’ 77 (2013) . . . . . . . . . .Huntersville
William L. Chambers ’ 72 (2012) . . . . . . . . . .Asheville
Andrew R. Pflaum ’ 91 (2012) . . . .Portola Valley, Calif.
ELECTED TO REPRESENT NORTH CAROLINA ALUMNI
Ernest Jerome Goodson ’ 76 (2014) . . . . . . .Fayetteville
Dershie B. McDevitt ’ 64 (2014) . . . . . . . . . Weaverville
Emily Lynn Williamson ’99 (2014) . . . . . . .Hildebran
John M. “Jack” Betts ’ 68 (2013) . . . . . . . . . . . .Raleigh
Georgiana Bircher ’ 92 (2013) . . . . . . . . . . .New Bern
William A. Warren Jr. ’99 (2013) . . . . . . . . .Cincinnati
John B. Wilson Jr. ’ 85 (2013) . . . . . . . . . . .Chapel Hill
Elbert Lee Avery ’ 82 (2012) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Durham
Eloise McCain Hassell ’ 80 (2012) . . . . . . .Greensboro
Margaret Ferguson Raynor ’ 67 (2012) . . . . . . .Garner
ELECTED TO REPRESENT OUT-OF-STATE ALUMNI
Peter Anthony Harkness ’ 65 (2014) . . Washington, D.C.
Debra J. Pickrel ’ 80 (2014) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .New York
Eric E. Van Loon ’ 67 (2014) . . . . . . . . .Concord, Mass.
Linda Partee Stephenson ’ 68 (2013) . . . . . . . . .Atlanta
Dr. Robert W. Madry Jr. ’ 63 (2013) . .Corpus Christi, Texas
Kevin M. Levy ’ 92 (2013) . . . . . . . . . . . .Pinecrest, Fla.
F. Daniel Batten III ’ 64 (2012) . . . . . . .Charleston, S.C.
L. Allan Parrott Jr. ’ 88 (2012) . . . . . . . .Virginia Beach,Va.
Cathy Harper Watts ’ 88 (2012) . . . . . . . . . .Los Angeles
ALUMNI ON THE ATHLETIC COUNCIL (ELECTED AT LARGE)
L. Ferguson Norton ’ 61 (2014) . . . . . . . . Wilmington
Ronald J. Wooten ’ 81 (2013) . . . . . . . . . . . . .Raleigh
Samuel B. Perkins ’ 84 (2012) . . . . . . . . . .Indianapolis
EX OFFICIO, REPRESENTING THE FACULT Y
Bland Simpson III ’ 70 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Chapel Hill
EX OFFICIO, REPRESENTING THE STUDEN T BODY
Mary Cooper . . . . . . . . . . . .Student Body President
Steven Norton . . . . . . . . . .Editor, The Daily Tar Heel
Dean Drescher . . . . . . . . . . . . .President, Senior Class
Olivia Hammill . . . President, Order of the Bell Tower
PRESIDEN TS OF SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATIONS (EX OFFICIO)
Michael Allen “Mickey” Webb ’ 74, Dentistry . .Charlotte
Elizabeth Mary Colbert’ 86, Education . . . . . . . .Raleigh
David N. Woodbury ’09 (MSIS), Info.& Library Sci. . .Chapel Hill
Sarah S. Lamm ’99, Journalism & Mass Comm. .Danbury, Conn.
Ann Reed’ 69,Law ....................Raleigh
Dr. Joseph M. Jenkins ’ 70, Medicine . . . . . . . . . .Chapel Hill
Donna Winston Laney ’ 80, Nursing . . .Liberty Hill, S.C.
Allen T. Munday ’ 80, Pharmacy . . . . . . . . . . . .Cornelius
Randy J. Harrington’98 (MPA), Public Admin. . . .Concord
Joseph F. John’05 (MHA), Public Health . . . . . . .Atlanta
Mark Damian Sullivan ’02 (MSW), Social Work . . .Durham
CAROLINA ALUMNI REVIEW
