Graduate School Advice.pdf

Excuse me, Dr. Bradshaw. Do you mind if I come in and talk to you for a second?
Man: Hi Jenny, of course you can come in. How may I help you?
W: I am thinking about going to graduate school next year, and I would like you to give me some advice.
M: Certainly. What subject are you interested in pursuing?
W: Well, I am interested in International Relations.
M: What in particular?
W: Yes, especially, I’d like to study the topic of conflict resolution.
M: If I am not mistaken, you turned in the paper for my class last year, in which you wrote about the conflict resolution in Somalia, didn’t you?
W: Yes, I did.
M: Which university are you thinking about applying for?
W: I haven’t decided yet, but I am thinking about Duke University.
M: In fact, I taught there until a couple of years ago, and I know they have a good program on conflict resolution.
W: Do you think I can be qualified to be enrolled?
M: Of course it is not easy to get into the program because they accept only a small percentage of the applicants every year.
W: Well, then, don’t I need to choose another university?
M: No, I don’t think so. I believe you are well qualified to be one of the applicants to be accepted since you have been marking good grades in most of the subjects.
W: What should I do to be accepted into the program?
M: Firstly, you should make clear what you really want to study, and then, you need to be able not only to write about it but also to explain it.
W: Well, I don’t think I can do it. I am not confident enough.
M: You can do it! Where there is a will, there is a way.
W: Thank you, Dr. Bradshaw. I feel a lot better now.