As you can see, deciding on a career goal involves considering your interests and abilities, and a great deal of research and information gathering. However, if you access the various career services available through the Student Counselling and Career Centre, the career decision making process can be an enjoyable and worthwhile experience. Your career decision(s) made now will serve you well in the years to come.
In your process of deciding whether the idea of grad school appeals to you, it is important to ask yourself several questions. First of all, why do you want to go to graduate school? Graduate school is a good choice for people who love research, scholarship, and teaching. It is NOT a good choice, however, for people who don't konw what else to do with themselves, or who are looking to "get rich". If you are considering graduate school, make sure your reasons for pursuing this career path are worthy of the time and expense of several years in further study.
Secondly, do you feel prepared to commit yourself to several years of intense specialized study and research in your field? To choose the graduate school path, you really need to be enthusiastic about your studies to be able to handle the demanding, intense life of a graduate student. Some students feel "burned out" after four years of full-time studying, and they decide that they need to take some time off to rejuvenate their minds as well as their wallets by working during their academic break. Some institutions may even require that you have a couple of years of work experience before they will accept you into their program.
This leads to a third question: Do you have the finances required to pay for graduate school? As you will find out, even the process of applying to different universities costs a great deal of money. Most universities have an application fee that is non-refundable, and for many schools you are required to send up to three official transcripts from each university you have attended while completing your undergraduate degree(s). Some institutions may also required that you submit your scores from the General and/or Subject Tests of the Graduate Record Examination. The GRE is a standardized graduate school admission exam that often carries a lot of weight in the admissions' decision-making process. You will need to budget the cost of taking the GRE, as well as the cost of ordering copies of your scores to be sent to the institutions you are applying to, into your application expenses. Once you are passed the applying stage, you will want to find out about all possible avenues for financial assistance that are available to you. There are teaching and research assistantships, which award you money for doing a certain number of hours of work per week. There are also grants and fellowships which do not require work but are awarded to students based on academic achievements. Investigate these different options early, as these sources of money are competitive and often awarded early.
Other criteria for getting into grad school include up to three letters of reference from people (usually professors) who know you and who can explain why you would be an excellent graduate student. As an undergraduate you will have to go out of your way to get to know professors whose work you are interested in. Try and get involved in any research projects that interest you, as graduate schools are very interested in your capabilities as a researcher. Remember that professors in your desired field of study will be knowledgeable about which schools are known for certain specialties, and which professors specialize in what you are interested in researching.
So where do you start researching your graduate school options? Your first stop may be The University of Manitoba Career Resource Centre that houses graduate school directories as well as Canadian and American university calendars. These resources describe the programs and provide admissions requirements and addresses. Or you may want to connect with a U of M alumnus who is working in the field you are interested in by enrolling in the Career Mentor Program. Whatever avenue you choose in making your graduate school decision, it is important to gather as much information as possible and make the right decision for you. Good luck in your pursuit of higher education!
Spectrum Series - Covers Undergraduate and Graduate Programs in
Canada. Outlined by geographic regions.
National Guide to College and University Programs - Outlines all
programs in Canada.
Peterson's Guides - Provides an overview of 3,400 Graduate
Programs in 48 Disciplines (Canada and U.S.)
Although the television industry has many occupations within its studios' walls, the acquisition manager plays a key role in deciding what you will watch this upcoming television season. The duties of the acquisitions manager can be broken down into four major areas: acquisitions, tape traffic, departmental liaison, and public relations. The acquisitions manager is responsible for all acquisitions or programs purchased, is required to communicate with distributors and other broadcasters, screens show submissions, negotiates contracts for buying various programs, and works with the library staff on tape traffic. As well, the position requires working closely with the Vice President of Programming to develop long term strategies and program plans for the network. The manager also works with other departments such as Marketing and Promotions to provide information on the acquisitions, program content and publicity information. Public relations duties include attending appropriate marketplaces and festivals to promote the various programs. The position is multi-tasked and often hectic.
To succeed in this type of position, experience in the television and film industry is essential. As well, strong organizational skills and the ability to communicate effectively with people are important parts of the job. Because of the various financial planning and control duties, a background in budgetary management is also necessary. To assist in the day to day activities, strong computer skills in word processing, database management, and Internet usage are required. Being fluent in a second language would be considered an asset.
Our mentor, Laura Michalchyshyn, is a graduate of the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Arts. She also holds a Master in Business Administration with a major in Media and Art Administration from York University. She is also fluent in French.
To gain the experience in the industry, Laura recommends that students try to volunteer with companies where employment opportunities exist or to consider applying for internships. For example, Laura completed several internships with a media related company, a film distrbutor, a production company, and the National Film Board of Canada working in their cinema programming. Typical entry level positions for students with a Bachelor of ARts majoring in Film Study include a production assistant who helps organize "shoots" and assists on sets, and an administrative assistant.
Information on careers in the media and film industry are available in the Career Resource Centre.
* computer hardware designer * product design engineer * independent consultant * technical writer * course instructor * web page designer * software designer * systems analyst * database administrator * computer service technician * sales representative * sales/marketing engineer * musical composer * computer animator * graphic designer * computer librarian * applications programmer * network support person *
Co-op and internship programs currently exist in the following programs:
Are you interested in Co-op Education or Internships? Contact any of
the Co-op Coordinators in any of the above faculties or Richard Smith,
Co-op Coordinator, Student Employment Services, 474 University Centre or
call 474-6580.
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