The annual California Forum for Diversity in Graduate Education that aims to increase and encourage students from underrepresented groups to enter advanced-level degree programs takes place tomorrow at California State University, Sacramento.

It’s open to California State University, University of California and private school students who are in sophomore, junior and senior class standing who want to pursue a post-baccalaureate degree by entering a master’s or PhD program.

“There are many underrepresented students who are first generation students who don’t know the steps they need to take, and the forum helps them maneuver through the system, getting the application done and breaking it down into small pieces and making them think it’s not that bad,” said Student Support Services Program Counselor Joe Guerra.

While attending the forum, students will have an opportunity to interact with college recruitment personnel from a variety of graduate programs across the country. In addition, students will be able to obtain valuable information and resources by attending workshops conducted throughout the day.

Some of the workshops include: How to Select the Right Graduate School; How to Write a Winning Statement of Purpose; and How to Prepare for the GRE (Graduate Record Exam). The forum program includes discipline workshops as well. Education, Humanities and Fine and Performing Arts are only a few of the many workshops.

“Deciding if and where you want to attend graduate school, as well as finding and applying to specific programs, can be difficult,” said Career Development Counselor Adrian Ramirez. “Therefore, the Diversity Forum in Graduate Education is a worthwhile day to gather information on whether graduate school is your best choice, how to find your desired programs, and tips for the graduate school application process.”

Ramirez said that many students are not well informed about attending grad school, and some are not aware of its requirements.

Succeeding in graduate school takes more than being able to move and adjust to a new university, managing a busy schedule and keeping up with assignments and projects. The forum will have guest keynote speakers to share their experiences, motivate students and give tips and advice.

Business administration management major Rocio Andrade attended the forum last fall and said the workshops were very helpful.

“I’m a first generation college student and I’m really thankful that I had the opportunity to attend the forum,” Andrade said. “I learned about the many requirements to attend grad school and now I know what I must do before I apply.”

Students who qualify to attend the forums are those with a good GPA and a recommendation from a faculty member also increases the opportunity to attend.

“As the coordinator for this school, I get to select the required GPA,” Guerra said. “I set a minimum requirement of 2.75, thinking that students below that may not be interested.”

Students who don’t make the 2.75 GPA requirement still have an opportunity to attend the forum by signing up with other programs on campus.

“If a program coordinator/director refers a student to us who has a GPA of less then 2.75, then they will be able to attend the forum,” Guerra said. “These students display the motivation and the work ethic to successfully complete a master’s degree, but they may not have had the GPA prior to applying to a master’s program.”

Guerra said the forum’s speakers and workshops might motivate the student to bring up their GPA.

Guerra said over 1,700 students from all participating universities have signed up for the Forum tomorrow. This event is completely free to students; they only have to pay a $10 deposit that’s refunded to them the day of the trip.