1. Log into the myUK website with your linkblue ID and password.
2. Under Student Services, select the Degree Planning and Registration (myUKGPS) tab.
3. A Make Appointment button is available for each of your advisors, unless you already have a scheduled appointment.
4. The advisor's calendar will be shown and you can select from the dates, times, and appointment modalities that work best for your schedule.
5. Click the Schedule Appointment button to confirm your appointment.

For a more complete walkthrough, click here to download PDF instructions for Scheduling an Advising Appointment.

Students have the option to either:

• Change the appointment modality (if available), or
• Reschedule the appointment

If changing or rescheduling will not work for you, you may also cancel your appointment (see the next question down in the list).

Changing Modality

Your scheduled upcoming appointments can be seen on your myUK homepage, under the name of your advisor. Click on "View Appointments", select the appointment you wish to change. You can then select the "Change Meeting Method" button to switch the modality of your upcoming appointment. In general, options include "in-person", "online" or "phone"; not all options may be available for your appointment slot. 

Rescheduling

Your scheduled upcoming appointments can be seen on your myUK homepage, under the name of your advisor. Click on "View Appointments", and select the appointment you wish to reschedule. You can then select the "Reschedule” button to open up your advisor’s calendar to see available dates/times to reschedule. Once you select a new appointment, follow the same booking steps as for the original booking.

If you need to cancel your appointment, please do so in myUK. Canceling the appointment in your Outlook calendar (or declining the invitation) will NOT cancel the appointment in myUK GPS, and may result in you being marked as a "no show" for your appointment.

If you would prefer to change or reschedule your appointment, please see the previous question in this list.

Canceling

Your scheduled upcoming appointments can be seen on your myUK homepage, under the name of your advisor. Click on "View Appointments", select the appointment you wish to cancel. You can then select the "Cancel" button. Once you click it will prompt you to consider a few other options, but if you still wish to cancel, select the red "Cancel Appointment" button.

You can make an appointment to see your advisor whenever you have questions about your academic plans, current classes, academic policies, etc.! They can also help connect you to other campus resources.

If you have questions about registering for next semester's classes, please make an appointment well ahead of your registration window (found on your myUK GPS homepage) to give you and your advisor time to discuss your plans and options.

We are excited to meet with you! Here are some tips for what to expect for your advising appointment:

Keys to a Positive Advising Experience

Come prepared! 

• Be honest with your advisor when discussing grades, current classes, study habits, and interests.
  • Review your midterm grades (if available prior to your advising appointment); be prepared to discuss those grades with your advisor.   
• Be courteous to fellow students and advisors by showing up to your appointment.
  • If you must miss, please review the options above for changing the modality, rescheduling or canceling your appointment in advance.
• Arrive and leave on time.
  • Schedule a second appointment if you require more time.
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions!
  • Write down questions you may have regarding academics, jobs/internships, getting involved on campus, etc.
  • Follow up with your advisor.
• Schedule your appointment in a timely manner, well in advance of your registration window.

Additional Ways to Prepare for Your Appointment 

If you would like to discuss your academic plans or class registration, please review your major requirements to identify what classes you should be thinking about enrolling in for the next semester(s). A few good places to check in myUK GPS include your Degree Audit summary, your Planned Courses including any Advisor Recommended courses, and the Schedule of Classes.

Degree Audit

• Review the Degree Audit through myUK GPS (found in the menu, or in the tabs at the top of Course Planner). This is a great way to track your academic progress.

Schedule of Classes

• Check out the Schedule of Classes for class times and course pre-requisites in the course catalog.

Planned Courses

• In myUK, under Degree Planning and Registration, plan the classes you would like to take during next semester. You and your advisor will then discuss these classes during your advising appointment.

If your advisor has an open appointment slot, you can schedule it up to 2 hours before the start time.

If your advisor does not have an open appointment slot, you are welcome to attend your college’s drop-in/pop-in hours, or contact your advisor directly.  

We care about your advising experience! Toward the end of your appointment, you will receive a very short survey at your UKY email address. Your survey responses will help us improve your advising experience, so we’d love to receive your feedback. 

Most graduate schools/programs do not have pre-requisite requirements. Graduate schools/programs might request that you have completed or will be completing a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.

Please refer to an Admission Counselor from your desired institution or visit your desired institution’s admission page to learn more about pre-requisite requirements

Most graduate schools/programs start their newly admitted classes once a year in the Fall semester. But there are some institutions that offer Spring and/or Summer admission.

Applications are submitted at least 6 – 12 months in advance of the desired enrollment date. To maximize your opportunities for school acceptances, scholarships, and research/teaching/graduate assistantships, you should apply to graduate schools/programs the Fall before you wish to enroll. While applying early in the cycle has advantages, the best time for you to apply is when your application is the best it can be.

Requirements vary from graduate program to graduate program. Visit your desired institution’s admission page to learn more about specific information about requirements.

The Graduate School Application includes 6 - 7 components:

1. Application Form
2. Official Transcript from all institutions
3. Entrance Exam – the GRE or GRE Subject Test (select programs)
4. Personal Statement/Statement of Purpose
5. Writing Sample (select programs)
6. Letters of Recommendation
7. Resume or Curriculum Vitae Resume

Freshmen – Sophomore Year

• Maintain and keep up your grades using the Transformative Learning services (https://www.uky.edu/tl/)
• Participate in volunteer, student organization and leadership opportunities
• Participate in undergraduate research or study/intern abroad opportunities within or outside your major
• Schedule and shadow professionals in your relevant field
• Apply for related jobs, internships, and practicum opportunities
• Complete your resume or curriculum vitae resume review by scheduling a “Resume Review” with us at the button below “Schedule Appointment”
• Identify and meet often with your instructors for a potential letter of recommendation
• Save and organize papers from your core courses/within your major for potential writing sample submissions
• Start studying for the GRE during the Fall semester to take the entrance exam in the Spring semester. Register and attend a Transformative Learning’s GRE Prep Seminar (https://www.uky.edu/tl/gre-prep-seminar)
• Research graduate schools/programs
• Create a budget for application fees and GRE exam (Please reach out if you need resources for financial assistance)
• Maintain and keep up your grades using the Transformative Learning services (https://www.uky.edu/tl/)
• Participate in volunteer, student organization and leadership opportunities
• Participate in undergraduate research or study/intern abroad opportunities within or outside your major
• Schedule and shadow professionals in your relevant field
• Apply for related jobs, internships, and practicum opportunities
• Complete your resume or curriculum vitae resume review by scheduling a “Resume Review” with us at the button below “Schedule Appointment”
• Identify and meet often with your instructors for a potential letter of recommendation 
• Save and organize papers from your core courses/within your major for potential writing sample submissions

Senior (Summer and Fall semester)

• Re-take the GRE if necessary
• Select graduate schools/programs you plan to apply to
• Complete and pay for Application Form(s)
• Submit a request for Official Transcript with the Office of the Registrar (https://www.uky.edu/registrar/transcripts)
• Maintain and keep up your grades using the Transformative Learning services (https://www.uky.edu/tl/)
• Participate in volunteer, student organization and leadership opportunities
• Participate in undergraduate research or study/intern abroad opportunities within or outside your major
• Schedule and shadow professionals in your relevant field
• Apply for related jobs, internships, and practicum opportunities
• Research graduate school/program’s personal statement/statement of purpose prompt and guidelines.
• Complete a personal statement/statement of purpose review with the Writing Center (https://uky.mywconline.com/) or schedule a “Graduate/Professional School Prep” with us at the button below “Schedule Appointment”
• Complete a final resume or curriculum vitae resume review by scheduling a “Resume Review” with us at the button below “Schedule Appointment”
• Research financial resources to pay for graduate school/program with Financial Wellness (https://www.uky.edu/financialwellness/)
• Identify and request a letter of recommendation from your instructors, advisor, internship, or job supervisor, coaches, etc.
• Submit papers from your core courses/within your major for if a writing sample is required

Most graduate programs do not have or require an interview as part of their application process. However, if yours does, you can schedule a mock interview with us or practice through BigInterview in your Handshake account.

Letters of Recommendation 

Requirements for letters vary between schools, most graduate schools require 1-3 letters of recommendation. Begin early to establish a network of professors and supervisors (for volunteer or paid work) who are familiar with your work. It is important to choose recommenders who know you well.

Academic Letters: At least one to two letters, should be from faculty members who have taught you in a class and are able to make specific observations about your personal and academic achievements and your potential for graduate school. Get to know your Professors early, start your Freshman year. 

Personal Statements

Graduate schools will want a Personal Statement/Statement of Purpose on who you are and your interests within the field. 

Research graduate school/program’s personal statement/statement of purpose prompt and guidelines.

Complete a personal statement/statement of purpose review with the Writing Center (https://uky.mywconline.com/) or schedule a “Graduate/Professional School Prep” with us at the button below “Schedule Appointment”

Resumes

Many graduate schools require resumes/curriculum vita resumes as part of their applications, and those that don’t will often accept one anyway. A resume allows you to highlight all your activities and accomplishments in your own way. It can’t be stressed enough, however, that the resume is not a substitute for completely filling out the school’s application form.

Complete your resume or curriculum vitae resume review by scheduling a “Resume Review” with us at the button below “Schedule Appointment”

Involvement and volunteering allow you to supplement a strong academic record. Graduate school admissions committees like to see evidence of initiative, service, creativity, leadership and collaboration, and organizational skills. However, it is important to remember that such activities will not substitute for poor grades, so don’t sacrifice study time for activities. 

Search UK Student Organizations/Programs at BBNVolved:  https://uky.campuslabs.com/engage/

Search UK Service-Learning and Civic Engagement for opportunities to help in the community: https://servelearnconnect.uky.edu/community-organizational-needs

• Before the interview, be sure you know where you are going, the drive time, and the parking situation. 
• Dress professionally and have your attire laundered and ready the night before the interview.   (Don’t forget to polish those shoes!) Most industries will be most impressed with business suit attire. How you look creates a first and lasting impression. 
• Take additional copies of our resume with you. Be prepared to “walk” your interviewers through your resume and be sure you can answer anything about it. 
• Offer detailed and specific examples that demonstrate your "fit" for the position. 
• Know the industry standards and the history of the company you are applying to. 
• Have questions ready for the interviewers about the position. But never bring up salary until you are offered the position. (See the list below for question suggestions). 

Come prepared with questions you can ask that demonstrate your understanding of the organization and interest in the position. It’s okay to have these written down. And it also makes a good impression if you quickly jot down the answers. Sometimes your prepared questions may get answered in the course of the interview, that’s okay. Just plan a list of 5 to 7 questions so you will be ready. 

Here are a few suggestions: 

• What can I expect on a typical day? 
• Why is this position open? Is it a new position in the company? 
• To whom does this position report? 
• What are your expectations of the person hired for this position within the first 30 days? 
• What do you like about working here? 
• When can I expect to hear from you? 
• And any other industry-related questions you may have. 

WHAT NOT TO ASK! 

• Salary! Never mention salary unless you have officially been offered the position. Please see a career advisor as to the best way to navigate the, “So how much money do you need to make?” question. 
• Time off, lunch breaks, and other compensation issues will be addressed if a job offer is made, and you can address those questions at that time. 

Next-Day:

• Immediately send a thank you note to each person who interviewed you. They may be meeting with a long list of candidates, so it’s best to make contact while they still remember you. 
• Keep it brief, but consider the following: 
• Reference something you discussed in the meeting. Again, you want them to remember you, so this might help make a stronger connection. 
• Clarify any questions you stumbled on during the interview. If you forgot to bring up a relevant certification, for example, this is a good time to mention it. 
• Express appreciation for their time and consideration. The interview process can be labor and resource-intensive. This is a good time to show your gratitude and reinforce your interest in the position. 
• Written correspondence (i.e., physically mailing a letter) is rare these days but it is appropriate if a longer hiring timeline has been given. If your correspondence with the company has been primarily via email, it’s okay to send a thank you note via email. BUT…handwritten sure makes a great impression! 

Next Week:

• If you haven’t heard anything within the employer’s given timeline, send an email to follow-up on the process. 
• Keep it brief, thank them again, and express your interest. Careful not to nag an employer for an answer, but if you still don’t get a response within a reasonable time, let it go and move on with your search. 

Remember, you don’t have the job until you’ve signed a written offer letter. Keep looking for positions and applying for jobs, even if the interview went well and you assume the job will be offered to you. 

Your resume is a marketing tool created to market you. It may be your first contact with an employer, whether applying for an internship, co-op or job opportunity. Resumes may also be requested for leadership opportunities, graduate school, scholarship, fellowship applications, and more. 

Employers often review resumes and cover letters in 10 seconds or less. This means your resume must be well-written, concise, extremely organized, and easy to read in order to be effective. When creating your resume, customize your resume for the reader; organize your accomplishments and interests to their needs. Tailoring your resume and cover letter to the specific employer is a key component of a successful resume and cover letter! 

There is not one correct way to organize a resume. Design and content depend on your unique education, experiences, and skills. It is a good idea to have different versions of your resume depending on the job type/industry that you'd like to target. 

Examples of Resume Sections

Objective 

An objective tells the employer what you want to do, either by stating a job title or the type of job you currently seek. Often you will have more than one version of your resume with different objectives. 

Education 

List the college/university name, city, state, your degree, major, concentration, and graduation date by month and year. List your most recent college first. Under the education section, you may include information about: 

• GPA if over 3.0 (major GPA and/or overall GPA) 
• Academic honors, Dean's List, and scholarships 
• Study Abroad Programs/Experiences 

Relevant Experience 

List your career-related experience, including full-time or part-time jobs, summer jobs, volunteer experience, cooperative education, and internships. Large course projects can also go under this section! You may include experiences unrelated to your career area if you focus your job description on transferable skills, such as customer service, communication, problem solving, project management, teamwork, and leadership skills. You do not need to list every job you have held. The descriptions for your relevant experiences should be longer than those not directly related to the work you are seeking. Make sure you highlight your skills and accomplishments. 

List your job title, the employer's name, city, state, and dates of employment by month and year. When describing your experiences, you will use bullet points that include keywords and strong action verbs that best describe your skills and experience. Avoid writing in full sentences and leave out pronouns (I, me, my). Pay close attention to verb tense in your descriptions, past experiences should be in the past tense. 

Identify your accomplishments and successes from past experiences, and the skills that you used in each situation. In your resume, emphasize what your role was, focus on the skills you used, and describe how you benefited the organization or state the results of your work. Highlight what you achieved and the difference you made. 

Accomplishments might include situations in which you created or built something, initiated a project, achieved a goal you set, saved time, saved money, demonstrated leadership, solved a problem or created a solution. Use numbers whenever you can! You want to paint a descriptive picture to the person who is reading your resume. 

Additional Sections 

You may include a variety of activities and additional types of information on your resume, such as those listed hereunder other sections. These sections may be titled things such as Professional Activities, Leadership Roles, Extracurricular Activities - Be creative and title it what makes sense for you. Focus on positions you held, your level of involvement, accomplishments, projects, demonstrated leadership roles, committee work, communication skills, organizational skills, and any skills related to your stated career objective. 

• Campus/student organizations 
• Community service 
• Volunteer experience 
• Team and group projects 
• Computer skills 
• Publications 
• Foreign languages 
• Leadership roles 
• Professional membership 

A CV is used by those with graduate degrees (i.e., M.S., Ph.D.) to apply for positions in academia or for scientific or research positions. CVs are very inclusive; therefore; they tend to include all experiences not just selective experiences. CVs are longer than resumes and focus on education, publications, presentations, research, classes taught, and other professional activities. CVs are also used in European countries for all positions. 

The most common job search letter is a cover letter, but it's important to be aware that there are other letters that you may use in the course of a job search. For most college students, letter writing has been reduced to short e-mail messages, quickly written, and quickly sent. This is not acceptable when in the midst of a job search. Communication skills are critically important in your career and your job search letters will be one of the first samples employers will have of your competence in this area. All correspondence with a prospective employer will be carefully critiqued to screen out candidates. Be sure your job search letters have no typos, are grammatically correct, follow standard business format, and present you as the best candidate for the internship or job! 

To have your job search letters critiqued, come to drop-in hours at the career center or meet with a career advisor. 

Below are some common types of Job Search Letters. Be sure to sign the original hard copy letters and to keep copies for your records 

Cover Letter 

A cover letter always accompanies a resume when you send it through email, U.S. mail, or when you are completing an online application. It is not required when you hand a resume to a recruiter at a career fair, presentation, or interview. Write a persuasive letter in a conversational format to market yourself for the particular job you are seeking. Identify your experiences, education, and skills which are most directly related to that job. Use the job description to drive what you include and highlight in your cover letter. Each cover letter should be unique to the experience that you are applying to as it is based on what that specific employer is looking for. This is your opportunity to help an employer see how and where you fit into the organization.  

View sample cover letters  

View sample cover letters - email  

View sample cover letters - print  

View Seven cover letter don'ts 

This letter or email is sent to individuals requesting information about a career or company. It's a great way to reach out to other UK alumni to prospect for possible job openings. Be sure to focus on broader fields and industries when describing your qualifications. Normally, a resume is not attached to this type of letter because the focus is on generating information not generating job offers! It's also used to ask for an informational interview. 

View a sample Exploratory/Networking letter 

This is one of the most important yet least used letters in a job search. A thank-you letter is used to establish goodwill and express appreciation. It can be sent to a potential employer, a contact that's assisted you, or an interviewer. The general rule of thumb is that if someone has spent more than 10 minutes of their time, then a thank you would be appropriate. A thank-you letter should always be sent with 24 hours of an interview, informational interview, etc. A handwritten thank you note is a more traditional form; however, you must take into consideration the person to whom it will be sent. Use your best judgment. If you have been communicating via email, it might be more acceptable to send an emailed note of thanks. 

View a sample Thank you letter 

This is a letter requesting the status of your application while noting your continued interest in the position. You should also offer to provide any additional information that would assist the employer in making a decision. Due to time sensitivity, this letter is often emailed. 

View a sample Follow-up letter 

Congratulations if you've made it to this stage in the job search! This letter is sent to an employer when an offer has been made. Use it to accept the offer and confirm the terms of employment (start date, salary, medical examinations, etc.). It's an excellent way to positively reinforce the employer's decision to hire you. 

View a sample Acceptance letter  

This is a letter sent to formally decline an offer of employment or to remove yourself from consideration as a candidate. Rejecting an employment offer must be done thoughtfully. Indicate that you have carefully considered the offer but that it was not the best job fit for this stage in your career. Do not say that you have obtained a better job. You want to express your thanks while keeping the door open for future contact. 

View a sample Withdrawal letter 

This program is designed to allow participants to develop and enhance skills within a cohort group of up to 100 participants representing different departments across the university and off-campus. The cohort design allows participants to interact with their supervisor(s), career advisor(s), and instructor(s). It is the goal of the program to create a community of learning where participants can build professional relationships and make a meaningful contribution to their career goals. The curriculum is designed to allow students to assess their career readiness skills in competencies that are needed to lead and transition into the workforce easily after graduation.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) defines career readiness as the attainment and demonstration of requisite competencies that broadly prepare college graduates for a successful transition into the workplace. Wildcat Works has incorporated the eight NACE Core Competencies into its course program model. The eight competencies are:

• Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
• Oral & Written Communications
• Teamwork & Leadership
• Professionalism & Work Ethic
• Career & Self Development
• Equity & Inclusion
• Resume, Handshake & Career Development
• Technology

All students must be enrolled full-time during the program and are in good academic and conduct standing. The student must be considered a high potential and have taken steps to learn beyond what is required of them.

To identify high-potential, individuals should consider their performance and potential.

Potential is measured by considering the following dimensions:

1. Motivation to lead, including bringing out the best in others
2. Personal development interest, including receptivity to feedback
3. Adaptability and the ability to deal with complexity and ambiguity
4. Ability to communicate effectively
5. Resilience in the face of obstacles and stress
6. Taking steps to increase their skillset

• Completion of all Canvas course modules, discussion boards, and assignments.
• Participation with the "Learning, Reflecting, & Connecting" module. Wildcat Works has created a structured mentor/supervisor conversion for students and supervisors.
  • The conversation will utilize in-person conversation from “UK Grow”. At two points in the program, we ask students that are participating in the program to schedule a 1-1 meeting with their supervisor. (Wildcat Works Instructor if the student is not employed or their supervisor is not willing to participate).
• Schedule a meeting with a career advisor during the "Resume & Reflection" module to review their newly updated resume. (Career advisor meetings made before Wildcat Works enrollment will not be accepted.)
• Time Commitment to complete the program is flexible as it is based on the student’s ability to complete the core modules and activities. Students previously completed the program between three weeks to three months. Each module will take between 1 to 3 hours each.

To enhance the supervisor supported modules, it is recommended for a student applicant to have the support of their employment supervisor or a mentor (if applicable).

• If time is available during work hours or there seems to be a lull in work activity, but you are wanting the students to have something productive to do… allow students to work online on their modules. If not, that is okay too. We understand not all work environments will allow this.
• Participate in the "Learning, Reflecting, & Connecting”, Supervisor Meeting with the student.
• Participate in our end-of-program assessment. We want to hear from you if the program worked well if you saw an improvement in your student, or things you feel could improve the program.

A student can request enrollment. Or a student can be referred to the program by either a faculty member, career advisor, academic advisor, or employment supervisor.

Students must schedule a 1-1 meeting with the Wildcat Works instructor through Handshake appointments. The Stuckert Career Center’s appointment type that a student will choose is “Wildcat Works”.

All applicants will be notified via email within five workings days of receipt of the application regarding the status of their application. The program instructor(s) will review the application and select participants for the program based on a 1-1 meeting, the high potential status of the applicant, academic GPA, academic and conduct standing.

Please contact:

• Donna Gabbard, Wildcat Works Instructor by emailing expblue@uky.edu.
• Students are welcome to schedule an appointment through Handshake by choosing the appointment type "Wildcat Works- Stuckert Career Center".