The Pew College Society, led by Dr. Joseph Bentz, is one of 17 APU Honor Society programs on campus. Funded completely by APU and initiated by a series of grants from the Pew Charitable Trusts, the organization helps undergraduate students gain admission into graduate school.
“The organization sponsors seminars and lectures each year to promote scholarship on campus and help students through the process of graduate school admission, including how to choose graduate schools, how to prepare for admissions tests and how to improve one’s chances of acceptance,” Bentz said. “The Pew College Society also connects its members with faculty mentors and offers financial aid for graduate school-related expenses.”
Bentz said the Pew Society currently has about 30 members but plans to have around 80 members total before the end of the school year, which is what the society’s budget allows.
“All of our workshops are open to the entire APU community, but membership in the society offers privileges such as connection with a mentor and some financial assistance with graduate school application fees and other costs related to applying to graduate school,” Bentz said.
Bentz explained that he has two main goals for this year.
“One is to use our programs and resources to help answer questions about grad school for students who may be unfamiliar with it, or who may be confused or curious about it,” he said. “My second goal is to help as many students as possible successfully apply to the grad schools of their choice.”
Psalms Rojas, a fifth-year social work major and Pew Society member, said, “Being a part of the Pew Society has given me the support I need to continually encourage me to pursue higher education.”
Senior social work major and Pew member Jennifer Fraga also believes that the Pew Society has been a great resource in helping her with graduate school.
“Not only have they helped with the financial burden that is associated with applying, but the workshops that they provide have also helped [me] understand the individual steps I have to follow to get accepted, like what the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) entails,” Fraga said. “However, the part I appreciate the most is that I have been paired with a mentor in the social work department who is willing to meet with me throughout this next chapter in my life, which eases the stress that comes with making a big decision.”
Chair emeritus and Department of Psychology professor Dr. Brian Eck sees graduate school as a process.
“It involves investigating, weighing options and then choosing the graduate program that is right for you,” Eck said. “The faculty-mentoring part of the Pew program is probably the most important component in helping students get into a graduate program that is best for them. Getting into graduate school is not easy, but the Pew program provides outstanding support for students who undertake that journey.”
The Pew College Society offers a variety of workshops throughout the year on topics such as training for the GRE, writing the graduate school admissions essay and developing strategies to increase one’s chances of being accepted into grad school.
The next workshop, “Everything you need to know about Graduate School,” will take place on Oct. 14, from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the LAPC Banquet Room.
Speakers will include a recent APU alumnus who is now in grad school, a Graduate Admissions representative and a graduate school expert from the Center for Career and Calling at APU. The workshop will cover topics such as knowing whether a graduate degree is right for you and how to be admitted into grad school.
Additionally, on Wednesday, Nov. 11, the Pew College Society will host the “Writing the Graduate School Essay” workshop from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the President’s Dining Room on East Campus.
For more information on Pew, email Bentz at jbentz@apu.edu. To sign up for Pew workshops and events, email pewsociety@apu.edu.