Female students had an opportunity to receive advice from four professional women Tuesday night.

The Celebration of Women in Sciences and Math at EIU presentation was given at the Grand Ballroom of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

The presentation was title “Preparing your career toolbox.”

The presentation was given in a panel discussion. Four women were the presenters: Jonell Comerford, a professor in the math and science department, Linda Kull, a plant pathologist and coordinator of soybean production research for the National Soybean Research Lab (SRL) at the University of Illinois, Pam Levine, Eastern’s pre-health professions advisor, and Alicia Pruett, sales development manager for Sigma-Aldrich Corporation.

Graduate school was a topic addressed during the panel discussion.

“In terms of graduate school, you have to think about your career goal,” Comerford said. “You have to be internally motivated and work at your own pace.”

Kull said letters of recommendations were very important when it comes to graduate schools.

“If you think about letters of recommendation as an undergraduate student, then you won’t be surprised when applying for grad school,” Kull said.

Other items were said to be just as important as letters of recommendation.

Pruett said that knowledge and personality were important factors when applying for graduate schools.

“Being involved in a team environment is very important, even if it’s just being a coach or being in a sorority,” Pruett said.

The more items a student can have on their resume when they graduate the better.

“Diversity leads to stability,” Kull said. “Skills give students a competitive advantage.”

Pruett said there is something that is important for women to have today. It will give them the push they need when dealing with their educational plans.

“They have to be in touch of their self confidence; that’s an important topic for today’s women,” Pruett said.