The free conference will take place from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Grand Salon of the University Student Union on the east side of the campus at 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge.

The day's theme will be "New Horizons in Higher Education." There will be workshops and presentations on such topics as the graduate admissions process, financing a graduate education, applying to law school and writing a winning purpose statement. There also will be several opportunities to network with other prospective graduate students. A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Gordon Nakagawa, chair of Northridge's Asian American Studies Department, will give the keynote address, "How Many Mentors Does It Take to Change a Light Bulb?" He will highlight the importance that faculty mentoring has on graduate school success.

The conference will culminate with a graduate school fair, featuring displays and representatives from CSUN's 47 graduate programs as well as graduate programs at such schools as UCLA, Chapman School of Law and Pepperdine University.

Though the event is free, tickets are required and are available on a first-come, first-served basis from Feb. 25 through March 12 in the Associated Students Ticket Office in Nordhoff Hall at the southwest corner of the campus.

For more information, visit the Web site http://www.csun.edu/~gripact/2GradStudies/AGE.htm.