What about Graduate School?

Deciding to attend graduate school can be a long process. It depends on your goals and also depends on who you are, what you want to do, and where you want to be in the future. Here are some tips about how to prepare and decide on graduate school. Additional information is available in the Career Resource Center.

Important Questions to Consider

• What are my reasons for attending graduate school?
• How will graduate school help me accomplish my long-range goals?
• What level of education will help me achieve my goals?
• What are the qualifications for graduate school and am I qualified?
• What colleges are best for me to attend?
• How will I pay for graduate school?

How do I Evaluate Potential Graduate Schools?

• Employment Opportunities: Three to five years after graduation, what will I be doing?
• Attrition: How many students in the program I am considering actually graduate?
• Faculty Depth: How many professors in the program? What is the reputation of the program?
• Faculty Diversity: Do the faculty members have a variety of specialties?
• Faculty Publications: Who has published, and is it of interest to me?
• Faculty Availability: If the faculty members are well known, are they available for the students?
• Internships and Assistantships: Does the program have places for planned practical experiences? What is the availability of these to students?
• Fellowships and Funding: How much money is available and how do students actually receive the awards?
• Placement Assistance: What percentages of graduates find employment? What is the department’s success in helping students find employment?
• Admissions Preference: Do they want students fresh out of undergraduate degrees, or do they want students who have had work experience relevant to their field?
• Accreditation: Is the program accredited and by whom?
• Facilities: Is the library adequate? How are the research facilities? Do they have the equipment you will need?

How do I Apply for and Receive Admission to Graduate School?

Admission procedures vary from college to college. Always request the latest information from the college and the individual department. Admissions procedures often vary within different departments.

• Bachelors Degree: What are the undergraduate requirements for the degree that you are seeking? Some programs do not require you to have a specific degree, just course work that fulfill prerequisites for attending their program. Know your requirements.
• G.P.A.: Each institution will have basic grade point average requirements. Many are at least a 3.0/4.0 GPA scale. However, if you have potential and can indicate promise as a graduate student, many will accept a student below the minimum average.
• Completed Application: Make sure your application is complete. If instructed to leave no blanks, enter "NA" when appropriate. Most colleges will require a statement of purpose or why you are applying to their graduate school. This is your chance to put your best foot forward and tell them why you should be a part of their program. Focus on your unique qualities. Be sure to answer all of the questions.
• Letters of Recommendation: Should be from faculty who can comment on your academic ability, preparation, potential for graduate study success, and your commitment to the field of study.
• Exams required by graduate and professional schools:
  Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
  Millers Analogies Test (MAT)
  Law School Admissions Test (LSAT)
  Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT)
  Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT)
• Personal Interview: Your chance to make your best impression. Think of it as a job interview. Evaluate if this is the program for you, and if you fit in to the group. Typical questions include:

- What are your major professional goals?
- How did you select ____________ (name of school)?
- Why do you want a masters degree/doctorate in ___ (name of degree/major)?

How do I Apply for Financial Assistance?

Apply for loans through the institution you are planning to attend. The financial aid office, graduate school, and your department may administer the following types of assistance:

• Fellowships: Are awarded at national, state, and institutional levels
• Assistantships: Are awarded by the particular department to which the student has applied
• Grants-in-aid: Are awarded on the basis of financial need
• Loans: National Direct Student Loan Program

What about Testing?

Where can I find graduate school information?

How can the Internet Help Me?

Links for graduate school information

• Association of American Law Schools
• Association for Support of Graduate Students
• Certificates Grad School - Search for a Post-baccalaureate Certificate Program by field of study or by specific university
• Distance Grad Schools - Select a subject related to area of interest and will be linked with listing of graduate programs
• Gradprofiles.com - In-depth graduate and professional school profiles
• Gradschools.com - Provides information about different graduate programs - search by subject or by school
• Gradsource.com - A database of over 1,200 grad schools
• Graduate School Survival Guide
• Graduate Study in Psychology - Web's best resource for free advice on applying to psychology graduate schools!
• Gradview.com
• H-Grad - An electronic network for graduate students around the world
• Post-docs.com - The first niche recruiting channel and marketplace to bring together recent Ph.D.s, professors, research institutions and other employers to find a good match
• The Chronicle of Higher Education
• The Grad Channel
• UNC Graduate School
• Yahoo.com - Higher Education