Why go to Graduate School? How to Choose a Graduate Program? Some Tips for the Prospective Graduate School Applicant

There are many reasons why you might be thinking of graduate school. The two most common reasons are the following:

• A graduate degree is required for your desired career, or to further your career
• Candidates entering your desired career path with a graduate degree will earn a higher starting salary or enter the field at a higher level

Besides these reasons, you may be thinking of pursuing graduate-level studies as a way to further explore academic interests from your undergraduate years, as a part of the process of finding your ideal career path. While there is certainly nothing wrong with this type of open-ended exploration, it is helpful to have a clear goal in mind when deciding whether to go back to graduate school, rather than simply applying to graduate school because you feel it is expected of you or because you are unsure of your next step in life. Graduate school is a major commitment of time and energy, and you will get much more out of the experience if you have given a lot of thought to your reasons for making the commitment. Some questions to ask yourself before you begin the application process are:

• What specific career goal(s) will be furthered by enrolling in graduate study?
• How dedicated am I to the career that I will be working towards, and/or to the academic work I will be pursuing, if I go to graduate school?
• What educational level do I need/want to attain – Master’s, Ph.D.?
• Am I looking for a traditional program or a part-time program that will allow me to continue working?
• How important is it to receive a degree from a prestigious program or institution?
• Am I willing to relocate to attend graduate school?
• How will I fund my education?
• How long will my degree take to complete?

You must thoroughly research programs in your field to find out which are the most highly regarded, and what opportunities particular programs will offer you. The most prestigious and selective programs may not offer what you are looking for. Conversely, while doing your research you may find out that the school you had been considering is not very highly ranked, and you may want to look at other schools that you had not previously considered. However, there may be a professor at a lower-ranked university or program who you are particularly interested in working with, which might make it worth your time to consider that program.

When choosing where to apply, consider your own strengths and weaknesses as an applicant and make a reasonable assessment of where you are likely to be accepted. Talking to undergraduate professors or professional colleagues who know you (and your chosen field) well is a great place to start for this kind of assessment. It will also be important to line up letters of recommendation from professors or supervisors who know you well. Of course, if you have been out of school for some time, you will not need a letters of reference from an undergraduate professor.

Some tips on investigating graduate programs:

If applicable, take a look at the annual U.S. News and World Report issue on the Best Graduate Schools. This will give you a general idea of what are considered to be the best schools for the field you are considering. Unfortunately, not all fields are covered – but if you are interested in a subject in the Humanities that is not covered by U.S. News and World Report, for example, looking at how the English programs are ranked will give you a very general idea.

If you are an undergraduate, it is important that you talk to your undergraduate professors in the subject you plan to study, as well as anyone else you know in the field. Of course, you may already have a very specific idea of what you want to study and who the major “players” are in the field and at what universities they teach. Individual professors are important to consider when choosing a graduate school, especially at the PhD level, because you will be working with a small committee of scholars for a number of years – so it is very important to attend a program where the faculty’s interests match your own. Who are the people in your area of interest whose work most fascinates you and aligns with your research goals? You should be familiar with the faculty of any program you plan to apply to. Visit the department if at all possible. Establishing personal contact with the department means that your name becomes a face, and this may help you during the selection process.

Another important consideration is how you will fund your graduate degree. While professional programs such as law, business, or medical school have limited scholarships available and often necessitate taking out extensive loans, academic programs (especially Ph.D. programs) often provide fellowships and/or teaching opportunities that will pay for your education as well as provide you a modest living stipend. It is to your advantage to research and take advantage of these opportunities as much as you can. For example, two programs that are equally attractive to you may have different ways of funding their students, and it is important to be aware of what you can expect before choosing a program. Questions to ask when investigating a program include: how long do students generally take to complete this degree? Does the department fully fund students for the entire degree, through fellowships and teaching assistantships?

You will also want to research the cost of living in the area near the university. The same stipend might go a lot further in a smaller town than in a big metropolitan area. While other considerations may have much greater weight, it is important to have an idea of how adequate a graduate stipend will be if you are going to be living on it for a number of years. You may need to plan to supplement the stipend with additional sources of income, or to consider saving money during the summer (find out what opportunities the department provides for summer fellowships and teaching). Outside fellowships may be something to consider, as well. Graduate students who are currently making their way through the programs you are considering are a great resource when it comes to investigating funding options.

You must be as knowledgeable as possible about the programs you are applying to so that you can tailor your personal statement to the individual program. A good first step is to look at the department’s website – usually you will find a wealth of useful information there. Do not be afraid to call the department and ask questions. It is a good idea to get along well with the department secretary, as he or she is the person who will be your primary contact during the application process. The department secretary can be an important source of information and they can tell you who to ask if they cannot answer a particular question. It may also be helpful to e-mail professors you are interested in working with to ask them about the program, or even to ask if you may attend one of their classes. Make sure you are familiar with their scholarly interests before initiating contact with professors!

Above all, be informed! Talk to as many people as you can about the programs you are investigating. Focus on finding the right fit for you – make a list of what is most important to you and keep it in mind as you do your research. Look at many programs before deciding where to apply, even if you have your heart set on one particular school. You may be surprised by what is offered at other schools. Get the advice of people who have “been there, done that” – successful professionals in the field, as well as graduate students who are currently pursuing their degrees. As you probably did when you applied to college, you may want to apply to a few schools that are “reaches,” a few that are “safeties,” and a few that are in the middle. Keep in mind that application fees are expensive and that each application has to be completed separately, although you may be able to use the same general personal statement, tailoring it to each individual program. Give yourself adequate time to:

• research your options
• contemplate your options (so that you do not have to make a snap decision as the application deadlines approach)
• prepare for required tests
• take required tests
• line up letters of recommendation and have them sent, along with transcripts, etc., to the departments you are applying to
• write the personal statement
• complete the applications
• budget for the application fees

For example, if the application deadlines are mostly in January, you will ideally want to start seriously researching programs about a year before, and you should have a pretty good list in mind by summer or early fall, at which time you can get started in earnest on your applications. (Keep in mind that professors are hard to get in touch with during the summer, so you will find it easier to contact people during the spring or fall semesters). Line up your letters of recommendation as soon as possible, and do not forget to thank your recommenders! All required testing should be completed a few months before the deadline, to make sure that scores reach the department offices on time, and in case you need to re-take any of the tests (such as the GRE, which can only be taken once a month), and make sure you know if the departments you are applying to require specific scores on the GRE. All of this can get very hectic if you are applying to many schools, so keep a calendar with all the relevant deadlines!

In the United States, a graduate school degree is becoming a near-necessity in many fields, and it can be a rich and rewarding experience when you have found the right program. As with any worthy endeavor, preparation is the key to success. Your PowerScore course will give you the tools you need to do your best on the GRE. Make sure to use all the tools at your disposal to prepare for every aspect of the application process, and you will be on the road to a successful graduate school experience!