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Choosing a Graduate School
Many factors will impact your decision to attend graduate
school. Below are some guidelines and tips to help you decide.
Should I Go?
Consider various factors. For some professions, it's helpful to go to
graduate school immediately after completing your undergraduate degree (for example, if you're going to medical
school). For others, it helps to gain
practical experience before attending graduate school. And some professions don't require graduate school at all.
If you do decide to go,
note that graduate programs look for highly motivated students with a
strong sense of direction. Be sure of your career
goals before you apply, and be sure you can communicate those goals to graduate programs.
How Do I Pick a School?
It's important to choose a grad program that fits your needs. Graduate programs vary significantly. Thoroughly research your options. Below are general
guidelines to help you identify your needs, narrow your choices, and set a planning timeline.
1. Think about what you want in a graduate program/institution. Make a list of your top criteria. For example, list out field of study, school size, geographic location, financial assistance, faculty (current research
and publications), and degrees offered. For more help with this, see Questions to Ask As You Consider Grad Programs.
2. Research different programs, ask questions, and compare them to your
top criteria. Peterson's
Guide is an excellent resource for information on programs and their locations. Most schools also provide information online.
3. Based on your research, make a list of graduate schools
that match your criteria.
Include 10 to 20 schools. If you'd like more information about any of those programs, contact them and request their
graduate bulletin or any other materials they think would help you make a decision. You can also contact the department chairpersons of
graduate programs that interest you. They can usually provide information about areas
of current research by professors in that program. As you gather this information about the schools on your list, try to weed out some schools and shorten the list.
4. After you've finalized your list of options, add each school's admissions address and the date the application is due to that school. Give yourself a few weeks to apply to each program. Filling out applications and gathering materials takes time.
5. Decide on your timeline for each step of
the application process (ie: testing, application, personal statements,
letters of recommendation) and begin applying.
Need More Help?
The Career and Community Learning Center has many resources to help you assess and apply to graduate programs. Stop by our Resource Room in 135 Johnston Hall to browse books and handouts, or talk to a Peer Advisor (no appointment needed). You can also make an appointment with one of our professional
career counselors, who will provide guidance about career and grad school options. To do so, call us at 612-624-7577.
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