Attending graduate school immediately after graduation may be an option you are considering. If so, careful reflection on your reasons for continuing your education is necessary to ensure a sound decision.
If you have a clear sense of what career you want to pursue, and if an advanced degree is required for entry into that field, then graduate school is for you. Law, medicine, and college or university teaching, for instance, are areas in which education beyond the baccalaureate level is required. Or, if you want to immerse yourself in the study of a particular academic discipline purely for the love of it, and would never forgive yourself if you did not at least give it a try, then advanced study will probably turn out to be a satisfying and valuable experience.
For most college graduates, however, the decision to return to school will not be as clear-cut. If you’re unsure of your career interests, you may regard the campus as a sheltered place in which to “find yourself.” While this view is common and acceptable for undergraduates, it can present a real problem at the graduate level, where you are expected to have clearly defined interests leading to an area of specialization.
A convincing argument can be made that gaining work experience related to your interests before entering graduate school can lead to a more effective graduate program. First, related work experience will help you clarify career goals. You will learn what it takes to be successful in a given profession, and you can then assess your abilities accordingly; this knowledge should help you decide on an area of specialization. Second, the perspective, learning, and maturity acquired from practical experience can be applied to the theoretical concepts promoted in your studies and should increase your understanding of them.
Finally, work experience can enhance your application credentials by offsetting mediocre grades or test scores. In the case of some competitive professional schools, admissions committees may be very interested in your work background in addition to your “numbers.” The way you describe this background in your application essay or interview will almost certainly affect your chances of acceptance.
Choosing the right program for you
Some graduate degrees are academic and others are professional in orientation. Academic degrees focus on original research, whereas professional degrees stress the practical application of knowledge and skills required for practicing in the profession. Master’s degrees may take one to three years to earn, and doctorates generally take four more years to complete. Those who intend to pursue doctorates may elect to earn a master’s degree first, then proceed to select a different university, or somewhat different program of study, for their doctoral work.
For many fields, the master’s may be the only professional degree needed for employment; examples are the Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), the Master of Social Work (M.S.W.), and the Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.). For other careers, the doctorate is necessary for practicing in the field; such degrees are the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), the Juris Doctor (J.D.), and for college teaching in a specific discipline, the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.).
Once you’ve decided to pursue graduate study, begin to explore schools offering the type of program you want. Go to your local college or city library to find directories of graduate study.
You’ll find directories that briefly outline, for each field of study, the academic programs, financial aid resources, cost of study, application requirements, and other information. Use these directories to write for applications, catalogs, and financial aid information approximately one year before your intended matriculation date.
You will want to do further research on the programs best suited to your interests and goals. There are a number of ways to do this, and you will want to start with your faculty. Ask those related to the field you intend to pursue for their advice on specific programs after you have talked with them about your interests. Also, go to the library and ask a reference librarian to help you find professional journals in your field. See which professors are doing research and publishing in your area of interest; you may want to write them for advice on the best programs to consider given your stated interests. If possible, visit the schools that appeal to you and talk with faculty and current graduate students for a better perspective.
As you evaluate each program, consider such factors as the quality of the faculty, special concentrations and courses related to your interests, the prestige of the institution, the facilities, the overall cost, placement opportunities, housing, geographic location, surrounding community, and any other factors of personal importance.
Graduate programs are rated but the criteria vary, so read the introduction of each rating carefully to see how judgments were made. Your college library will probably have these ratings available on the reserve shelf.
Application requirements differ substantially among institutions and programs, so read each school’s material conscientiously to make sure you file a complete and timely application. Application deadlines can range from August before your senior year (for graduate study in medical school) to July before matriculation in the fall (for schools with rolling admissions).
Schools generally require a graduate admission test, which you should plan to take approximately one year before your anticipated matriculation date. The tests vary by type of graduate study. There are the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), and the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) to name a few. The schools’ catalogs will specify which test you need and may give some indication of the score needed to be competitive for the program. Your college adviser can assist you in obtaining the appropriate admission test bulletin and can advise you on preparation strategy.
Official transcripts of your undergraduate work must also be sent to the graduate schools; contact your college registrar to have your transcripts sent. Admissions committees will review your transcripts with regard to the rigor and types of courses, the course load per semester, and your grades. The reputation of the undergraduate school will also be taken into consideration.
Two or three letters of recommendation from professors and/or employers will also be required for admission. The schools will specify who should write the letters and what issues should be addressed. The best recommender is one who has high regard for your work, knows you well, has credibility, and is a good writer. Approach your recommenders early in the fall of your senior year to give them time to write before their other academic pressures mount, or open a credentials file if you will be applying after you graduate.
Give your recommenders the schools’ recommendation forms with stamped, addressed envelopes and enough supporting material to enable them to write a good, detailed letter on your behalf. This material may include a cover sheet reminding them of classes taken under them and projects you have done for them, a transcript, a resume, a research paper, a copy of your application essay, and/or other documents that will assist them. If you haven’t already, to discuss with them your reasons for going to graduate school and why you are applying to specific programs.
You will find space on the application to write an essay or statement on your background and interests as they pertain to study in the field. This is an important and time-consuming aspect of the application because it is your opportunity to present yourself beyond the “numbers.” Of course, this is one measure of your ability to write, so be meticulous about spelling, grammar, and writing style. The essay is also used to assess your enthusiasm for the field of study, your motivation, creativity, maturity, and uniqueness.
Have your adviser and recommenders critique your essay for content. They often will be able to tell you what to stress and what to delete. Your essay will take time to develop, so begin working on it the summer before you apply.
For many applicants, financial aid is an important factor when choosing a program. It is crucial to explore plans for financing advanced study early in the application process. Most funding is administered directly from graduate departments or universities, and it is important to complete the schools’ financial aid application and requirements early.
Outside sources of financial aid are also available for graduate study. These often have very early deadlines, sometimes making it necessary to take graduate admission tests and obtain letters of recommendation by October the year prior to the start of your studies. Special fellowships, grants, and scholarships can be researched through various financial aid directories and data bases available in your library or advising office.
If you are applying for financial aid, you will probably need to complete one or more standardized forms, which may include the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is a financial questionnaire that is revised annually and can be obtained in college advising offices in January. After the FAFSA data are reviewed, a needs analysis document will be sent to you; you will be asked to verify the information and submit the report to the school you plan to attend. The school then decides whether to award you assistance and determines how much funding you will receive. Because some schools will also want you to complete the College Scholarship Service Financial Aid Profile or their own supplemental forms, contacting each of the schools to which you are applying will ensure that you receive the appropriate forms and that you comply with the schools’ requirements.
Need-based financial aid programs include work-study programs; private, federal, and state loans; grants; fellowships; and tuition-remission programs. Merit-based aid is awarded primarily on academic accomplishment, talent, or promise. Financial aid sources are administered both from universities and from outside sources for special populations—i.e., the economically and educationally disadvantaged, disabled students, veterans, women, and minorities.
Planning is the key
Graduate school can be personally rewarding, yet very demanding. Think through your motivation for pursuing advanced study and talk with your adviser early about the application process. Read all application materials carefully in order to meet all requirements and deadlines. If you plan well, success in graduate school.