Figuring out where to go to graduate school and how to apply can be a daunting process. The Career Center can help guide you through the process.
Grad School Step-by-Step
Thinking about graduate school? Not sure where to start? Use this guide to help.
Ask these questions when deciding what to study:
Which field?
You don’t need to choose the field you majored in during your undergraduate studies. While graduate school programs require a bachelor’s degree, they often do not specify a certain undergraduate major.
Which focus?
Consider the length of the program and what career opportunities you will have at its conclusion. Pick a field of study you’re interested in.
Which degree – Master’s or PhD?
Time, money, and commitment are all factors to consider when deciding between a master’s and a doctorate degree.
Keep these factors in mind when searching for the graduate school that’s right for you:
- Location and size
- Cost and financial assistance
- Satisfaction of current students
- Quality of program
- Program focus and areas of specialty
- Your interest in a particular faculty’s current research
- Reputation of program and faculty
- Research facilities
- Opportunities for teaching, research, or field experiences
- Student: faculty ratios
You may have to take an entrance exam before being accepted, such as the GRE, MCAT, GMAT, or LSAT.
If you need to take a standardized exam, plan to spend several months preparing before it. There are several tools available with a range of costs. Some of the most commonly used tools are offered through Kaplan, Princeton Review, and Peterson’s.
Study Guides
Study guides offer content review and/or practice questions and tests. They also generally discuss strategies to perform your best on the exam.
Practice Tests
Practice tests offer a chance to get the full experience of immersing yourself in the standardized exam. Before test day, take at least one full test using the time limits set for the exam.
Preparatory Courses
Online and in-person courses offer a more structured review of the content and strategies to excel on an exam.
Note Deadlines
Every grad program is different, so be sure to pay attention to the application deadlines for each program to which you are applying.
Keep a Checklist
Make sure to keep track of all documents required for each application you plan to submit (e.g., transcripts, letters of recommendation, personal statements, etc.).
Review Before Submitting
Proofread all materials before submitting your application, but especially your essay/personal statement. Generally, your personal statement should convey your motivations for pursuing graduate school and your future goals.
Some graduate schools require an on-campus interview before acceptance. Interviewing with a graduate school can be similar to interviewing for a job. The Career Center offers practice interviews with a career coach, so use our office to practice and prepare.
Make a list of pros and cons for each school to which you’ve been accepted. If you haven’t already done so, you may wish to visit the campus. Consider the following:
People
Can you see yourself getting along with the students and faculty?
School
Does the culture, reputation, and location of the school align with what you are looking for in a graduate program?
Cost and Aid
How do tuition and the regional cost of living compare to scholarships, grants, assistantships, fellowships, or loans that you’ve been awarded?
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