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Planning
for Graduate School
Your
career plans may include pursuing an additional degree
after graduation. Just as in the job search, there
is a process that requires significant planning, so
start early! There are many good reasons for going
immediately into graduate school, and there are also
some questionable reasons.
Questions
to Ask
Selecting a
Graduate Program
Application
Process
Selection
Criteria
Financing a
Graduate Degree
Peterson's
Guide to Graduate School!!!!
Gradschools.com
Before
you go any further, ask yourself the following
questions:
- Are
you reasonably sure of your career goals?
Could a taste of the working world change those
goals?
- How
much will your job and salary prospects be enhanced
by graduate school?
- Will
it be easier to enter graduate school in your field
directly after college or after gaining work
experience?
- How
much will graduate school cost? What are the
indirect costs (e.g., lost earnings)? Is there
a possibility that an employer may pay for you to
attend?
- Would
a break from campus life benefit you? Or would
you have difficulty adjusting to student life after
a break from college? Do you need some time
away from academics to acquire work experience,
clarify your career goals, or mature?
- If
you are going to graduate school as a method of
postponing your job search, you may want to rethink
your decision.
- If
through your research, you have concluded that you
can obtain a better job or specialize within your
chosen career field, then begin choosing the
appropriate graduate school.
Selecting
a Graduate Program
Research the various graduate
school options you have through resources like
Peterson's Guide to Graduate and Professional Programs
(Grad Search) available in Career Services or Stapleton
Library. You must make an appointment to use the
program in Career Services. Talk to your faculty for
recommendations, and check bulletin boards in your
department for promotional materials.
Some
of the factors to consider in choosing a graduate school
include:
- Commitment
to research by faculty
- The
program's resources (financial support, library,
labs)
- Program
accreditation
- Success
rate of graduates in finding employment
- Expenses
and availability of financial aid
- Geographic
location and setting
- Match
between your qualifications and admissions standards
Application
Process Checklist
( ) Research programs and request
information and applications.
( ) Select first-choice programs
to which you will apply.
( ) Register for appropriate
qualifying exams as required by individual
programs.
( ) Study for exams.
( ) Take exams and submit results
to chosen schools. (Also see testing).
( ) Ask professors and employers
to write letters of recommendation. Comply
with instructions given by each graduate program.
( ) Request official copies of
your undergraduate transcripts from the
Registrar's Office to be sent to graduate programs.
( ) Complete applications,
personal essays, and other information. Meet
all deadlines!
( ) Confirm that application
materials, recommendations, and test scores have
been received by the deadlines.
Selection
Criteria
Graduate programs usually use a
combination of factors upon which a decision for
admissions is based. Among these are undergraduate
academic performance, test scores, accomplishments or
experiences, quality of application and recommendations,
and intangible factors such as motivation, maturity or
leadership. While no single factor in itself is
likely to be the sole determinant of your candidacy, the
admissions committee will weigh your strengths against
your weaknesses.
In
order to tip the scales in your favor, you may request
or be required to interview with the program director.
Express your background, interests, and goals, and
explain why you are interested in this particular
program. This also gives you an opportunity to
determine your match with the program.
Financing
a Graduate Degree
There are a variety of ways to
assist you in financing your graduate education.
There are grants and fellowships which are often awarded
on the basis of merit, financial need, or special
talent. These provide an award with no requirement
of service to the institution or provider.
Assistantships
or employment awards require service to the university
in exchange for financial assistance such as tuition
waivers, room and board, etc. Teaching, research
or administrative assistantships may be available on a
competitive basis. Campus or community employment
options should also be pursued.
Financial
assistance in the form of loans are also available.
Contact the graduate
school or financial
aid office for specific information.
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