| There are thousands of graduate programs in | | | | pretty good indicators of what your odds are, |
| America, and many of them are excellent. If | | | | and whether or not you’re wasting your |
| you’re just now considering going to | | | | time by applying. You shouldn’t sell |
| grad school, the choices can seem | | | | yourself short, and by all means apply if you |
| overwhelming. It’s nice to have your | | | | think you’ve got a chance and |
| pick of so many excellent educational | | | | you’d love to go to a particular |
| opportunities, but at the same time, applying | | | | school. But if your degree is from a |
| to more than a few schools can get very | | | | community college, and your GPA and test |
| expensive, fast. So what criteria should you | | | | score are both mediocre, there’s no |
| use to determine which schools are your best | | | | sense in applying to Harvard. You’re |
| choices? | | | | just wasting time and money. |
| | | | |
| You’ve heard the old saying that there | | | | The next thing you’ll want to find out |
| are three factors that determine the value of | | | | is how long it will take to earn your degree, |
| a piece of real estate-location, location, | | | | and exactly what’s involved in the |
| location. In the same way, the overwhelming | | | | process-what courses are required, whether or |
| factors that determine the quality of a | | | | not you’ll be required to write a |
| graduate degree program are faculty, faculty, | | | | thesis, etc. Master’s programs range |
| faculty. These are the people who make the | | | | from one to three years, with most being |
| graduate school experience what it is. In | | | | closer to three. PhD’s will take much |
| fact, you’ll interact with the faculty | | | | longer, and most schools will be able to tell |
| before you’ve even enrolled in the | | | | you how long it takes the average candidate |
| school-they’ll determine if | | | | to earn their doctoral degree. The PhD |
| you’re admitted or not. Unlike | | | | program, although more rigorous than a |
| undergraduate schools, admission decisions | | | | master’s program, is in some ways more |
| about grad schools aren’t made by an | | | | flexible. Believe it or not, some students |
| admissions board, but by department faculty. | | | | take up to ten years to finish. It probably |
| And because of the nature of graduate school, | | | | won’t take you that long, but |
| where you’ll be working closely with | | | | it’ll almost certainly take at least |
| professors in the capacities of mentors and | | | | six years. You may also want to inquire about |
| advisors, grad school professors will have a | | | | the dropout rate among PhD candidates, |
| much more profound impact on your experience | | | | although you shouldn’t reach too much |
| and education than they did when you were an | | | | into this. Students drop out of PhD programs |
| undergrad. So that’s where | | | | for a variety of reasons. Some of them quit |
| you’ll start your research. Find out | | | | altogether, but others get their |
| who the professors that you’ll be | | | | master’s and decide that’s |
| working with are. Are they and the department | | | | enough for them and their career goals. So |
| well respected in the field? What are some of | | | | don’t be too alarmed by a high dropout |
| their recent publications? Are they known for | | | | rate. |
| ground breaking research, insights, or | | | | |
| inventions? And are they not merely | | | | The next concern is accreditation and |
| academics, but active in their actual field? | | | | rankings. The first is straight forward and |
| The importance of these things can’t | | | | completely objective; the second is a matter |
| be stressed enough. The professors are the | | | | of no little dispute, because it’s |
| heart and soul of the actual program, so find | | | | extremely subjective. It goes without saying |
| out as much about them as you can. | | | | that you’ll only want to enroll in an |
| | | | accredited program at an accredited school. |
| Once you’ve found a department | | | | An unaccredited degree is virtually |
| you’d like to apply to, the next step | | | | worthless. So make sure you verify that not |
| is determining if you’re likely to be | | | | only is the university accredited by one of |
| admitted to the program. Again, just like | | | | the national accrediting agencies, but that |
| when considering whether you’re up to | | | | the department you’re looking at is |
| the challenge of graduate school, this is a | | | | also approved by the national board that |
| time for being absolutely ruthlessly honest | | | | accredits programs in their field. This will |
| with yourself. The admissions process to | | | | hardly ever be a problem, but you certainly |
| graduate schools is quite competitive, and at | | | | want to make sure that all their paperwork is |
| America’s premier graduate schools, | | | | in order before enrolling. As far as |
| it’s extremely selective. Is your | | | | rankings, that’s a tougher call. You |
| undergraduate degree from a highly respected | | | | probably have a good idea already of the best |
| institution? What’s your GPA? These | | | | schools in your fields, especially if |
| are two huge determining factors in whether | | | | you’ve researched the faculty as |
| you’ll be accepted or not. Then | | | | suggested above. And if something interests |
| there’s the question of test scores. | | | | you, you probably have a good idea which |
| Almost every graduate program will require | | | | schools are the leaders in that field. Anyone |
| you to take one of the many standardized | | | | who wants to pursue graduate study in |
| tests given to grad school candidates, | | | | creative writing would probably love to get |
| whether it’s the Law School Admission | | | | into the University of Iowa, and there are |
| Test (LSAT), the Medical College Admission | | | | many other schools whose particular programs |
| Test (MCAT), the Graduate Management | | | | are just as well known as Iowa’s |
| Admission Test (GMAT), the Graduate Record | | | | writer’s workshop. If you don’t |
| Examination (GRE), or one of the many other | | | | know the top schools in a particular subject, |
| specialized tests that exist. Your score on | | | | there are books and magazines published every |
| the required test will be the third leg of | | | | year on this very topic. You can buy guides |
| the stool that forms your application | | | | to the best law schools, the best medical |
| profile, and determines your prospects of | | | | schools, the best literary arts schools, etc. |
| admittance. You’ll want to do | | | | US News and World Report also puts out an |
| everything you can, including getting a good | | | | annual guide to the best graduate schools in |
| study guide and spending weeks preparing and | | | | the country. Some say these guides and |
| practicing, to get a good score on your test. | | | | rankings are flawed, but if certain schools |
| Almost every graduate program will publish | | | | turn up on all the lists, that’s |
| the average GPA and test scores of their | | | | probably a sign that it’s a pretty |
| current students, and you’ll be able | | | | good program. A quick trip to the library |
| to see how you stack up compared to them. And | | | | should give you all the info you need on the |
| while these are just averages, they’re | | | | latest rankings. |