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There are thousands of graduate programsthem. And while these are just averages,
in America, and many of them arethey’re pretty good indicators of what
excellent. If you’re just nowyour odds are, and whether or not
considering going to grad school, theyou’re wasting your time by applying.
choices can seem overwhelming. It’sYou shouldn’t sell yourself short, and
nice to have your pick of so manyby all means apply if you think you’ve
excellent educational opportunities, butgot a chance and you’d love to go to a
at the same time, applying to more thanparticular school. But if your degree is
a few schools can get very expensive,from a community college, and your GPA
fast. So what criteria should you use toand test score are both mediocre,
determine which schools are your bestthere’s no sense in applying to
choices?Harvard. You’re just wasting time and
You’ve heard the old saying that theremoney.
are three factors that determine theThe next thing you’ll want to find out
value of a piece of realis how long it will take to earn your
estate-location, location, location. Indegree, and exactly what’s involved in
the same way, the overwhelming factorsthe process-what courses are required,
that determine the quality of a graduatewhether or not you’ll be required to
degree program are faculty, faculty,write a thesis, etc. Master’s programs
faculty. These are the people who makerange from one to three years, with most
the graduate school experience what itbeing closer to three. PhD’s will take
is. In fact, you’ll interact with themuch longer, and most schools will be
faculty before you’ve even enrolled inable to tell you how long it takes the
the school-they’ll determine ifaverage candidate to earn their doctoral
you’re admitted or not. Unlikedegree. The PhD program, although more
undergraduate schools, admissionrigorous than a master’s program, is
decisions about grad schools aren’tin some ways more flexible. Believe it
made by an admissions board, but byor not, some students take up to ten
department faculty. And because of theyears to finish. It probably won’t
nature of graduate school, wheretake you that long, but it’ll almost
you’ll be working closely withcertainly take at least six years. You
professors in the capacities of mentorsmay also want to inquire about the
and advisors, grad school professorsdropout rate among PhD candidates,
will have a much more profound impact onalthough you shouldn’t reach too much
your experience and education than theyinto this. Students drop out of PhD
did when you were an undergrad. Soprograms for a variety of reasons. Some
that’s where you’ll start yourof them quit altogether, but others get
research. Find out who the professorstheir master’s and decide that’s
that you’ll be working with are. Areenough for them and their career goals.
they and the department well respectedSo don’t be too alarmed by a high
in the field? What are some of theirdropout rate.
recent publications? Are they known forThe next concern is accreditation and
ground breaking research, insights, orrankings. The first is straight forward
inventions? And are they not merelyand completely objective; the second is
academics, but active in their actuala matter of no little dispute, because
field? The importance of these thingsit’s extremely subjective. It goes
can’t be stressed enough. Thewithout saying that you’ll only want
professors are the heart and soul of theto enroll in an accredited program at an
actual program, so find out as muchaccredited school. An unaccredited
about them as you can.degree is virtually worthless. So make
Once you’ve found a department you’dsure you verify that not only is the
like to apply to, the next step isuniversity accredited by one of the
determining if you’re likely to benational accrediting agencies, but that
admitted to the program. Again, justthe department you’re looking at is
like when considering whether you’realso approved by the national board that
up to the challenge of graduate school,accredits programs in their field. This
this is a time for being absolutelywill hardly ever be a problem, but you
ruthlessly honest with yourself. Thecertainly want to make sure that all
admissions process to graduate schoolstheir paperwork is in order before
is quite competitive, and at America’senrolling. As far as rankings, that’s
premier graduate schools, it’sa tougher call. You probably have a good
extremely selective. Is youridea already of the best schools in your
undergraduate degree from a highlyfields, especially if you’ve
respected institution? What’s yourresearched the faculty as suggested
GPA? These are two huge determiningabove. And if something interests you,
factors in whether you’ll be acceptedyou probably have a good idea which
or not. Then there’s the question ofschools are the leaders in that field.
test scores. Almost every graduateAnyone who wants to pursue graduate
program will require you to take one ofstudy in creative writing would probably
the many standardized tests given tolove to get into the University of Iowa,
grad school candidates, whether it’sand there are many other schools whose
the Law School Admission Test (LSAT),particular programs are just as well
the Medical College Admission Testknown as Iowa’s writer’s workshop.
(MCAT), the Graduate ManagementIf you don’t know the top schools in a
Admission Test (GMAT), the Graduateparticular subject, there are books and
Record Examination (GRE), or one of themagazines published every year on this
many other specialized tests that exist.very topic. You can buy guides to the
Your score on the required test will bebest law schools, the best medical
the third leg of the stool that formsschools, the best literary arts schools,
your application profile, and determinesetc. US News and World Report also puts
your prospects of admittance. You’llout an annual guide to the best graduate
want to do everything you can, includingschools in the country. Some say these
getting a good study guide and spendingguides and rankings are flawed, but if
weeks preparing and practicing, to get acertain schools turn up on all the
good score on your test. Almost everylists, that’s probably a sign that
graduate program will publish theit’s a pretty good program. A quick
average GPA and test scores of theirtrip to the library should give you all
current students, and you’ll be ablethe info you need on the latest
to see how you stack up compared torankings.



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