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