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