Advice on applying Graduate School: Graduate School - Is it right for me?
Advice on applying Graduate School: How many schools should I apply to?
Advice on applying Graduate School: Grad school? Think again
Students often assume that graduate school is the next logical step after completing an undergraduate degree. Whether and when to continue your education is an important decision, since graduate or professional school requires a significant commitment of time, energy, and money. It also means turning down other opportunities that may come your way during that time. There are, however, specific questions you should consider before applying: • Why do I want to go to graduate school? • What will I gain by attending? • What will I give up by attending? • Is this the right time for me to apply? Helpful Hint: The graduate school application season is during the fall Is graduate study right for you? Graduate education is very different from undergraduate education. To be successful, you must be self-directed, intellectually curious, hard-working, flexible, and committed. You will have a closer relationship with faculty than you had as an undergraduate, and you will rely on your fellow students for ideas, criticism, and stimulation. On the other hand, you will have less of a social connection to your peers and less social time in general. Graduate school is designed for people who enjoy researching one topic in depth. If you cannot find satisfaction with extensive writing, researching, and intellectual discussion, graduate school is probably not the place for you. In addition, think about what you want from graduate school to be sure your goals and the purpose of graduate education match. For some fields, a graduate degree is crucial, while for others, it will not help you advance to a higher level on its own. Graduate school is NOT the place for you if you simply cannot decide what else to do with your life. There should be some purpose. Education for its own sake is a valid reason, but delaying inevitable decisions about your future is not. Is now the best time for you to attend graduate school? If you know that you want to pursue an academic career, now is the best time to start. A doctoral degree typically takes 5 to 8 years of full time study, so there's no time like the present. Now is also the right time if you are entering a field that requires an advanced degree for credentialing or to gain entry-level positions. However, there are some fields that value work experience as well as an advanced degree, and they may want you to have that experience first. For example, most business schools expect that you will have 2-3 years of work experience before they will consider you for admission. Work experience enriches the classroom experience, making classroom conversations more relevant for you and your peers. Explore your field to determine when they recommend furthering your education. The last two reasons for delaying your graduate education may be the most important. If you feel burned out after four years of college, or if you are unsure of your future career goals, it is best to take some time to work and reflect before making this commitment of time and money. Should I pursue a master's degree or should I be applying to doctoral programs? Remember that the doctorate is intended for those who want to pursue a career in university-level teaching and/or advanced research. Even if that describes you, there may still be reasons to apply to a master's program first. If you have not had a strong academic career, you may need to enter a program through the master's in order to prove that you are capable of serious, doctoral level work. The other instance in which a master's program may be necessary as a first step is if you are changing fields. You will develop a solid base in your new discipline, as well as prove your dedication to that field. Junior and Senior Class Center Tips on... Graduate School - Choosing and Applying Choosing Graduate Schools When beginning to make a list of potential graduate programs, keep an open mind. In graduate school, a good university may not equal a good program. You may find that the best program in your field is located within a less prestigious university. The best source of information about graduate school programs is Columbia faculty members in your field of interest. But before you talk with them, do some preliminary research in the Center for Career Services, the library, or on the Internet. Look at professional journals in your field to find where the cutting edge research is being done. Contact professional associations to see if they evaluate programs. Then, set up an appointment to talk to a Columbia faculty member about your list. When making your final decision, you will want to consider the curriculum, faculty, the quality and number of students in the program, the university's location and facilities, and availability of funding. Applications for Graduate School You can request application materials via e-mail or by sending postcards to the schools. More and more schools are encouraging students to complete applications electronically. Please refer to the specific Web sites of the schools for more details. In addition to the basic information, most applications will require GRE scores, a personal statement, a transcript and letters of reference. Each is discussed below. Graduate Record Examination GRE's are required in support of most graduate school and fellowship applications. This three-hour General Test, designed to measure verbal, quantitative, and analytical ability, is very similar to the SAT you took in high school. Graduate school catalogues usually indicate whether a school requires the General Test, Subject Test, or both. The general test is offered on the computer only. Although in theory, you can schedule the test at your convenience, computer times can fill up at peak times. Many graduate schools require that you take the GRE by October or December, so plan ahead. Subject tests are offered on specific dates. For further information, visit the GRE Web site at www.gre.org. Personal statements Unlike undergraduate institutions, graduate schools will expect you to have clear direction and goals upon entering a program. Therefore, their essay questions will be more focused. The most important piece of advice about writing these statements should be obvious-be sure that you answer the question that is asked on the application. It is quite possible that you will not be able to use the same essay for multiple applications. You should be prepared to make a case for why you will fit with a particular program, and what you will be able to contribute to a department, rather than just what you hope to receive. Letters of recommendation Graduate schools usually require two to three letters of recommendation. These should be academic letters, and you should have at least one from a professor in your major. If you are changing departments, it is imperative you also have a letter from someone who is teaching in that department. It is wise to begin acquiring recommendations as early as possible so that they are in your file when you begin applying to graduate schools (generally November through January). It can sometimes take professors a long time to complete a recommendation and they may need a gentle reminder of their commitment to you. The earlier you start, the more assured you will be of meeting application deadlines.
If you feel you have excellent prospects consider applying to fewer schools with more assurances of being accepted. If you feel you have average to limited prospects you may want to apply to a larger number. Some will be "safety-nets" which you are confident you will be accepted to and others will be ones you hope will accept you.
Do not sell yourself short. You may have features that your hoped for school is seeking. Speak with your advisor and with faculty members in your field of interest about the conventional number of applications sent out. Ask the reasoning behind this number.
Cost: How much are you willing to spend on the application process? Costs can be hidden and can rapidly add up. Do some budget work estimating and totally the costs versus the amount you are willing to spend.
Costs in addition to application fees:
—academic transcript request and financial aid fees,
—fees associated with the processing of financial aid forms,
—fees required for GRE,GMAT, LSAT, MCAT exams and for test reports, photocopying expenses and postage costs, and
—interview and campus visitation costs.
Regardless of the number, be sure to apply to schools which complement your academic background, fit your graduate school needs, and will aid you in reaching your career goals.
Generate a list of the attributes to present to those deciding admissions. What are your prominent attributes which secure your acceptance into a particular graduate program? Study the prerequisites of each program. Match them with your attributes. Be prepared to reflect these matches on your application.
Important tips
Review application materials and make note of deadlines.
Duplicate your blank application to use as a rough draft.
Have supplemental material such as transcripts, resume, and test scores on hand.
Read the application thoroughly before entering information.
Follow the instructions carefully.
Respond to the items in an accurate and concise manner. Pay attention to detail.
Don't"mass produce" applications. Although some information is repetitive from school to school, applications vary. Address the unique aspects of your qualifications for each program.
If not applying online, type or have a professional type your application. The application is an example of your quality of work. The form should be neat and legible.
Thoroughly proofread your application. Check that all the necessary information is complete and accurate. Have someone else review the application for misspellings and typos.
Make a copy of the completed application and keep it on file.
The Personal Statement
A personal statement (or statement of purpose or personal essay) is required by just about every graduate program. It should indicate where you have been, where are you going, and how your experiences have prepared you for where you are going. It requires requires time, thought and frequent revisions. Personal statements are seldom longer than one page or three hundred words although in some cases additional forms may be added. If you were reviewing applications, would you welcome a lengthy essay?
Official copies are required for any post baccalaureate school. If you have taken coursework at multiple institutions, you likely will need academic transcripts from all (including those abroad). The Web site for the Records and Registration Office may have an online system to request forwarding to the schools applying to. If not, call or write for information including fees required.
Letters of Recommendation
Most graduate or professional schools require two to five confidential letters of recommendation. A faculty member in your department is usually regarded as the best reference, but letters from professionals in the field you are entering are also effective. Supervisors from internships and volunteer experiences are other good recommenders. Select people who can judge your past performance and character in a fair and accurate manner.
Contact those you think will give you a positive, accurate recommendation. Say, "I'm applying to______, could you write a positive letter of recommendation?" Tell the person your plans after getting the graduate degree and describe why you are interested in your chosen field. A copy of your personal statement and resume will give your recomenders a clearer concept and they will be better able to tailor a recommendation for program. Tailored recommendations are more persuasive than "canned" recommendations. Remind the recommender of your accomplishments so they can cite specific examples.
If your application materials include forms for recommendations, give these to your recommenders along with stamped and addressed envelopes. Request that the recommendations be completed and mailed by a specific date. Check with them a couple days before, to verify that the person is on track. Note whether the schools want the recommendations sent directly by the recommender or included with your application. Follow up with a thank you note. You may need their help again.
Additional Requirements
Additional items may be required with the application. Note any audio, visual, or written samples of your work required to be submitted. If you have questions regarding appropriate submissions, speak with a contact person in the program. Don't assume. Check.
Meeting Deadlines
Generally, applications should be forwarded ten to eleven months before the semester you wish to enroll. Give yourself plenty of time to request recommendations, request transcripts, prepare your statement and additional requirements, and complete your application. After sending all requirements, make follow up phone calls to verify arrival of materials at the institutions and the completion of your admissions folder. Make copies of all correspondence and not just on a computer or disk. Keep notes on all phone calls including the name of the person spoken to. Maintain
By Christine Hucko The Pitt News (U. Pittsburgh) 05/17/2006
(U-WIRE) PITTSBURGH - Two years ago, after I had already signed on the dotted line to attend graduate school, I came across an article that read as a warning to unsuspecting students like me.
The article was a friendly reminder that graduate school is not for everyone and that there are some serious things to consider before signing up for another two or three years of schooling.
Even though I broke several of the author's "rules" concerning the reasons not to decide on graduate school, I shrugged it off and thought, "What does he know?" The answer to that question, in retrospect, is "A lot."
With that in mind, after putting in two years of graduate school myself, I thought it was time to re-evaluate this columnist's arguments and add a few thoughts of my own.
The article implied that students should not consider graduate school based on reasons such as the following: "I have no idea what else to do with my life, so I may as well go to grad school," "Drinking beer until dawn and getting up at noon is awesome, I should try to extend this lifestyle for a few more years" or "If I don't have a master's degree, I will never find a decent job."
Granted, attaining further education is not such a bad thing if you can't figure out what to do with your life. And it's hard to argue against the beauty of having incredible flexibility with sleep schedules and such. Also, earning a master's degree just might land you a higher paying, more prestigious job -- if that's what you're after.
However, these rationalizations should be carefully weighed against the realities of graduate school. As the saying goes, "The devil is in the details." Perhaps the illustration, included with the article I read, told the story best.
Pictured on the page was a young man, bent over, with a look of utter exhaustion on his face and at least five books stacked on top of his hunched back. If that image is not enough of a fair warning, here are some other points to consider:
As a graduate student, you will likely be expected to thrust yourself into a topic at 90 mph. Your eight-page paper on the abolition of slavery as an undergrad will probably pale in comparison to the 30-pagers that will be expected of you on much more narrowly focused topics.
And speaking of papers, the American university system does not adequately prepare students to write research papers -- I can say this with some authority having spent time at three different institutions as an undergrad. As I painfully discovered at one point in my academic career, a research paper should not be confused with a book report, a few pages slapped together with excerpts from wikipedia.org, or the like.
But students should not take it personally -- the instruction on how to compose a paper properly just isn't there. So feel fortunate if you had an undergraduate professor who took the time and energy to explain the real research process to you.
In some cases, classes called "seminars" consist of as few as five other students. In these classes, you may be expected to read a book or two a week. And with a class this small, it's hard to hide behind the answers of your fellow students. If you don't do the readings, it shows.
Also, although I cannot speak for all graduate programs, I found that many of the professors in my program had no mercy when it came to attendance, grading and participation. In other words, your chances of success triple when your butt is in the chair and you say something.
Be wary of the folks who tell you that graduate school is a breeze. They just might be the same people who sat next to you in calc class and aced every exam with minimal effort, while you pulled all-nighters to get C's.
The decision to attain an advanced degree is one that deserves serious consideration. While I personally do not regret going to graduate school, there have been many times during the past two years when I wished I would have heeded the warnings of others beforehand. So before you sign up for another two years, at least give it a second thought.
