So you’re thinking, is grad school for me?
Here are some questions to ask yourself:
- Why do I want to go?
If it’s because you don’t know what else to do, you are probably going for the wrong reasons.
- Do I need a graduate or professional school degree to gain credentials for my chosen field?
For some occupations you need a graduate degree to be competitive for a position.
- Do I really love my chosen field and want to learn more?
A passion for your area of interest is a good reason to want to learn more.
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Graduate School: Now or Later?
- Should you go straight to graduate school? Examine your particular situation to determine the best course of action for you. It is a good idea to talk to faculty, prospective employers, and students currently pursuing programs of interest to you, to listen to their perspectives on the advantages of immediate or delayed entry to grad school.
Some points to consider:
- Would related work experience help you clarify your career goals?
- How much will your salary be enhanced by a graduate degree?
- Is it easier or better to enter grad school in your field after gaining related work experience?
- Is there a possibility that a future employer might pay for you to attend grad school?
- Will you be able to get back in the habit of studying after a prolonged break in your education?
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Guide to Choosing a Graduate School
Tips that may help you:
- Start early! Take the GRE test early, test scores are good for five years. Begin searching for a school about 18 months in advance.
- Get suggestions of graduate programs to investigate from faculty, alumni, or professionals in your field who you may have met at a conference, worked for, or read their articles.
- Use the online graduate school databases to do searches for programs that interest you.
- Contact a particular faculty member at each prospective school by mail. Also, ask Unity faculty members about other programs or names of faculty members you can contact.
- Once you choose the faculty members you want to contact, it’s a good idea to become familiar with some of the work they have done. You can determine if their research areas are of interest to you.
- Prepare and send a good cover letter and resume. Visit the CRC for help with your cover letter and resume. Make sure to have the Writing Center review your final draft too!
- If you don’t get a response within three weeks to a month, call the faculty members and ask them again about the possibilities at their school. A phone call is an excellent opportunity to discuss the professor’s projects, and it’s a chance for you to further express your interest.
- The next step usually involves providing the professor with more information about yourself (transcripts, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, etc.).
- After completing this process with several universities, you should have a much clearer choice of potential schools. If possible, visit the schools of most interest.
- Finally, it’s decision time. Considerations include the program, project, professor, school’s reputation, funding, and many other choices. Be sure it interests you, because that strong interest will drive you to do the best job you can. Good luck!
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Considerations for Applying to Grad School
Did you know that...
- Most graduate and professional schools require some form of entrance examination (GRE, LSAT, MCAT, etc.).
- You will need letters of recommendation from professors or work supervisors.
- Many graduate and professional programs accept applications year-round, whereas others have very specific deadlines.
- You may have to have a personal interview before you are admitted to a program.
- Many financial aid application deadlines are in January.
- Thousands of dollars of financial aid (scholarships, grants, loans, fellowships) go unclaimed every year because not enough people apply.
- The Career Resource Center has resources and programs available to help you prepare for the GRE, LSAT and Miller Analogy tests, and graduate school.
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Differences between a Masters and a Doctorate:
Some graduate degrees are academic and others are professional. Academic degrees focus on original research. Professional degrees stress the practical application of knowledge and skills required for practicing in the profession. Masters degrees may take one to three years to earn, while doctorates generally take four more years to complete. Those who intend to pursue doctorates may earn a master’s degree first, then select a different university, or somewhat different program of study, for their doctoral work.
The Masters Candidate
As a masters candidate, you’ll spend about two years at a graduate school. The purpose of this program, in the university’s eyes, is to give you a solid education in a specialized field. You may study part-time at many universities, while working to support yourself.
The Doctoral Candidate
The doctoral candidate spends five or six years at graduate school. The purpose of the program, in the university’s eyes, is to give you an extensive knowledge of your field; train you to do original and meaningful research; and prepare you to function as a member of a teaching faculty or for research opportunities.
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Deciding Whether to Go
Define your career goals. Talk with your adviser and other professionals in the field. It’s good to develop a close professional relationship with a few faculty members. They can be valuable sources of “inside information” into the field.
More questions to ask yourself:
- What do I want to accomplish in my lifetime?
- What are my long and short term professional goals? Is graduate school necessary for me to achieve these goals?
- Do I have the skills and interest to succeed in a graduate program?
- Am I willing to meet the extensive demands of another academic program?
- Would other educational routes suit my goals better?
Some good reasons to attend grad school:
1. You have a clear career goal and need an advanced degree to enter the field.
2. You want to immerse yourself in the study of a particular academic discipline because you have a passionate interest in the field.
Reasons NOT to attend grad school include:
1. You haven’t decided what you want to do and at least if you stay in school you can avoid “the real world.”
2. You’re not sure what to do next with your career, but in graduate school maybe you’ll “find yourself.”
3. Friends/parents/professors think you should go to graduate school.
4. “What else are you going to do with your major?”
5. You don’t think you’ll be able to find a job now, but with a graduate degree, chances of employment should be better.
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Useful Lingo
- GRE: Graduate Record Exam – It’s like an SAT for graduate school.
- LSAT: Law School Admissions Test – The test to take if you’re considering law school.
- Miller Analogies Test – Some graduate programs, especially in the social science disciplines, require students to take the Miller Analogies Test.
- GMAT: Graduate Management Admissions Test – The test to take if you are considering a Master’s in Business Administration.
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