There are almost an unlimited number of criteria that you can consider when choosing a graduate school. The important thing is to consider the criteria that are most important to you personally when making your choice. Listed here you will find some criteria that you should take into consideration when you are choosing your graduate school. While everything that you should consider may not be listed here, it should be enough to start you thinking.
Location: Just like when you are buying a piece of real estate or choosing your undergraduate school, location is probably one of the most prominent criteria that should be considered. When you are attending grad school, you will not only be attending classes, but you will also be living and working in that community for at least a few years. You should choose a location that you feel comfortable with. You may want to consider options that are close to your family and friends. You may want to consider a school in an area where you would like start or continue your career after graduation. Since you network and meet a lot of business contacts during grad school, it may be beneficial to attend a school where your connections may land you a job after graduation.
Job Placement: You should take some time to research the job placement or career services that the school offers. Since one of the reasons you are probably earning your degree is either for career advancement or to open up doors for new opportunities, you will want to know what type of help you can expect from your school after graduation. Many grad schools list the companies where their graduates work. This kind of information can also give you an idea of what opportunities may be available to you as a graduate of this particular institution.
Cost & Financial Aid: Cost is always a factor in purchasing something, especially major purchases like a graduate school education. You should consider how much it is going to cost you to live and attend classes at each of your school choices. You should also consider what type of financial aid assistance each school offers. If you can obtain a full scholarship at one school, but only get student loans at another one of your choices, then you may have to take this into consideration before making your final decision.
Courses of Study/Degrees: If a college or university doesn't offer the curriculum or degree that you want to study, then that college should be immediately eliminated from your choice options. Find out which colleges offer the degree and major you are looking for and then start narrowing down your school choices, based on other criteria, from there.
Size & Type of Institution: While some colleges are small and intimate others are huge and more impersonal. Depending on what type of class size you feel is the best environment for you to learn may affect your decision on graduate school choices. Some institutions are private, some are public and some are religious or Jesuit schools. If you have preferences on class size, the size of the student population, or the type of school that you attend, then this is one of the criteria that should be considered as well.
So there are several different items that you will want to take into consideration when you are choosing a graduate school. You should narrow down the colleges that fit your criteria and then research them further until you find one where you feel the most comfortable. Campus visits and tours are great ways to find your comfort level with a particular school. If you feel like you fit there and you feel like you could live there for the next few years, then chances are you have found your graduate school.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Choosing grad school for MBA
By: Jason | 09-07-2008
Does it matter which grad school you go to for an MBA or how many credits the MBA program is? Currently I am looking at the accelerated program at Monmouth University which is 30 credits and the Rutgers Unvitersity program which is 60 credits.
Time frames
By: aimcomm | 06-07-2008
what is the shortest time frame that one can earn an online degree?
Looking for distance learning providers in the UK
By: supaswag | 03-07-2008
I am looking for a provider to gain a [online] distance learning Foundation Degree in Internet Marketing. I found Kaplan Open Learning and would like to find out if anyone has any experience with them. Their offers look very good.
How important are work based achievements on my CV?
By: imconfused.com | 23-06-2008
I am currently writing my cv and wondered how important it was to include work based achievements? Do employers really care? Don?t they just care about my qualifications?
Safe Haven Babies and Mothers
By: judymamab | 20-06-2008
I am writing a paper for school and need information on what a mother who has dropped her infant at a safe haven must do, if she changes her mind and wants the child back. I know that there are alot of questions to be answered and certain things she has to go through, but need either a url or someone who can go into depth on the situation.
Qualification statement
By: Adriana | 19-06-2008
I have to write 5 qualification statements for a leadership program offered at my job (government), and I am completely blocked, I don't even know how to start. I know once I get started I'll be fine. Help?!
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