You've graduated college and you're ready for the next step. The logical choice is graduate school, but how do you find the right one for you? Which graduate school to attend can have tremendous impact on your future career, so you want to be sure to make the right choice. Here are some things you should be considering when applying to graduate school.
Are you interested in a Doctoral or a Masters program? Some graduate schools offer a terminal Masters, meaning the Masters Degree is as far as you can go. Others allow you to move from Masters to Doctoral, and still others let you apply to either one directly. Decide which of these programs is right for you. Doctoral programs are often much longer and more rigorous, but of course completing the Doctorate leads to greater career opportunities. Certain schools are better equipped to give you a Doctoral education, while others are better for the Masters Degree. This is an important consideration in choosing a school.
You then want to consider the reputation of the school to which you may be applying. Is the school known for producing people successful in your discipline of study? Is the school well known in this field? Weigh these considerations against the likelihood of you being accepted to the program and of completing the program. A program may be great, but if you don't get into it, or worse, if you don't finish, you will have wasted valuable time that you could have spent pursuing a degree elsewhere.
Consider the practical aspects. Will you be able to hold a job if you need to while you are in the program? Will you have to travel far from your own state? Can you afford the program? Can you afford living expenses while in the program, and loan payments afterwards?
Once you have taken all of these things into account, you must consider the faculty. See what kind of research faculty members have done in your field. Are they respected in the field or on the periphery? Look into their publications. Have they written many books on the subjects you will be studying? You might even pick up one or more of these books to judge how much you will enjoy having one of these faculty members as your professor.
Once you've narrowed down your search, it couldn't hurt to visit some of the schools you are considering. Meet the faculty and students and see if you like them and will be able to work with them. Look at the school's facilities and decide whether you will be happy and comfortable earning your degree there.
Graduate school is an important step towards your future. Use the tips above to help you carefully research and consider the right one for you. A quality graduate school environment can help you earn a highly profitable and useful degree quickly and efficiently so that you can get started on your chosen career.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
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?!
Q&A Powered by:
Latest College and University Articles
Used Textbooks: One Great Reason To Sell Yours
By: Kevin Ihrig | 23/07/2008
Sound familiar - you went to sell your used textbooks back, and got less than you expected? Textbook sell back has problems, and you have options. Read more here.
A Student’s Guide to Getting Part Time Jobs/student Jobs When at University or College
By: Daaaaavid | 23/07/2008
What is a student’s biggest worry, other than passing their degree? Well ask most students this and I’ll bet the majority of them will say that money is their biggest worry as a student. So as a student, what do you do about this? Turn into an alcoholic... well some might I suppose, but most students will try to find part time jobs, student jobs
Sheffield Hallam University Announces India Scholarships and Joint Ventures
By: Dipayan Mazumdar | 23/07/2008
New Delhi, July 17, 2008 To celebrate the launch of the Sheffield Hallam University India Office in July 2008, the University announced one full tuition fee scholarship to an Indian applicant for a 2008/09 postgraduate course.
Athletic Scholarships Abound
By: Evelyn Saunders | 22/07/2008
You are a great athlete and feel it could help you pay for your education. The problem is, many athletic scholarships are set aside for elite athletes and they are very competitive and political. But have faith, there are many smaller colleges and universities willing to bring in athletes with funds and, most importantly, they are not only looking for athletic skills but also academic achievement and drive.
College Applications: Getting Over the Hump
By: David Wilson | 22/07/2008
College applications can be tedious, but that shouldn't stop you from applying to the school of your dreams. Read on to learn how you can make the process a little more simple.
College Registration
By: David Jones | 22/07/2008
Registering for college can be quite stressful especially if it is your first time around. However, there are places you can go to recieve help with this tedious task. It all starts with your academic advisor and undergraduate course catalog. Your advisor will answer any questions you may have and nudge you along in the right direction, while your course catalog will provide the specific requirements for your degree. The best piece of advice is to ask anyone for help if you don't know. Good Luck
Research Driven Education: Phd Study in Australia and New Zealand
By: Susan Slobac | 21/07/2008
For graduate students interested in pursuing a doctorate, New Zealand and Australia offer compelling programs well worth consideration.
How Nigerian Leaders Try to Re-write, Kill History and Removing it From School Curriculum for Selfish Reasons
By: Emeka Esogbue | 19/07/2008
The articles outlines the importance of History as a subject and discipline and condemns in totality the situation wherby, Nigeria's past and present leaders attempt to rewrite accounts with the aim of twisting historical events. It also condemns the removing of History in the school curriculum and recommends immediately the effective enthronement of the subject in the junior and senior secondary schools and in tertiary institutions to help instil patriotism and nationalism in NIgerians.
Education 
