Graduate/Professional School Information

Graduate School ...Is It For You?

Graduate school is right for you if:

You have a clear sense of the career you want to pursue, and if an advanced degree is the ticket to entry into that field. Teaching, law, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and psychology are areas in which education beyond the baccalaureate level is required.
You really are interested in the particular academic discipline purely for the love of it and would never forgive yourself if you did not give it a try.
After working in the "real world" for awhile, you may want to add a graduate degree in order to progress up the corporate ladder or change fields of employment.

Graduate school may be wrong for you if:

You have not decided what kind of career you want to pursue. Remember, competitive programs look for individuals who have clearly defined interests.
You are getting pressure from family and/or friends.
You are doing it simply to postpone the inevitable job search. Remember a graduate degree is no guarantee of a job.

How to Start the Graduate School Process

Freshman and Sophomore Years

Junior Year

Pre-Senior Summer

Fall Semester Senior Year

Select schools
Review draft of graduate essay/statement of purpose with faculty member
Take entrance exams
Request letters of recommendation
Make arrangements with the Registrar's Office for your transcripts to be sent
Make arrangements for entrance exam scores to be sent
Prepare final versions of your graduate essay/statement of purpose
Submit completed applications with required fees at least two weeks prior to the deadline
Follow-up with the schools to be sure that your application has been received and is complete

Spring Semester Senior Year

If required, schedule and attend a meeting with the Admissions Committee
Schedule a "mock interview" with the Career Services Office prior to the Admissions Committee interview.
Follow-up with the Registrar's Office to have final transcripts sent to school
Accept/decline graduate school admissions

Factors in Selecting a Graduate School

Reputation of the institution, faculty, and research facilities
Availability of fellowships, scholarships, and financial aid
Georgraphic location
Availability of affordable housing
Courses taught be faculty who are experienced, renowned, published, etc.
Social climate and support systems - access to faculty and administration, counseling services, symposia, emergency loans, library, newsletters and graduate communications, career resources, student support groups etc.

What is Evaluated During the Application Process

Undergraduate grades
GRE, GMAT, MAT, LSAT, MCAT, etc. scores
Letters of recommendation
Graduate essay/statement of purpose
Reputation of undergraduate institution
Undergraduate major/field of study, patterns of academic study, relevance of prior coursework to proposed graduate study
Internships/co-ops and/or work experience

What Types of Financial Support are Available?

Internet

Most schools have their graduate school information and applications on their websites. Check out individual school websites for additional information.