Considering Graduate School?

• Have you taken advantage of research, shadowing, conferences, presentations, and community involvement opportunities?
• What are my short-term and long-term goals? Will a graduate degree help me achieve my goals?
• Do I enjoy this field enough that I’d want to study it for the next several years? 
• Would I be good at the type of work I’ll be doing in graduate/professional school?
• Am I willing to commit the time, effort, and financial resources that it takes to get a graduate degree
• Am I going to graduate/professional school because I am not sure what I want to do?
• What am I hoping to accomplish from graduate/professional school? 

Do Your Research

• The best source of information on a program will come from the school itself. Check out the program’s website, ask for program materials and talk with faculty, current students, alumni and graduate admissions. If possible, try to visit the school to learn more about your program of interest. 
• View program rankings in industry-related publications. (Note: Rankings are not always an indicator of program quality).
• Web resources: www.petersons.com, www.GradSchools.com, www.PrincetonReview.com
• Evaluate faculty-to-student ratio, research interests, faculty supervision, and supervision style. 
• Many professional associations have information on related graduate programs.
  
  Professional Associations that may be of interest to you:  
  
  • American Bar Association
  • American Medical Association
  • American Marketing Association
  • American Osteopathic Association
  • American Psychological Association
  • Entrepreneurs’ Organization
  • North American Society for Sport Management
  • National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
  • The Professional Accounting Society of America

Setting Up For Success

• Application: Complete all applications carefully and clearly. If using paper forms, make a copy first so you can easily redo it if needed. 
• Test scores: Take assessments (GRE, GMAT, MCAT, LSAT, etc.) early enough so that you have time to repeat them, if needed. Some tests are offered less frequently than others. Make sure that you understand each program’s requirements (i.e., how many attempts they’ll accept, if they average scores, etc.). (Note: Many graduate or professional programs require a specific type of test. Research what your field of interest requires.) Consider seeking supplemental instructional materials to prepare for assessments.
• Recommendations/References: Choose recommenders who know you well and can speak specifically about your strengths. Help your references write the best letters for you by giving them plenty of time to write your letters (4 weeks +) and everything needed (your resume, names of graduate programs, personal statement, stamps, envelopes, etc.). Faculty references are preferred.
• Personal statement: Readers are looking for how you think, your commitment to the profession, the strength of your decision to go to graduate school, and how well you “fit” with the program. Refer to the “Writing Personal Statements” tipsheet listed in the Job Search Toolbox. 
• Additional application materials: Make sure you know if other application materials are required, such as a writing sample, a research prospectus, a CV, a teaching statement, a portfolio, etc. 

How to Accurately Compare Programs

Consider these factors for both the institution and the specific graduate or professional program.

• Specializations
• Course Offerings
• Faculty and Advisors 
• Program Size and Demographics
• Funding Availability
• Residency Requirements (Residential, Hybrid, Fully Remote)
• Costs (Tuition, Fees, and Cost of Living)
• Accreditation, Reputation and Rankings
• Facilities and Resource Allocation
• Time to Degree
• Career Assistance and Support