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Getting Ready for Graduate School


Graduate school requires a great deal of focus, commitment and discipline. Unlike undergraduate school, when you decide to pursue graduate education you must have a clear understanding of your specific career objectives and be able to relate your graduate academic foundation with your future professional goals. Therefore, it is vitally important that you start preparing for graduate school early on, preferably in your freshman year .

There are various avenues in which you can start preparing for this academic journey. The first step is taking the time to evaluate yourself and figure out what you want to accomplish in the long-term regarding the professional arena. There are a variety of self-assessment instruments that can assist you in the process of clarifying your preferences and career values, and identifying those skills that you possess (or are interested in developing) and which you would like to incorporate in your future career.

Once you have a general idea of the type of career that you want to engage in, then it is time for you to start researching your specific career options . Talking to professionals in the fields that you are interested in (that is, conducting informational interviews ) and obtaining hands-on experience (part-time jobs, internships and volunteer experience) in various professional environments within these fields will help you make sound decisions when it comes time to select a graduate program. In addition, joining professional organizations can provide you with information regarding the latest trends, career possibilities, and the educational/professional requirements needed in your chosen field. It can also provide you with the opportunity of networking with professionals and other students that share your interests.

Keep in mind the following points about graduate school:

• A common misconception is that you cannot apply to a Ph.D. program until you have completed a master's degree. This is rarely the case. Most programs are designed so students are admitted directly into the PhD program and complete a masters degree on their way to earning a Ph.D.

• While many schools do not offer support to students in a masters-only program, most offer support to their PhD students . Students in PhD programs are usually guaranteed funding for the first one to three years in the program. However, those students who are making reasonable progress toward their degrees, most of the time, are funded throughout their entire graduate education. The funding usually includes tuition and a monthly stipend. It will be in the form of teaching or research assistantships, departmental fellowships, external fellowships, or some combination of these.

• The goal of most graduate committees when evaluating applications to their programs is to identify applicants who have demonstrated potential to become excellent researchers and leaders in their fields. They want to make sure that the candidates they select will eventually become worthy representatives of their profession, with high ethical and professional standards

• Most graduate programs base their initial screening process of their numerous applications on the applicants' GPAs and the scores obtained in the standardized tests (such as the GRE, GMAT, MCAT, LCAT). Hence, you need to take your grades very seriously from day one. Your grades, as well as the courses that you have taken, draw a general picture to the admissions committee about who you are as a student. Regarding standardized tests, it is strongly advised that you prepare for this examination in advance either through test-prep courses or using review guides and other computerized or written materials.

• Most graduate programs, especially doctoral programs, require that new students have a thorough understanding of research methods. Therefore, participating in a research project as an undergraduate is a critical component of a graduate application.

• Hands-on experience is significantly important because it can facilitate your career path in several ways . First, through internships, volunteer and part-time jobs related to your major you get to experience first-hand how it feels to work in any given professional environment and directly observe the advantages and disadvantages of that occupation.

• Most graduate programs' application deadlines are some time between mid -December and early January. Hence, if you are planning to go to graduate school right after you complete your baccalaureate degree, you need to start researching graduate programs by the end of your junior year. This will enable you to narrow down your options by the beginning of the fall semester of your senior year and focus on completing all the application requirements before their due date.

• When you are in the process of selecting a graduate program(s) that fits your career goals and personal interests you can take into consideration some of the following questions:
• What type of programs do they offer?
• What are the faculty's teaching goals and fields of expertise?
• Do they have fields of specialization within the department, or is it a general degree?
• What are the research/teaching opportunities offered?
• Are there additional educational perks such as proximity to conferences, a professional journal, or opportunities to become published in your field?
• What geographical location do you prefer and what is the cost of living there?
• How well could your financial resources, including government and school aid, help you cover the costs and expenses at this school?
• What is the reputation of the school and the department?
• What are the school's credentials in the program that interest you?
• At what type of campus would you feel most comfortable?

Applying for graduate school usually involves the following requirements:

• Academic Transcript

In order to have your transcript included in your application, you will have to visit the Registrar's Office and fill out a “transcript request form” for each program to which you would like to forward a transcript.

• Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or Other Standardized Tests (such as the GMAT, MCAT, LSAT)

Most graduate programs require the GRE for admission. However, law, medical and business schools usually require different exams (the LSAT, MCAT, and GMAT, respectively). The GRE is similar in structure to the SATs but assess your potential for graduate - level work. Some programs also require the GRE Subject Test, which is a standardized test that covers the material in a specific discipline (such as psychology, chemistry, etc.). Your GRE scores provide information about how you rank among peers (that is why it is so important to do your best). It is strongly advisable for you to take the required standardized test(s) early (the spring or summer before you apply) to ensure that your scores arrive at the program before the admissions deadline and to have the opportunity to retake it in case you want to improve your score.

• Letters of Recommendation

A letter of recommendation is a detailed discussion, usually from a faculty member, of the personal qualities, accomplishments, and experiences that make you an excellent candidate for the programs to which you have applied. The persons you ask to write your letters should: know you well, know your work, describe your work positively, have a high opinion of you, know where you are applying, know your educational and career goals, and be able to compare you with your peers.

• Personal Statement and/or Admissions Essay

The personal statement is your chance to make an impression on the graduate committee and to show them your uniqueness, strengths, and versatility. Be creative and informative as you introduce yourself and explain your reasons for attending graduate school and why each program is a perfect match to your skills (that is, customizing your reasons, goals, background, accomplishments, and qualifications to each specific graduate program). After finishing your first draft, ask for some feedback from professors and people whose professional judgment you trust. Make several revisions before sending in your final draft.

• Interview

As graduate school becomes highly competitive, a greater number of programs are relying on interviews as a way of assessing finalists. This type of interview is very similar to a job interview: preparation is the key to a successful interview. As it is in a job-related interview, when interviewing for a graduate program you need to focus on how your knowledge, skills, background and professional goals are related to their program's mission and values. You need to persuade the interviewer that you will be a perfect fit for their program.