How to Find a Graduate School for You

It is your senior fall semester with only one more to complete, or maybe it is your time you would like to finish what you started. The question is if graduate work is the right decision for you. I have asked myself this many times and in many ways over the last month. The most important and critical step you must take is the first. It is the decision of whether or not you should continue your work. Grad school is very expensive in most cases time consuming. This varies on aspects such as current positions, time available and income (not to mention the loans that will soon be approaching). If you are a student in the same position, you must first decide if it is or is not suitable for your goal in your career.

It is? OK, now the next step; finding your school. Search on sites such as www.petersons.com or many others for a listing of schools by state or by more specific options. My opinion is to not only look at schools that are reputable and well-known, but rather the one that best fits your needs. For example, class schedules and sizes, average age of students, location and credit fees are the main factors. I have been told recently to make a list of the top twenty to thirty schools that are an option. From here, narrow it down to about fifteen to twenty. This list will be the particular schools that you will be applying to and putting further thought and decision. Now is the next step.

A bachelor's degree is required, along with two to three letters of recommendation depending on the school. Also, the possibility of a writing sample and personal essay, again depending on the area of interested that is pursued. GRE test scores are usually also a must. More information on the GRE test can be found at http://www.ets.org/gre/. More often than not, you will be asked to partake in an interview with a member of the graduate council or the head of the department. Again, each school has similarities, but often varies depending on the admission requirements. My final step and advice is to get working on the search of graduate school if you are in fact very interested in pursuing your degree. Also, take your time, ask many questions with the school of focus and, most importantly, do not get distraught.