As you look ahead to completing your baccalaureate degree, or even if you have graduated and currently work, travel, relax, etc., you will be faced with new, sometimes difficult, decisions about what to do next. The options are many; one is that you might wish to continue your education by attending graduate school. When you contemplate this option the paramount question is whether graduate school is right for you. Only you can answer that question. Don't take the decision lightly. Consider your interests, goals, dreams, and abilities. Assess your skills, competencies, and weaknesses with brutal honesty. In-depth soul-searching is unpleasant, but vital to making a choice you can live with for the next two to seven years.
Those of you, already enrolled in or accepted into a graduate program can already see that this blog isn’t really intended for you. It’s rather for all of your relatives and friends that haven’t crossed this bridge yet. Thus, spread the word about this blog around as widely as you can.
Students choose graduate school for many reasons, including intellectual curiosity and professional advancement. Some choose graduate school because they aren't sure what to do or don't feel ready for a job. These aren't good reasons. Graduate school requires an intense commitment of time and money. If you're not sure that you're ready, then it's best to wait.
Think summer time is for rest, recuperation, and fun? Yes, but it's also a great time to prepare for next year's graduate school admissions. Applying to graduate school can be confusing, frustrating, and a lengthy and tiresome process. If you're planning on applying to graduate school for next year, start preparing now. There are things to the success of an application that are not immediately obvious and that all take time. They include:
- Get to know your professors and get them to know you. This is especially important if you plan to ask one or more of them to provide good letters of reference.
- Decide the areas in which you are interested. Discuss career options/interests with your advisors and professors at your undergraduate institution. Review university graduate programs online for information, including degrees offered, requirements for admission, application information, deadlines, and other student information.
- Determine the type of degree you wish to pursue: masters or doctoral. Estimate time and money needed to complete the degree you envision.
- Get involved in research with a professor. If it goes well, you might present a paper at a conference or even get a journal article out of it. Research experience, presentations, and publications are the keys to graduate school.
- Excel in your courses.
- Take plenty of science and math, but also liberal arts courses (English, writing, communications) to develop a well-rounded background and demonstrate your oral and written communication skills. Make sure that you completed required prerequisites for your program of choice (if applicable).
- Take a GRE prep course to prepare for the Graduate Record Exam, if a GRE is required by your program of choice.
- Volunteer and participate in campus organizations that relate to your discipline (e.g., math club if you're a student, or volunteer at a social service agency if you're a psychology or social work major).
- Tailor your applications to particular programs. In other words, research your programs to determine your "fit" to each. Each application should demonstrate that you're an excellent fit to each program in terms of your interests, career goals, and abilities. Here, the letter of intent required for most applications is of particular importance. Be sure to spell-check and grammar-check it before you include it in your application package.
- Arrange for your transcripts to be mailed to the selected graduate programs. Provide names, addresses, and appropriate fees to the Registrar’s Office.
- Arrange for GOOD letters of reference (see Nov. 21, 2008 blog on How to Request and Write an Effective Reference Letter).
- Last, but not least, pay close attention to deadlines!!!
In closing, here’s the bottom line. There are three things that really count when it comes to applying to graduate school:
- Research
- Grades
- Recommendations
Research experience is key when applying. If you have some sort of research experience, this often tends to balance out some other negative aspect of your record, such as, for example, lower grades.
Aside from thinking about getting into graduate school, enjoy the rest of your summer. I guess we’ll have to wait for another week to find out whether Carolyn really went cold turkey. If she really did (???), it’ll be over to Sunny again. The real question for me now is whether I should turn my Blackberry off for the next two weeks, while I’m on vacation, and go cold turkey as well. Stay tuned.
Dieter