Choosing a Graduate or Professional School and Program

Types of Degrees
Graduate programs have become more and more specialized over the last several decades.  Graduate schools offer specific degrees such as the Master of Social Work (M.S.W.), the Master of Business Administration (M.B.A), the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or the Master of Library Science (M.L.S.).  Before entering such a specialized program, one needs to carefully consider his or her reasons for attending, as well as goals once the degree is completed. Another decision to carefully consider is whether to pursue a degree at the master's or doctoral level.

The master's degree usually has a research requirement. These programs are usually designed for the purpose of providing additional education or training in an area of specialization. Some Master’s programs have a thesis element and some programs emphasize course work that culminates with a comprehensive exam.  Comprehensive exams may include a written test, an oral test, defense of a thesis or a combination of these.  If a comprehensive exam is a written or oral test, the emphasis is usually on the completed course work. 

Most doctoral degrees, on the other hand, are designed to train researchers.  This is especially true of the Doctor of Science or the Doctor of Philosophy.  In the professional programs (e.g., law, medicine), there is an orientation to research, but these programs are also designed to produce people with high-level professional skills. For a doctoral program, rather than a comprehensive exam, students usually must prepare a rigorous defense of their completed dissertation. 

Researching Graduate Schools
When considering graduate schools, it is wise to ask for the suggestions and advice of your undergraduate advisor and professors in the appropriate field.  They have attended similar graduate programs themselves, have friends and colleagues at various graduate schools, and are familiar with current trends and research.  It also may be wise to speak with graduate students in your field of interest; they can offer current insights into your field of study and their particular program.  Visit the schools that interest you, take a tour and talk with students and faculty. In graduate school, the activity and reputation of the individual professor or department in which you are studying may be more important than the prestige of the overall institution.  Do not underestimate the benefit of keeping current with what is happening in your chosen discipline.  Become familiar with the journals and publications in that field.  Follow your area of specialization and note who is publishing, and from which institutions.  Also note those who are on the editorial boards of those publications.  There are several basic questions to keep in mind as you examine institutions. 
  • First, look at the academic training and research activities of the faculty.  In addition, how do they approach teaching and the area of student development? 
  • Other questions to consider include make-up of the graduate student body, the library and research facilities, as well as resources available to the program. 
  • What is the nature of the interaction between students and faculty and what kind of financial assistance is possible? 
  • What kinds of experiential opportunities exist, such as assistantships and internships, and what types of advisement and career services do they provide?

Many resources exist to help you in your research. Click here for a list of books, links and people who can help. 

International Students
International students are an important part of higher education in this country, however, the United States has no set policy on the education of international students and neither do many universities. There are some consistencies in spite of the lack of national or institutional policies. When applying to most universities, international students will be required to submit scores from the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), Graduate Management Aptitude Test (GMAT), or another appropriate entrance exam, just as U.S. applicants must.  In addition, some schools will require the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). In some cases, an international student will be admitted on the basis of the quantitative section of the above tests, personal statements and letters of recommendation.  Check with your schools of interest for admission requirements. Many international students subsidize their graduate education through assistantships. Frequently these are teaching assistantships (TA's). Many universities screen TA's through interviews and testing to be sure they will be able to communicate effectively with the undergraduates they will be teaching.

 

 

 

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