Graduate School
The decision to attend graduate school can be overwhelming. The Career Center is here to guide you from start to finish. We offer advising for students pursuing any type of graduate school path as well as specialized advising for Pre-Health and Pre-Law students.
Looking for information for Pre-Health (medical programs) or Pre-Law? Click here:
Types of Degrees
- Master's Degree
- Specialist Degree
- Professional Degree
- Doctoral Degree
- Post-Doctorate
- Joint Degrees
Exploring Graduate School
Does the career path you've chosen typically benefit from further education?
Use the resources below to research this question:
Check job listings in Handshake to determine positions that interest you. Identifying the type of career you would like to pursue can help you decide if grad school will help you get there.
Once you have identified positions that interest you, research the career on PathwayU.
If so:
- Identify programs that meet your career needs.
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Build a list and rank your programs.
Use this guide to start your plan:
- Second Year
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- Begin evaluating your career aspirations
- Explore various graduate school programs
- Talk to alumni, faculty and current graduate school students
- Look into school requirements
- Third Year, Fall
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- Continue to explore your career options and possibilities
- Continue targeted research and information gathering
- Research information on entrance exam testing
- Third Year, Spring
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- Prepare for your entrance exam
- Obtain applications from specific schools you are interested in attending
- Third Year, Summer
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- Take entrance exam now or in fall
- Begin drafting application essays and your personal statement
- Fourth Year, Fall
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- Meet with school representatives
- Visit schools Have application essays critiqued
- Ask for letters of recommendation
- Conduct a mock interview with the Career Center
- Submit materials for early decision if applicable
- Research scholarship, fellowship and assistantship opportunities
- Complete financial aid documents
- Submit all application materials to schools
- Fourth Year, Spring
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- Continue visiting schools if possible
- Ensure your application is submitted by the appropriate school deadline
- Keep track of acceptances and rejections
- If you have multiple acceptances, make a final decision on which school you plan to attend
- Notify the schools that you plan not to attend
Additional Considerations
- Why should I attend graduate school?
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- Your chosen career field requires more than an undergraduate degree. If you need certification, licensure, or an advanced degree for your chosen profession, graduate school could be necessary.
- Your chosen career requires graduate study for advancement. Some professions require advanced degrees for pay increases, promotions, and other added benefits.
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When should I go to grad school?
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Some individuals begin grad school upon completion of their undergraduate degree. Others take time to gain additional work or volunteer experience before applying. Can you make the necessary commitment in time, effort, and resources? Evaluate your personal goals and aspirations to determine the best option for you. Do not go to graduate school if you are avoiding the job search.
- How much time will it require?
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Plan for at least one to wo years of full-time study at the master’s level and four to six years to obtain a doctoral degree.
- How will I pay for additional schooling?
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Graduate school tuition may be thousands of dollars per year. Think through various loan, grant, and work options. Some employers provide benefits packages that include paid or reduced tuition.
- What do I do about stress?
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It's important to think about the stress involved in attending grad school. Stress may result from financial concerns, academic workloads and competitiveness, long study hours, deadlines, and time constraints. When choosing a school, consider geographic location, areas of support, and ways to balance school and personal life.
Check out this podcast:
To Grad or Not to Grad: Questions to consider before applying to graduate school (Work in Progress podcast, 14 mins. long)