MASTER the search
Tips for finding the right graduate program
Graduate school allows college graduates the chance to intensify their studies as they pursue advanced degrees.
Many professions require advanced degrees, but students may enroll in graduate school for various reasons, including to satisfy their own intellectual curiosity and to improve their earning potential.
Choosing a graduate program is an important decision that can impact students’ career prospects and financial futures. According to Peterson’s — The Real Guide to Colleges and Universities, the average annual tuition for a graduate program at a public university is $30,000, while graduate students at private universities can expect to pay nearly $40,000 each year. Such figures illustrate just how vital it is for prospective graduate students to find the right schools for them.
CONDUCT RESEARCH
Because the cost of graduate school is so substantial, students should be extra diligent when researching potential grad schools. Gather as much information about each school as possible, even contacting department heads and/ or professors to learn if a given program is best.
“I used U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges rankings,” said Tara Waters, acquisition coordinator/library assistant at the Bob Herzfeld Memorial Library in Benton.
“I knew I wanted to attend a top-ranking university for my field,” she said.
Waters was able to narrow her field search, helping her to find a graduate program focusing on library and information science.
Graduate programs tend to be specialized, so prospective students should make sure each school they’re considering offers exactly what they’re seeking. For example, graduate programs in history may specialize in a particular period of history. As a result, students who want to pursue graduate degrees in history must find the program that allows them to study the period that most interests them. Finding such programs requires extensive research, so students must afford themselves ample time.
SPEAK TO STUDENTS AND GRADUATES
Current students and recent graduates can provide a unique perspective that prospective grad students won’t get from brochures or online research, no matter how exhaustive that research might be.
“I asked about class structure and the number of credits needed to complete the program,” Waters said. She also asked questions regarding needing to take the GRE and the flexibility in classes offered.
Encourage students and recent graduates to be candid, asking them about their experiences as grad students and, for recent graduates, how they fared in the job market after earning their degrees. Don’t discount the latter, as grad school is an investment of time, energy and money, and that should lead to professional fulfillment upon graduating.
BE FINANCIALLY REALISTIC
While many people enroll in graduate programs to improve their earning potential, some students may not enjoy that benefit. The cost of grad school varies, depending on the school and the program, but prospective grad students may want to change their plans if the cost of obtaining an advanced degree will greatly affect their financial freedom for years to come. Students worried about their post-grad-school earning potential may want to choose less expensive programs so they can still pursue their degrees without mortgaging their financial futures.
“If you don’t have the money, it’s OK,” Waters said. “Many don’t like student loans and for good reasons. But don’t be scared. Look for scholarships through your employment and or college. There are many, many scholarships out there. It just takes time to find the right one.”