The Collegian

Issue date: 9/25/07 Section: Feature

Media Credit: Linda Hua

Media Credit: Linda Hua

Before Google-ing "graduate schools," consider this.

Finding the right graduate school can be a daunting prospect. Some students don't know what tools are available or who to ask for guidance, but now is the time to begin. One resource is Brother Glenn Bolton in the Career Center, who works with students on applying to graduate schools. He said that in this era, "a graduate degree is the old baccalaureate degree" in terms of worth in the real world. As the baby boomers increased the baccalaureate population, their children are now increasing it twofold to devalue the bachelor's degree, making those with a graduate degree more valuable employees.

But what should one look for in a graduate school? Some free, online resources are The Princeton Review and the U.S. News & World Report. The Review aids in the search for specific schools and programs, has tips for improving your Graduate Managment Admissions Test (GMAT) or Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) score, lists rankings, and saves a list of preferred schools at the end of the search. The search is broken down by the type of school (public or private and the importance of specific programs), cost and aid, location, student body composition, and admission standards. Then, for each school generated, it has student feedback, school statistics, specific programs, post-degree career placement, and scholarships and financial aid.

However, the tricky thing about actually preparing for admission is that there exists no standard process as well known as the process for getting into an undergraduate college. While Bolton said that admissions officers look to see "what did the person do in their last four year with their time to get them prepared," other things to consider include personal statements, general GRE scores, particular GRE scores, grade point averages (GPAs), letters of recommendation, experience in the subject matter, and more.

The process of selection and elimination from acceptance varies greatly across the universities. However, Bolton said that as far as GPAs go, it is reasonable that "they're going to look at the overall GPA…most [programs] say solid Bs," whereas for "the more selective programs-solid Bs won't do that."

Another key to graduate school admission is to keep close and constant contact with academic advising, faculty, and staff. Letters of recommendation carry much more weight in graduate school admissions. "It's important to have good letters of recommendation and resumes," he said. "Talk to the faculty and staff. They're not here because of the salary. They're here to help pass on to others what they've gained and help you along the way." Furthermore, for advice outside of the Career Development Center, the best people to turn to are the faculty "who've done graduate level work and have excelled," said Bolton.

Another good idea is to talk with students who've recently been through the graduate admission process, particularly in relevant fields.

Karrie Rufer '07 now attends George Mason University and offered advice on applying for graduate school. She emphasized that researching specific schools and their background is crucial to making a good match. Find out as much as possible about the school and the head of faculty for the specific program. What is their academic background? What do they research? Rufer said that "schools can get pretty specific in not only what they teach, but how they teach it…undergraduate studies provide guidelines and a basis for further studies [but] graduate studies should push you. Take this academic opportunity to broaden your horizons and challenge yourself intellectually." If the program requires several levels of approval and committees, be wary. Knowing the nature of the beast now could save years of frustration down the road.

For the letter of intent, Rufer recommends understanding the general mission statement of the department. "If they ask you what you want to do in the future, what's important, try (not stretching the truth, of course) to orient your discussion around what you feel the college wants to see. They're looking for people who not only fit into their program but who, after they leave it, will reflect positively on them." Though it sounds like a lot of extra work, Rufer recommends visiting the top graduate school in which one is interested. "Make an appointment with the dean of the department. Showing initiative will get you a long way as far as admission goes. Go to a class that sounds interesting."

Some final thoughts to keep in mind are to learn what's required for your degree early on, mainly so that you can get a program prerequisite filled before you graduate. In trying to decide between a master's and a PhD program, keep in mind that the master's is more of an applied degree; talk to professors and find out what jobs each degree offers. As for the mountains of school loans possibly accumulated during undergraduate studies, Bolton said that "the debt is just an investment. If you don't invest in yourself, you don't get the job and the salaries. It pays its way off."

In hindsight, Rufer said, "I wish I had paid more attention to the GRE. It's a pretty important part because grad schools have a lot of applicants and not a lot of criteria that you have to fill. Standing out in each of their requirements is very important" She also wishes she "knew what to expect…the transition from undergraduate to graduate studies seems like it would be seamless; however, it's a big lifestyle change. Prepare to read for hours, sit in three-hour-long classes until 10 p.m., and feeling a lot more competition."

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools