After picking your career path and following it through college graduation you’ve made
the decision to head to a Graduate School or Program. The next question is what grad
school is best for you?
How to Choose a Graduate School or Program
There are a number of basic factors to look at when you are considering different
graduate school programs including:
- Quality and reputation of the school and department
- Quality and reputation of the faculty
- Your interests
- Type of program (format, flexibility, teaching methods)
- Cost
- Location
- Resources/facilities
- Other students
- Outcomes
The list is quite extensive and is longer than the one above. While some of the
considerations are obvious, there are some you may not have thought of. Let’s
take a closer look…
Quality and Reputation
Graduate school is different from undergraduate work in that the quality of your program
is typically measured more by department than by the overall institution. While being
part of a quality institution is still valuable, you want to investigate how the
individual departments are viewed by people in the field, how they are rated on academics
and research and whether they have well-respected faculty.
Faculty and Your Interests
Faculty is extremely important when pursuing a graduate degree because you typically need
to work closely with a particular faculty member, especially if you are earning a Ph.D.
Those completing doctoral work will want to investigate the research interests of faculty
at different institutions in order to find someone whose research interests match or
complement their own.
Type of Program
Depending on your field and whether you are pursuing a Master's degree or a Ph.D., you
may have several different types of programs available to you. Many programs are being
offered in a distance format today that may allow you to earn your degree without
relocating or giving up your current job. Many programs are also designed to allow
evening and weekend classes.
Location
On the other hand, if you are considering a more traditional on-campus program, it is
important to consider the location. Visit the schools. See what you think of the
neighborhood, the housing options, the atmosphere, etc. If you are going to be spending
several years there attending school, it is important to be somewhere where you will
feel safe and can afford the cost of living.
Resources and Facilities
Another important aspect for some programs may be the resources and facilities a
school has at its disposal. If you are engaged in a research degree in the liberal
arts, you may want the university with the best library. If you are pursuing a
Ph.D. in the sciences, you may want a state-of-the-art laboratory and equipment at
your disposal. Once again, visit the school and investigate what is available to
you as a student.
Other Students
While certainly less important than the faculty, the other students in a program
can be a factor in how positive your graduate school experience will be. You
should talk to current students when visiting schools as well as determining the
caliber of students a program generally has. You want people who are like-minded
and can both challenge and support you as you pursue your degree.
Outcomes
At the end of the day, you want to know that after you get your degree you will have
an opportunity to either work or teach in your desired field. You are pursuing a
degree with a purpose, and you want a program that can help you achieve your goals.
Get the facts. Find out how long it typically takes people to complete the graduate
program you are considering at each school. Find out the placement rates for their
graduates. Talk to current and past students to get their impressions. Whether your
degree will help you get where you are going should be carefully considered before
choosing a school.
How to Afford Graduate School
You still have many of the same financing options you had while in your first four years
of college. Every year you must file the FAFSA and work with the Financial Aid Office
at the school you have chosen to help you pick the best options for your Grad school plans.
Scholarships
Just because you’re not a senior in high school anymore doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still
search for scholarships. Search both inside and outside of your chosen field. Check with
your employer. Some employers will help pay for your grad school courses if you agree to
work there for a certain period of time after graduation.
Grad PLUS Loan
Federal Grad PLUS Loans are available to credit worthy graduate and professional students
who have remaining needs that are not covered by other financial aid awards, including Federal
Stafford Loans. The interest on a Grad PLUS loan is the responsibility of the borrower from
disbursement through payoff regardless of status.
Always remember if you have a question about anything on this site, feel free to drop
us a note at outreach@ismloans.org and
we’ll be happy to answer or elaborate on an item that is confusing or unclear.