The Right Program Can Make a Difference

Once you are certain that grad school fits into your plans, you need to find out as much as possible e about the program you have in mind. Entering graduate school for the right reasons will not be enough if you end up in the wrong program.

Use the resources around your campus to identify and choose between programs. Your very best resources will be your instructors. Anyone who is a college professor has probably earned at least one graduate degree and is likely to have been associated with several universities as either an instructor or a graduate student. College professors - especially those who teach in the field you plan to pursue - can steer you in the direction of good programs and give you a fairly good idea of what to expect as a graduate student. If at all possible, visit one or two campuses that have the program you want. Talk to the program director or department chair to find out about the focus of the program and whether it will suit your needs. To get a balanced view, be sure to talk to students in the program too.

Find out how long it will take to get your degree and whether you will have to write a thesis or do major research project. Find out what courses you will have to take and if there are any other requirements to earn the degree (for example, an internship or field work placement). Ask if the program offers any fellowship or scholarships, and what you must do to apply for them. You might even want to ask a program director how his/her program differs from a similar program at another institution.

YOU CAN ALWAYS GO LATER
One of the best things about graduate school is you do not have to do it now. If after asking yourself the right questions and doing a little research, you are still not sure, maybe you should wait.

The advantage of going to graduate school right after college is that you have become accustomed to being a student. You have developed study habits and a certain amount of discipline that you can carry with you to the new academic environment. The advantage of waiting is that your graduate school experience will be infinitely more worthwhile to you if you go because you are ready, not just because it seemed like a good thing to do.

Graduate school training can open a great many doors for you, but only if you are ready. If you have a genuine interest in your field and a sense of purpose, you are certain to be successful in graduate school and in your career.

Choosing the Right Time

The years after college represent a unique opportunity to test your career interests. For some, it may be more helpful to work for a time before pursuing a graduate degree. Howard Figler, author of "A Career Workbook for Liberal Arts Students," writes,

"The years following undergraduate school can be a time for reflection, exploration, and taking a long look around at your possibilities. Jobs can be accepted chiefly for the purpose of observing and testing your perceptions of vocational realities. However, if you do not explore, the early 20's of your life can be spoiled or distorted by shaky career commitments. These years can be filled with many reality-testing experiences. There is a delicate settling process that must occur in the blending of your interests, values, and career goals. Self-reflections ordinarily should be tempered by exposure to work, before you can make any sense of your goals..."

Think about the positive and negative aspects of studying now vs. waiting for a while. You might want to talk about this with people in the field. After considerable reflection, you should be able to complete the following statements as they apply to you.

What are the advantages of waiting two - five years before pursuing graduate study in my field?

What are the disadvantages of waiting two - five years before pursuing graduate study in my field?

A good site to explore graduate programs can be found here.