Are you considering graduate school as the next step in your career plan? If so, preparing to attend graduate school requires making many important decisions. Below are some guidelines that might help you understand what you can do ahead of time to prepare. If you need assistance with preparing applications or making decisions about graduate school, call Career Services at 417-625-9343 or visit the office on the 2nd Floor of Spiva Library, Room207.
It is helpful to review your goals before deciding to take on the time and expense of a graduate program. Here are some questions to help you evaluate your decision:
- What are my short and long term goals? Are my goals realistic?
- Is graduate school necessary to accomplish my goals?
- Would some work experience before going to graduate school be the best way to achieve my goals?
- Can I dedicate my time, effort, and money to a graduate program right now?
Searching for Graduate Programs
There are a variety of resources to use when researching graduate schools and programs. Ask professors for advice and involve them in your decision-making. Look at published guides to graduate and professional schools available at Career Services, the library, and on the Internet. Also, ask professionals in your career field or track down alunmi to learn what they would recommend. Come to Career Services and check out our Annual Report to learn where past graduate in your field have attended graduate school.
Factors to consider when deciding on a school/program:
- What is the reputation of the program?
- Is the program accredited?
- What are the minimum requirements to gain acceptance into the program? Do you meet these requirements?
- How long will it take to meet these requirements and complete the application?
- Will you be able to meet the application deadlines?
- How competitive is the program? How many new students are accepted each year?
- Is financial aid available? Are there teaching assistant positions, research, or other on-campus work opportunities? What about off-campus jobs?
- What are the housing options available to graduate students?
- What are tuition, books, fees, room and board costs?
- What are past graduates from this program doing now?
- Before you make a final decision, contact the Department Head of the particular program you hope to be accepted into. Ask for names and contact information of other professors within your career field. Are they responsive to your questions and ready, willing and able to assist you?
Recommended Timeline for Applying to Graduate Schools
Junior Year (Fall and Spring)
- Research interest areas and programs available.
- Gather application materials from graduate schools (many schools have these materials available online).
- Visit campuses (if possible).
- Begin researching financial aid options.
- Register and prepare for required graduate admissions tests (find available study guides).
- Begin thinking about who you will ask for letters of recommendation.
Senior Year (Summer and Fall)
- Take required graduate admissions test(s).
- Be sure to adhere to application and financial aid deadlines.
- Work on application essays or personal statements required as part of the application (writing assistance is available from the Learning Center).
- Ask for letters of recommendation well in advance of the application deadline.
- Inform recommenders of these deadlines and don't be afraid to remind them if you haven't received one yet and the deadline is drawing near.
- Send all application materials before the deadline.
Senior Year (Spring)
- Visit schools where you are accepted or those that want to interview you.
- Make a decision on which school to attend, and accept their offer.
- Notify other institutions that you are declining their offer(s) so that they may admit other students.
- Send thank you notes to those who wrote letters of recommendation for you.
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