How to Prepare for Graduate School

Graduate school may be a requirement for your present job or you might want to further your career. You may have found after you earned a bachelor’s degree that you wanted to specialize or even change careers. Whatever your motive, grad school is a challenging, often expensive, almost always gratifying experience of a lifetime. However, to get the most from your money and time, preparation is key.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Standardized test scores
• Transcripts from undergraduate work
• Writing or other required samples

1. Determine your course of study and program. This can vary greatly depending on your needs and wishes. If you are confined to a specific area, then research the best programs within driving distance. Since there are usually fewer choices than undergraduate degrees, you may be forced to compromise. However, some universities will work with your to customize your graduate degree within their standards. If you are free to relocate, target programs that reflect your needs the most.

2. Contact the school to find out their requirements. It is critical that you do this at least a year in advance, and most universities will not take applications after February or March. You may have to take undergraduate courses to fulfill the requirement or take entrance tests. Early contact also gives you plenty of time to transfer other required paperwork.

3. Take graduate school entrance tests. You will have to take a standardized national or international test for your field like the GRE or LSAT. These tests are given in specified testing centers on specific dates, and you will have to make arrangements sometimes months in advance. The test often cost more than $100, and you may need to take more than one. Give yourself plenty of time to do extensive studying. In addition, you may have to take other tests required by the university.

4. Take any undergraduate classes that are required or recommended. If you are changing fields, you will probably have to take some undergraduate classes to fulfill entrance requirements. Even if you are staying in the same field, you may want to take refresher courses to bring you up to date.

5. Look at funding options. This is a good news and bad news situation. The bad news is that less federal and state grants are available at the graduate level; although, federal student loans are still an option. The good news is that most universities will have assistantships or research grants. These don’t need to be paid back under normal circumstances, but usually require some sort of work such as teaching, researching, or assisting a full professor. Often these assistantships will cover the full tuition minus fees and books. They are, however, very competitive, so apply early and show off your best undergraduate work.

6. Arrange for transcripts to be transferred from your undergraduate school or schools. The grad school will probably require other paperwork too such as writing samples, research samples or forms. Be aware of all due dates and get the paperwork in in plenty of time to make revisions and additions if necessary.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep in contact with the grad school to monitor the progress of your application. This will give you time to send anything you may have missed.
• Don't assume you will be accepted. Graduate school is very competitive and usually have a limited amount of openings. For your best chance of success, apply to at least two universities and get your application and paperwork in as early as possible.
• Many people recommend taking the standardized tests more than once. Statistics show that there is usually increased scores in subsequent tests.

Resources

• Purdue University
• GradSchools.com

Who Can Help Sponsored

• Earn your degree from industry experts at University of Phoenix. Take the next step in your career.

[AudreyBrown]

on 9/16/2008 I'm in this process right now...it's very stressful. Appreciate the tips.