Graduate and Professional Program Options

Graduate School

Researching Programs

Before you start applying to graduate schools, do your research! Are you interested in a master's program or a doctoral program? An in-person experience or an online degree? Here are some tips to get started:

Consult a graduate school directory like Peterson's to explore options that would best fit your academic and personal needs and goals. OnlineMastersDegrees.org provides detailed information about master's degrees that you can earn remotely, even if you are currently working full-time at a professional job.
Talk to faculty members you have worked with to get graduate program recommendations.
Review program websites for curricula and requirements.

Consider the following for each graduate program you are considering:

The reputation of the program
The reputation of the faculty in your desired area of study or research
The faculty-to-student ratio
Opportunities for assistantships and scholarships
The size of the institution
For in-person programs, also consider:
- The setting of the institution (rural vs. city)
- Proximity of the institution to your friends and family

Financial Support

There are various types of financial support that may be available to you during a graduate program.

Departments or colleges themselves may provide some financial support in the form of assistantships, grants, and fellowships. Assistantships are like part-time jobs in which you are paid to do research in your department or help with teaching courses in your field of study. Most assistantships require 10–20 hours of work per week. They usually also provide tuition assistance. Both grants and fellowships are awards that are granted on the basis of financial need or academic merit. They do not need to be repaid and recipients do not need to do any additional work.

Alternatively, you might decide to take out a student loan to help finance your graduate program. There are two main types of student loans: subsidized (i.e., by the federal government for students who have demonstrated financial need) and unsubsidized (for students who do not have demonstrated financial need). You might also consider a private loan if you do not qualify for subsidized aid. All loans must be repaid; repayment typically starts after graduation. University financial aid offices are the best sources of information about your loan options.

Application Requirements

The materials you need to apply for graduate programs will differ by institution and by type of program. However, most programs require the following, at minimum:

Application
Undergraduate transcript
Results of a standardized graduate admissions test(s) such as the Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
Personal statement
2-4 letters of recommendation

Personal Statement

Your personal statement should describe your educational and (if applicable) professional background, provide your motivation for attending a graduate program, and outline your professional goals following completion of the program.

Think about the following information as you are writing your personal statement:

Why do you want to go to graduate school?
What do you hope to gain from your graduate program?
How has your undergraduate degree prepared you for graduate school? Use examples as appropriate.
How has any work experience—including internship or co-op experience—prepared you for graduate school? Use examples as appropriate.
How did you choose this particular program? This part must be customized to each individual program.
Your writing should be clear, organized, and concise, with flawless grammar and spelling. Make sure your statement addresses any requirements/questions listed in the application instructions.

Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation for graduate programs give admissions professionals a chance to learn more about you from someone else's perspective. Academic references—professors, instructors, or advisers—are usually preferred over work references.

Choose academic references who know you and your academic work well, and provide them with information that will help them write a strong recommendation letter, including a copy of your résumé and a summary of your professional goals. Give references at least three weeks' advance notice that you need a letter. Make sure you follow any instructions about how your letters should be submitted; most institutions will request that letters be sent directly from your references, so provide them with any necessary information on how this should be done.

Application Timeline

Ideally, start planning for graduate school by the second-to-last year of your degree program.

Second-To-Last Year

Research programs, prerequisites, and application requirements. Make note of application deadlines for your top institutions.
Investigate financial aid options, if needed, for programs of interest.
Register and start preparing for graduate admissions tests, as needed. Take the tests by the summer after your second-to-last year.
Write first drafts of your application essays that you can customize to different programs.

Fall of Final Year

Request that your graduate school admission tests be sent to your programs of interest.
Request academic recommendation letters.
Have your academic adviser, a faculty member, or a member of our staff review your application essays and/or personal statements.
Submit all program application materials.

Spring of Final Year

Check on the status of your applications.
If possible, arrange a campus visit to your top few institutions (for in-person programs) so you have a chance to meet with campus representatives and get your questions answered on site.
Attend graduate program interviews, if applicable.
Once you are notified of any acceptances, make your decision about where to attend. You may need to consider more than one offer.
After you have made a decision, notify the relevant institution and follow up with any additional required materials.
Contact any other institutions where you have applied and notify them that you have accepted an offer elsewhere.
Send thank-you messages to your recommenders.