Graduate School Quick Reference
Magner Center for Career Development and Internships
1303 James Hall 718 951 5696 www.career.brooklyn.cuny.edu Graduate school is necessary for some careers such as Doctor, Lawyer, Psychologist etc. While other careers do not require an advanced degree it can help an individual be more marketable. On the other hand students should not assume that getting a graduate degree automatically guarantees them a job. Graduate school does take time and money so it is important that before you apply to graduate school you inform yourself early on whether it is the right decision for you. Being better prepared will also increase your chances for success if you do decide to apply. Is graduate school for me? For those that are not sure whether graduate school will be the right decision, there are a few questions you should ask yourself. • What are your career goals? Does your career require a degree? • What type of degree do you want to obtain (masters or PhD)? • What program do you want to attend (psychology, accounting etc.)? • What are your reasons for attending graduate school? And are they the right reasons? You should answer these and additional questions your sophomore year to allow you enough time to begin the application process in your junior year. Make sure you have the correct information and be better prepared to apply for graduate school by conducting extensive research early on. I want to go to graduate school, what should I do first? • Start to research the programs and schools you want to attend. Consider your interests, your career goals, your ability to do well, what you are looking for in a program/school at etc. • Begin to build experience in the field through research, internships, volunteer and extracurricular opportunities. • Build relationships with faculty since you will need them to write letters of recommendations. Make sure they know more about you than your name. • Become aware of the key deadlines and requirements of the various programs that interest you. Deadlines and requirements will vary based on the school and program. Will you need to take a standardized test? How many letters of recommendations will you need?, What kind of qualities does the school seek in their candidates? What are the deadlines for applying and for financial aid? • Keep in mind that good grades can help you get into a program/school. When should I start looking? • You want to begin your initial research sophomore year to determine if graduate school is necessary and something you want to do. • Once you decide that you do want to attend graduate school, start to research schools your sophomore year/early junior year. Develop a list of the requirements and deadlines for each school you are interested in. • Junior year begin the application process, obtain applications, put together a personal statement, contact faculty regarding letters of recommendations, prepare to take any standardized tests that are needed etc. • Note that you will generally apply for graduate school a year before you would begin the program. For example if you graduate June 2006 and want to attend school Fall 2006 you would submit applications in December 2005/January 2006.
What other information should I be considering? • How will you pay for graduate school? Some programs such as a PhD will pay for your education while others such as an MBA generally will not unless you receive a scholarship. You want to consider your financial situation as well as the scholarship, loan, grants that may be available to you. Some employers offer tuition reimbursement. • Do you need a masters or PhD/doctoral degree? Generally students can apply directly from a undergraduate school to a PhD/doctoral degree program without obtaining a masters first. Consider the following questions what degree is necessary for your career choice? What opportunities will each degree provide to you? Typically for doctoral degrees you are expected to be a full time student while a masters will normally allow you to go part time. Doctoral programs are also longer than a masters program (2-3 years versus 5-7 years). • Do you have the time and energy to commit to 2-6 more years of education? Consider the longterm commitment and determine whether it fits with your personal and career goals. • When should you go to graduate school? For some students it makes sense to attend right after undergraduate school while for others it may be better for them to wait. This is often a personal choice. • What are you looking for in a program? Consider what factors are important to you to help you narrow down your choices. Factors can include things such as ranking, reputation, resources available, location, cost of tuition, faculty, courses offered etc. What do I need to get into graduate school? The exact requirements will vary by school and program but in general you can expect to be asked for the following:. • Academic achievement – Overall GPA - especially the last two years and your major GPA, honors, awards and scholarships • Transcript • Standardize test scores • Recommendation letters • Personal statement • Practical experience (teaching, research, work, volunteer, etc.) • Extracurricular activities • Prerequisites • Interviews • Portfolio (writing samples, projects, artwork) Some words of advice • It is never too early to start preparing for graduate school. • Applying to graduate school takes time and involves many steps therefore you need to start the application process approximately one year before you graduate. • Some programs only accept students to begin in the fall. • Most deadlines fall between December and February the previous year before you want to attend • Deadlines will vary by school/program. • Financial aid deadlines may require you to apply sooner. Where do I go for more help regarding graduate school? • For sophomores/early juniors attend the Is Graduate School for You? workshop and for those decided on graduate school attend the Getting into Graduate School workshop held by the Magner Center. • Talk to faculty and program coordinators for advice on the process. • Attend the Graduate and Professional School Fair held each October at Brooklyn College. • Visit the Magner Center resource library • Do research online.