Once you have determined that graduate school is right for you and have selected a program of study, it’s time to start researching schools. The research and application process can be very time consuming, so start early. Ideally, start the entire process a year and a half before you wish to enroll.
As part of the school selection process, consider these factors:
- Tuition costs (public vs. private)
- Geographic location of the school (in-state vs. out-of-state, travel and housing considerations)
- Reputation and quality of the program (accreditation, ranking)
- Selectivity of the program (your chances of getting in)
- “Culture” of the program (emphasis on research or practice, collegiality among and between students and faculty)
- Will the program meet the necessary educational requirements for licensure or certification?
- When classes are offered (some schools have evening programs which allow students to work full-time while attending classes)
- Faculty (do they have practical experience in their field of expertise? How extensive is it and with whom? Are there faculty members that share your areas of interest [check their research]? Are there one or more faculty members that might be good mentors for you, given your career goals?)
Most prospective graduate students will apply to several programs, often ranging from a few highly-selective “reach” schools (your chances of acceptance are lower), to schools where you are relatively competitive, and to back-up schools (your chances of acceptance are good).
Gather as much information about the schools as you can. Ask your professors if they know about the schools you are interested in. Use guides such as those published by Peterson’s. However, sometimes there is no substitute to actually going to the school for a visit. A school visit will enable you to tour the campus and surrounding community, check out the housing options, speak with admissions representatives, sit in on classes, and meet current students and faculty. Frequently a campus will have a “feel” to it that you can’t experience without being there. Some graduate schools host open houses. It may not be financially feasible to visit all the schools you wish to attend, so do as much research as possible to narrow your list to the schools you are most interested in.