Graduate or professional school may be required in order to attain career goals in certain fields. However, the prospect of graduate school can be both exciting and daunting. Many benefits are derived from graduate work, but the experience is challenging in many ways. Think through why you want to pursue advanced study and talk with your faculty advisor or a Career Advisor early about the application process. Read application materials with care to ensure that you meet all requirements and deadlines. The graduate school admission process begins with good planning.
Graduate school is often seen as the next step for students who have completed their Bachelor’s degree. Some professional fields such as medicine and law require advanced degrees. Graduate work may also be pursued to advance skill levels and to qualify for promotions or salary increases. Licensure or certification in some fields also may require graduate degrees.
The degrees range from:
Students should carefully consider a number of questions before committing to Graduate School:
Graduate School and Professional School Guide
A guide by Career Services that provides details about the graduate school planning process and resources for graduate study.
Graduate School Application Timetable
A suggested timeline for completing the graduate school application process.
Professional School Application Timetable
A suggested timeline for completing the graduate school application process.
Graduate and Professional School Internet Resources
A wide range of Internet links to assist students as they pursue graduate study options.
Peterson’s Graduate and Professional Programs
A comprehensive listing of graduate and professional programs.
Tips for Writing Graduate School Admissions Essays and Personal Statements
A number of graduate programs require and essay or personal statement as part of the application process. A dozen tips to consider when writing the graduate school admission essay or personal statement are provided in this link. Also, visit the Career Services Career Library to view books with more detailed guidelines and examples of essays.
Graduate School Admission Interviews
Some graduate and professional school programs require an onsite admission interview with one or more individuals. This handout provides information on how to prepare for the interview and includes questions you should ask during your visit as well.
Writing the Curriculum Vita
Some graduate programs also ask for a resume or curriculum vita (CV) as part of the application process. Most students are familiar with the resume but not the curriculum vita. This guide provides an overview of the components of the CV noting both the similarities and differences with the resume. The Career Services Career Library also houses several books about writing the CV with examples for different disciplines.
