Each year thousands
of advanced degrees are awarded in the United States. Sounds impressive,
doesn’t it? But did you know that an equal number of students apply
to graduate or professional school and are not accepted or do not finish
their degrees? One factor contributing to the number of students not entering
or not completing post baccalaureate school is the students’ lack of
direction. Like so many other things in life, "if you do not know
where you are going you, you might end up someplace else."
Many students
not accepted into graduate programs have not demonstrated a clear sense of
their professional and personal direction. They are heading to graduate school
either because "everybody says you can’t get anywhere without a
graduate degree," "the job market is scary," or because after
a few more years of school they might know what they want to do. Furthermore,
students who are not sure why they are pursuing graduate degrees often do
not complete their studies.
So the first step
in applying to graduate/professional school is to answer the question, "why
do you want to go to graduate school?" Your answer helps clarify your
direction while serving two purposes. First, it helps graduate programs select
the most appropriate students and secondly, it helps you match your goals
with the best graduate programs. An effective response to this question illustrates
your motivations and commitment to graduate studies and may be able to override
a mediocre GPA or less than spectacular test scores.
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If you are considering
graduate/professional school as an option in your future, there are three
areas of research you should conduct to clarify your goals and prepare you
for the application process. All areas are equally important for achieving
ultimate success in graduate/professional school.
Begin by exploring
yourself! Thorough self-assessment will help you decide whether to go to
graduate/professional school and what you would like to study. Contact the
University Career Center to learn more...
Follow up your
self-assessment by learning about various fields of study. How do these fields
approach issues or problems? For example, disciplines such as psychology,
sociology and economics might each deal with the subjects of poverty or alcoholism
quite differently. As you narrow your focus, consider that various programs
within a field may have very different theoretical focuses. Investigate the
research interests and theoretical focus of various faculty. Which perspectives
interest you most? You also need to find out what constitutes the necessary
degree in any given field. For example, in social work or the arts it is
often a master’s degree; whereas in clinical psychology, it is usually
a doctorate.
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Finally, the third
aspect of your research should involve exploring specific graduate programs.
In gathering information, be sure to focus on finding answers to the following
questions:
- What is the
typical class size? Are there small seminar classes or large lectures?
- How extensive
are the library holdings, computer labs, and other research facilities?
- What is the
average length of time for degree completion?
- Can you attend
the program part-time?
- Are most of
the students in the program working full-time?
- What kind of
financial support is available?
- Are graduate
assistantships or fellowships available?
- What percentage
of recent graduates found jobs within their chosen fields? How soon after
their graduation?
There are several
resources to assist you in learning about fields of study and specific graduate
programs. The University Career Center at the University of Maryland, located on the
third floor of Hornbake Library, or a college/university in your area will
offer an extensive Resource Room containing directories and catalogs that
will help you formulate a list of schools based on criteria such as majors,
costs, and geographic location.
After you have identified graduate/professional
school programs in which you are interested, send post cards to the school
or e-mail the individual department, and the financial aid office for information
packets. Consider consulting with faculty at your undergraduate institution
who may have been through the graduate/professional school process recently
in the same fields regarding their knowledge of the programs you have identified.
Also, check with the program to determine if they have a list of alumni who
might be willing to talk to you.
Once you have
researched these questions, you will be clearer about your direction and
better able to choose programs that will most accurately meet your needs.
Completing personal statements on applications will be easier and will reflect
your sense of direction. Application reviewers select students whose goals
match the goals of the program and with a clear sense of purpose, you are
more likely to complete your degree.
While your undergraduate
experience may be a legitimate arena for self-discovery, typically graduate
school is not. Graduate/professional school by definition requires you to
focus and develop expertise in a specific area of knowledge. Completing an
advanced program can take up to eight years of study and cost many thousands
of dollars. It is a commitment that should be implemented with a well-organized
plan.
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