by Karin Ash
How to Choose the Right Graduate School
Many people who think about advancing their skills or changing their career direction via a graduate degree believe they must attend a “prestigious” graduate school – one that is ranked highly in the surveys conducted by U.S. News & World Report, Bloomberg Businessweek, and other media outlets. These candidates apply to the schools in the top ten of whichever ranking they are relying on to make their decision. Although this is certainly one way to select a school, it is rarely your best strategy.
So, how do you know whether a program you’re considering would be a good one for you? A lot depends on your career track. Are you seeking a master’s degree that offers you the opportunity to conduct your own research, perhaps leading to a PhD? Or are you looking for a program that will give you the skills necessary to advance in your current career? Your existing qualifications are also a significant factor in selecting the right program.
Let’s first discuss the research degree. Often, you can learn about program options from your undergraduate professors. And you’ll be able to identify graduate school professors with similar interests as you take classes and conduct your undergraduate research. Those professors’ names will keep appearing in your readings. Targeting the schools at which these professors teach would allow you to continue your research with instructors whose research interests align with yours. In this way, selecting the right program is easier for candidates who want a research degree than it is for applicants desiring a career outside academia.
If you are seeking a non-thesis degree to advance your career, the choices can be a bit overwhelming. As you are considering your options, here are some key factors to look into:
- Curriculum – What courses attract you and why?
- Length of program – Is it one year, 18 months, or two years?
- Location – Studying in a location where you ultimately want to live can make it easier to network and find internships that can lead to full-time offers.
- Academic reputation
- Cost and available funding
- Career placement – Where are graduates finding work and in what jobs? Are there appealing internship opportunities if the program is longer than one year? Are there extracurricular activities or groups that support your career goal?
From my experience working with clients from around the world for the past ten years, and with students for many more years, curriculum is critical. When the time comes to apply, you’ll need to be able to cite specific courses that you plan to take to demonstrate to the admissions committee why you are interested in the school. You’ll likewise need to name professors you want to study with and any student organizations you’d like to join. So, researching schools with this in mind will help you narrow in on options that would be a good fit with your personality, needs, and goals.
At the same time, the schools will ultimately be evaluating your qualifications, so targeting programs that seek what you have to offer as a candidate is a good approach. Research how your GPA and GRE scores compare to the average scores of each school’s accepted students, read the graduate student profiles on their website, and apply primarily to schools where you are competitive.
Completing graduate school applications takes time and thoughtful planning. Consider hiring a consultant who has worked with candidates who were accepted to your target schools. These consultants have read hundreds of applications and know how to help you present your strengths and accomplishments, motivations and goals.
With 30 years of career and admissions experience at four universities, including Cornell’s College of Engineering and Johnson Business School, Dr. Karin Ash facilitated students’ entry into the world’s best companies. As an adcom member, she also evaluated applications and therefore knows what schools and employers seek. Want Karin to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!
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