Career advancement to obtain a new job or enter a new field/industry is one big reason for earning a graduate degree. Choosing a program, however, entails careful study and assessment. Graduate programs really differ in terms of academics, methodologies, and schools of thought. Deciding what graduate program you will apply to is one of the most difficult decisions to make, and choosing a school entails various considerations.
This article hopes to provide helpful tips before you choose a graduate program:
- Understanding the focus
Find out the faculty strengths, interests, and research areas of each degree program. Graduate programs have specific research or academic focus. Its strength can be directed to one or two areas within a discipline.
2. Being aware of ranking and reputation
To measure the quality of education, organizations rank programs of graduate schools. Though you may look at the source of the rankings, sometimes there are flaws in the process, which makes it less important than other factors.
3. Diversity of programs
The more diverse and multicultural the types of programs, the better and broader they become. It gives you the opportunity to determine your interest by scrutinizing the arrangement of faculty and students as well.
4. Residency requirements
If you are targeting a specific university but do not live in the state where it is located, then you may want to consider the option of relocating. You may first establish your residency in the vicinity before actually applying for the program.
You need to review the admission requirements at graduate programs in state universities.
5. Availability of facilities
It is important to check the condition of the building, including the tools needed to pursue your specific interests, such as computer facilities. Validate if the “state-of-the-art” facilities stated in the information provided is, indeed, true.
6. Choosing the community
Are you prepared to settle in an urban, rural, or suburban setting? Is the surrounding community tolerable to you? Do you want the raucousness of a large city, or the quaintness of a small town? Consider this factor before making any decision.
7. Maximizing the resources
Resources for the graduate program do not only include volumes of related books or periodicals, but also support institutions such as foundations and endowments that support publication and research efforts of its students.
