Criteria to Consider
Career Development Center
After receiving information from a number of graduate schools, you will have to decide where you would like to apply. No absolute criterion exists for ranking graduate schools and programs, however if you get to know the discipline and profession well, you will get a sense of which programs are well known in the field. To determine best fit, consider these factors:
ADMISSIONS:
Application procedures: Be sure that you understand and follow admission requirements.
Application fees: Schools charge anywhere from $20-$100 to process an application. Needy students can have their application fee waived.
Do not destroy your chance to be admitted by missing deadlines.
Ratio of applicants by students admitted: By examining this ration, you can estimate your admission chances.
Affirmative Action: Many schools actively recruit minority students.
PROGRAM:
Curriculum: Some require that you take a list of designed courses. Other schools give more leeway by allowing you to choose numerous electives.
Requirements/Degrees offered: The number of credit hours required for certain degrees vary at each institution.
Special degree programs: Many schools offer unique programs in cross disciplines. You can take complementary courses in a different department under combined degree programs. Attrition rate: Schools with high dropout rates should warrant special attention.
Time Commitment: Masters take two years. Normaly a Ph.D. is 4 to 8 years. Professional degrees may require 2 to 8 years of study.
Exchange programs: Some offer students opportunities to study or research at another university in the U.S. or abroad.
Language requirements: Certain programs require a language proficiency.
FACULTY:
Specialization: Choose an institution that has faculty members who are well known in your area of interest and are ones you admire. Talk to the advisor for your discipline or profession to get more assistance in this area.
Research Activity: Students can gain valuable exposure from professors who are involved in research. If you would like to work with certain professors, ask them about the grants they have received for their projects.
Reputation: Working closely with a professor who is highly regarded in his/her field may be more important than attending a prestigious university.
Credentials: The faculty's character is reflected in the schools they have attended and the degrees they have received. A diversified faculty exposes students to a variety of viewpoints.
Student/Faculty ratio: Students may receive more individual attention in a smaller classroom setting.
Teaching ability: An excellent professor will encourage and push students to work hard.
Department reputation: The quality of a program may be affected by the size of the department and how well professors cooperate with each other.
STUDENTS:
Academic qualification of classmates: A pool of strong students makes the academic environment more competitive.
Diversity: The number of males, females, minorities, and foreign students will shape the class character.
Age: The class personality is also a reflection of the ratio of applicants entering graduate school directly from undergraduate school/applicants entering with several years work experience, in addition to the ratio of full-time/part-time students.
Career Success: Considering career prospects, applicants should know where recent graduates are working.
FACILITIES:
Library: Know the number and diversity of volumes, special collections, periodicals, for a particular discipline, along with the accessibility of these resources is important for research purposes.
Laboratory: It is very important that you investigate independent research centers, labs, and institutes on campus and in the community.
Placement Services: Some schools have a separate career placement center for graduate students. Ask how many students in your discipline are assisted in finding internships, summer jobs and post graduate school employment. Find out whether the campus recruiters come from the region or different states.
Computer systems: Updated and accessible technology can make a student's life easier. Note the models used, the number of computers available for the student body, and the wireless capabilities of the campus
Study Areas: To study effectively, you must be happy with your surroundings. Look at classrooms, lounges, and study rooms to learn how much space is available and where you can go to study alone or in a group.
Student Services: Each school's medical care, insurance policies, and related services are different.
LIVING STANDARD:
Geographic Location: The environment can affect the way you approach your work. Climate and proximity to a city may be two factors to consider.
Community involvement: A university's relationship with the surrounding community is important. Businesses, firms, and clinics often work with graduate students, providing them with practical experience.
Status: Institutions have private, public or religious affiliations.
Housing: Finding a room or apartment suited to your needs can take a lot of energy. Some institutions have on-campus housing for their graduate students or help them find affordable residences off-campus. Married couples may seek assistance to locate special accommodations.
FINANCIAL AID:
Deadlines: Most deadlines fall before application deadlines. Apply early to allow for delays.
Availability of funds: Includes loans, grants, assistantships, fellowships and work study programs. Find out how much assistance is given to students attending various institutions.
