Choosing the Right School &Program

The most important element in choosing the right graduate program is the specific career goal that the program helps you achieve. This knowledge is critical to making a good decision. Many students make the mistake of going to graduate school without knowing specifically what they are trying to achieve professionally and their hope is that the program will help them figure it out. While it is true, that your program will contribute to career decision making, the more prudent approach is to wait to attend graduate school until you know the position and the industry you are pursuing. Graduate school happens at the end of the decision making process, it is not part of that process. Once you do know the details of the professional goals you are trying to achieve, here are a few of the factors to keep in mind when selecting a program:

  • Reputation/Status in the Field—How is this program thought of by the people who will be evaluating you after you complete the program.
  • Competiveness—How difficult is entry into the program and how do your qualifications match up with the typical student.
  • Profile of the Student Body— What jobs/industries are most students pursuing, what is the average student age, what is the ratio of part time vs. full time students and how do all of these things fit with where you are.
  • Career Planning Assistance—In what ways will the program help you find a position as you are finishing the program?

Here are some links that can help you research these and other concerns:

The decision to attend graduate school can be a difficult and confusing one. To schedule a meeting with a counselor to discuss the best option for you, call 863—3326. Additional campus resources include faculty and academic deans. They, too, are informative advisors.