Student’s Guide to Choosing
a Graduate Program Use These Tips to Find the Grad School That’s Right for You

People who attend graduate school can reap many benefits, not the least of which are financial. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers who have earned master’s degrees earned $1,401 per week in 2017, and those with doctoral degrees earned $1,743 per week, while those with bachelor’s degrees received $1,173 in weekly earnings. In addition, graduate degrees correlated to lower unemployment rates than did bachelor’s degrees.

But in order to enjoy the benefits of graduate school, students must find the right programs. This guide provides information to help prospective grad students make this important choice.

Meet the Experts

Dana Bearer Associate Director of Transfer, Adult and Graduate Admissions, Clarion University Read More

Jessica Retrum Associate professor, Metropolitan State University of Denver Read More Julie Masterson Dean, Graduate College at Missouri State University Read More Shirag Shemmassian Founder, Shemmassian Academic Consulting Read More Written by Kenya McCullumRead More

Top 11 Tips for Choosing the Right Grad Program

Not all graduate programs are created equal, so it’s imperative that student really weigh their options. Following are 11 considerations prospective graduate students should keep in mind when selecting programs.

  1. Career Career goals should be top of mind when choosing a degree program — or deciding whether to attend graduate school at all. For some careers, having an advanced degree provides an edge in the job market, while for others job experience may be more important. If a graduate degree is needed for a career, a person should be sure to choose a school that will adequately prepare students for that type of job.
  2. Part-time or full-time options “For many students who need to balance work, school and life, full-time enrollment can be intimidating and may prevent some students from attempting graduate school. To be considered a full-time graduate student, one must register for at least nine credits,” said Dana Bearer, associate director of transfer, adult and graduate admissions at Clarion University in Pennsylvania. “Students may also choose to attend part-time in most graduate programs. They need to check with their specific programs to confirm that part-time status is an option.”
  3. Program delivery Some programs are conducted entirely online, while others are hybrid, or a combination of online and on-campus components. If a program is delivered in a hybrid format, students should consider whether they’re able to travel to campus as often as required while also juggling their other responsibilities.
  4. Faculty specializations “Students should consider if the faculty specializes in their fields of interest. For instance, a prospective history student may want to attend School X, only to find that none of their potential advisers specialize in ancient Greek history, their specific area of interest,” said Shirag Shemmassian, founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting. “Also, in the case of Ph.D. and certain master’s programs, students will be working closely with particular advisers. A student should reach out to the prospective adviser and gauge whether he or she will be taking on new students.”
  5. Admissions requirements Each program has its own individual requirements — from minimum GRE scores to entrance examinations or specific undergraduate coursework. For any school students are considering, they should look at what’s expected for admission and determine how to meet those standards.
  6. Cost and financial aid options “Students should incur as little debt as possible, so look at tuition and fee costs, as well as available financial help, such as graduate assistantships. Graduate assistantships are wonderful because they help with education costs and living expenses,” said Julie Masterson, associate provost and dean of Missouri State University’s Graduate College, and professor of communication sciences and disorders. “At Missouri State, for example, our graduate assistantships cover basic tuition and fees and provide a monthly stipend. They are excellent resources.”
  7. Facilities Depending on a student’s needs and goals, access to facilities may be an important factor when choosing a program. For example, those who are interested in graduate degrees in a health care discipline, like nursing, may want to know they can get hands-on experience at a hospital affiliated with the school. Similarly, someone studying a science may look for programs with state-of-the-art lab equipment.
  8. Accreditation “It’s important that the graduate school has the appropriate accreditation,” said Jessica Retrum, associate professor and the chair of the Department of Social Work at Metropolitan State University of Denver. “For example, in social work, if programs are not approved by the accrediting body for social work, the Council on Social Work Education, they may jeopardize being eligible for certain licensure and employment opportunities and even the ability to call themselves social workers after they graduate.”
  9. Reputation Just as professionals want to work for organizations with good reputations in their fields, graduate students should also look for programs that have a good reputations within their academic disciplines. Check out program rankings or speak to alumni about their experiences in any grad program.
  10. Length of the program Busy graduate students with full-time jobs and families need to consider the investment of time that a program will take. A person who isn’t in a position to spend a long time in graduate school may need to look for an accelerated option in order to complete the degree more quickly.
  11. Research opportunities Students who want to enter fields that require original research should look into how research is conducted in graduate programs and find those with strong research opportunities.

Expert Q&A: Choosing the Right Online School

Choosing a graduate program isn’t easy, so it’s important for those considering advanced degrees to get as much information as they can in order to make informed decisions. To provide additional perspectives on the graduate school experience, we asked the following experts for their opinions and advice.

When should undergraduate students begin investigating graduate schools?

What qualities should students look for in graduate programs?

How can students impress a graduate school during the application process and stand out from other students?

Is an interview necessary when applying to graduate schools?

Will students get a good return on their investment when they earn a graduate degree?

What are the most important things prospective graduate students should know?

Common Online Grad School Misconceptions

People considering graduate school may not know what to expect and consequently believe several myths about what it’s like. Below are some common misconceptions about grad school and the truth about these ideas.

Applicants must be perfect to be admitted into a graduate degree program.

“The notion that a student has to have perfect grades and test scores to be admitted to graduate school is just not true. Schools look for well-rounded, passionate learners,” said Bearer. “Letters of recommendation and work experiences can be determining factors in an admissions decision, even if the student falls short of the typical academic profile.”

Graduate school is only worth it if students attend top-tier schools.

Some people considering graduate school believe if they’re not admitted into Ivy League schools, graduate school isn’t worth their time. However, it’s most important that students go to the schools that are the best fit for them — and, in some cases, the highest-ranking schools may not have the best programs for students’ goals.

Graduate degrees are always a good idea.

“Given the years of education, training, financial and opportunity costs, attending graduate school may actually harm the graduate's quality of life. For instance, paying back massive loans over decades can impact important decisions like in which areas the graduate can afford to live and which jobs provide salaries that can help pay back loans and support their desired lifestyles,” said Shemmassian. “In addition, prospective graduate students often have dream jobs that may in fact be quite difficult to obtain. It's well-documented, for example, that tenure-track professorships are hard to come by in general, let alone at well-known institutions or in desirable locations.”

Some people are too old to go back to graduate school.

Although some people may feel uncomfortable going back to grad school because of their ages, in many cases, schools prefer students who are in their mid- to late 30s because they bring valuable life and work experiences to a program.

Graduate programs are too challenging for most students to handle.

“I’ve heard students comment that they are nervous when they start and concerned that they won’t be able to do the work, or that the faculty will not be approachable or have realistic expectations. The actual experiences usually quell these fears in the first semester,” said Masterson. “Graduate school is qualitatively different from undergraduate programs in that they require much more reading, writing and independent work. Most students are ready for that and welcome the change.”

Graduate school is held from nine to five.

While graduate school can be the equivalent of a full-time job in terms of the amount of hours and effort students are required to put in, they can’t necessarily expect to keep business hours as they would their jobs. Depending on their areas of study, students may end up working late hours and should be prepared for that possibility.

Graduate degrees are completely unnecessary.

“One myth that is prevalent right now in higher education generally is that a degree is not necessary. At MSU Denver, we aim to change that because we know access to education changes lives,” said Retrum. “While an undergraduate degree plants the seeds for lifelong learning and critical thinking, a graduate degree is an opportunity to refine your professional self and change your career trajectory. Not all careers require graduate degrees, but many do, and obtaining that degree can set you up for success.”

Life must be dominated by school work.

Grad school is a great deal of work, and it can be stressful, but it’s important for students to take the time out to enjoy themselves. Doing things like spending time with classmates and engaging in extracurricular activities give students the balance they need to avoid burnout, which will help them perform better in their programs.

The Advantages of Online Grad Programs

Just as online undergraduate programs offer students many benefits, earning a distance graduate degree provides students with several advantages.

Convenience Online graduate degree programs provide some flexibility and convenience that students who are working full time or raising children may need in order to manage all of their responsibilities. Students may have the option of taking courses that are delivered completely online or enroll in programs on a part-time basis to fit their studies into their lifestyles. Many online classes can be completed asynchronously, so that students can access their courses at any time of day and from anywhere.
Flexible career options “Many individuals who obtain graduate degrees will enjoy a higher ceiling with regard to salary, positional seniority, etc., as well as more flexible career options,” said Shemmassian. “For instance, whereas an individual with a bachelor's degree in psychology will be limited in the ways he or she can participate in mental health provision, an individual with a Ph.D. in clinical psychology can open a private practice, lead research programs or a combination of both, and also have other options available to them.”
Lower costs In some cases, online programs may charge per credit hour, which can potentially save students money. Also, since they are not commuting back and forth to campuses, students save on transportation and parking costs.
Improving online communication skills Since students have to communicate with their professors, and each other, through message boards, online chats and video-conferencing programs, students get the opportunity to sharpen their virtual communication skills. These written and verbal communication skills can help them in their workplaces, no matter what careers they pursue.
Personal growth and achievement “Completing a graduate degree brings incredible satisfaction to those who value lifelong learning,” said Bearer. “There is a sense of accomplishment from challenging oneself academically and completing a rigorous program.”
Increase technical skills Students in online graduate degree programs must master the technology used to deliver course materials. As a result, they may gain expertise in programs such as Trello, Skype, Basecamp, Dropbox and Slack, and this technical knowledge may improve their performance in their jobs.

More on Graduate School

This podcast on the blog Accepted, hosted by admissions consultant and author Linda Abraham, provides advice on getting into graduate school. Topics include financing a graduate degree, optimizing a grad school application and common mistakes people make when applying to graduate programs.

This podcast from the Institute for Humane Studies provides advice on how to succeed in grad school. The discussion covers how to build a relationship with a faculty mentor, make a good first impression on professors and peers and overcome doubts about being in a graduate school program.

In this video, UC Berkeley’s Graduate Division Diversity Program Director Carla Trujillo provides advice.

In this video, Anne Curtis of The Princeton Review offers tips on how to get a good score on the GRE.

This video from Bridgewater College discusses how important GRE scores and grade point averages are when applying to a graduate school program.

Find tips in this video for producing a successful application to grad school.

In this article from University of California, Davis, professors from various disciplines — such as chemistry, mathematics and history — give advice on how to decide whether or not to attend graduate school.

This page includes advice on topics such as preparing for the GRE, applying for a graduate assistantship and writing a statement of purpose.

This U.S. News & World Report article offers useful information for those interested in graduate school to consider before applying.

This article by Elizabeth Keenan for ChronicleVitae describes bad advice that graduate students should avoid.

Inside Higher Ed offers these pointers on how to get the most out of graduate school.

This article from Next Scientist writer Julio Peironcely gives an overview of what doctoral programs are like.

From this academic study, prospective graduate students can read information about what can hurt their chances of getting into grad school.

Columbia University provides advice on how to be successful when applying to graduate school.

Readers of this article from The Washington Post will learn how to impress schools when applying to graduate programs.

U.S. News & World Report provides insights into choosing the right grad school program.

U.S. News & World Report presents ideas on how to pay graduate school costs.

The Forbes article shares effective ways to pay for graduate school and describes mistakes students make financially.

This article from UC Davis Graduate School of Management includes information on how to handle stress while dealing with the rigors of graduate school.

Inside Higher Ed presents this advice on how to identify triggers that lead to stress and ways to deal with them.