Graduate and Professional School
Should You Go to Graduate or Professional School?
Whether or not you go to graduate school is a decision you should weigh very carefully. Many assume this is the next step after graduation, but this is not true for everyone. It depends on your professional needs and your motivation.
Before pursuing graduate or professional school, ask yourself a few questions:
- Why do I want to go to graduate school?
- Do I need a graduate degree to further my career?
- Am I passionate enough about a subject to engage in intensive study?
- What program will best fit my needs and interests?
- Should I start a graduate program immediately, or work for a few years instead?
- Should I build more hands-on experience in my field before attending graduate school?
- Can I afford graduate school?
We encourage you to speak with an advisor in Career Services, an academic advisor, faculty members, or professionals in the field to help determine the right path for advanced studies. They can help you decide if graduate or professional school is the right choice, when to start, how to find the ideal programs for you, and how to prepare.
Researching Graduate and Professional Schools
The following links will guide you to resources that will be useful as you explore graduate studies and begin to make decision.
Graduate Schools
- The Graduate School Guide
- The Admissions Office
- College Source Online (Only available to UMass Amherst users connecting with OIT's UMAccess)
- GradSchools.com
- U.S. News: America’s Best Graduate Schools
Graduate School Testing
- AAMC: Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
- Accounting Institute Seminars (CPA)
- ADA Online: Dental Admission Testing Program (DAT)
- GMAC MBA Explorer (GMAT)
- Graduate Record Examinations (GRE)
- Law School Admission Council (LSAT)
- National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCLEX)
