25%-30% of UMass Amherst undergraduates make the decision to go to grad school after finishing their bachelor's degrees. While a graduate degree can open the door for many opportunities after graduation, deciding to go for a master's, PhD, or other supplemental degree isn't a simple choice.
What to Know About Applying to Grad School:
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The process of applying to grad school is often time consuming. Applications have many components, including personal statements, letters of recommendation, and qualifying tests that should be planned for well in advance.
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The most common window for applying to a graduate program is November - January, but every individual program is different. As a result, it's important for you to look up programs you'd like to attend well in advance of your senior year. For example, med schools often open up their applications the first week of May before your senior year to start the fall after your senior year - that means submitting applications 15 months before you would start!
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You don't have to go to grad school immediately after graduating. Many people take a "gap year", which is a period of time after completing your bachelor's degree to gain professional experience and explore your field outside of the classroom.
If you are unclear about your options or unsure if grad school is right for you, make an appointment with a career advisor and discuss your options.
Before pursuing additional education, ask yourself:
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Why do I want to go to graduate school? Many people completing undergraduate degrees have been consistently enrolled in school for the last 15+ years of their lives, and doing something that's not school can be hard to fathom. Though there are many reasons to go to grad school, it is not advisable to pursue further education just to delay getting a job.
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Do I need a graduate degree to further my career? Many people who think they need to go to grad school are basing those opinions off of biased sources. Take the time to look into job descriptions for jobs that you want now and in the future and see if a graduate degree is even required. It is also helpful to look at the job outlook for jobs in your field with bachelor's degrees versus graduate degrees.
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Do I have the passion needed to engage in intensive study? Pursuing a graduate degree is a rewarding experience, but will also be a new kind of challenge academically and professionally. Being passionate for a particular field is essential to stay motivated during the more challenging aspects of a graduate program.
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What program will best fit my needs and interests? Graduate degrees often require a greater level of specialization than an undergraduate program. That will mean searching for a program that is a good fit for your interests will involve digging deep into the classes offered, but knowing about the faculty, facilities, resources, and relationships that the program can offer you.
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Should I develop more hands-on experience in my field before attending graduate school? People completing their undergraduate degrees sometimes worry that they have to pursue a graduate education right away. However, according to an article from GraduateGuide.com, the average age of a graduate student is 33 years old. It can be beneficial to go into the working world and gain practical, hands on experience that will shape your expertise and interest in a field before pursuing a graduate degree. Additionally, some employers may offer tuition reimbursement to employees who are pursing a degree related to their field.
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Can I afford graduate school? This is a question that only you can decide for yourself. While many graduate programs offer financial aid, fellowships, graduate assistantships, and other ways to pay for your degree, you will likely need to find a way to support yourself during the course of a graduate program.
Applying to graduate programs is a little different than applying to undergraduate programs. Most graduate programs are significantly smaller than the undergraduate equivalent, and accept a smaller pool of candidates. Additionally, you will be working much more closely with faculty during a graduate program, especially if you are pursuing a PhD.
Tips:
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Browsing for "the best" programs isn't necessarily the way to find the best program for your interests. It is helpful to talk to people with degrees like the one you are interested in pursuing and see what programs they know about.
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In addition to reading about the program, look up the faculty that work at the institution. Take the time to go into scholarly journal databases and see what kind of research is being done in the program. If you find an interest in the research, it will both heighten your passion and help you identify faculty with whom to collaborate if you are selected for the program.
Graduate Program Research Resources:
Once you've identified the programs that meet your needs, it is time to start setting up your application. Every college will have different requirements for what you need to submit, as well as different deadlines. As a result, you will want to take careful notes about admission requirements and plan on submitting your applications well before they are due.
Application Requirements:
Resume/CV
A resume is meant to be a summary of your relevant professional experience. When submitting a resume for a graduate program, make sure you are flexible about how you define professional experience: you may include relevant classes you've taken, projects you've completed, studying abroad experience, or other accomplishments from the years you were completing your degree. A CV (or curriculum vitae) is a much more comprehensive document that details your educational accomplishments, teaching experience, research, and other academic credentials.
Personal Statement
A personal statement is a document you will write responding to a prompt or prompts requested by the admissions department. Personal statements often need many revisions, and are benefited by being reviewed by many people ahead of submission.
Letter of Recommendation
A letter of recommendation is submitted by a professional in your field, most often a faculty member, to support your application. Note that these letters may be submitted in a variety of ways depending on the institution. You should request a letter of recommendation from your chosen faculty member well ahead of when they are due, typically at least a month if not more.
Test Scores
You may be required to take one or more academic tests prior to applying, such as the GRE, and then submitting those scores alongside your application.
Official UMass Transcript
An official UMass transcript is the document that certifies your academic accomplishments. Instructions for submitting your transcript can be found here: Request Official Transcript
Depending on your field of study, you may be required to complete one or more preliminary exams prior to submitting your application for a graduate program. These tests often have limited time frames in which they can be completed. As a result, find out which exams your prospective grad programs require, schedule your exam dates well in advance of applying for a graduate program, and give yourself plenty of time to research and prepare for the examination.
While not all grad programs require exams, it is not advised that you skip over applying for a grad program just because they do have an exam requirement. To weigh the pros and cons of applying to a program, meet with faculty and career advisors and discuss what would work best for your goals.
Common Grad School Pre-requisite Exams
The GRE General Test is one of the most commonly used entrance tests for graduate programs. The GRE closely reflects the kind of thinking you’ll do in today's demanding graduate school programs, including business and law. It measures your verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking and analytical writing skills — skills that have been developed over a long period of time and aren’t related to a specific field of study but are important for all.
The Uniform CPA Examination (Exam) protects the public interest by helping to ensure that only qualified individuals become licensed as U.S. Certified Public Accountants (CPAs). Individuals seeking to qualify as CPAs are required to pass the Exam.
The Dental Admission Test (DAT) is accepted by 66 dental schools in the U.S. and 10 in Canada. It is designed to provide dental education programs with a means to assess applicants’ potential for success. All dental schools require applicants to take the DAT as part of the comprehensive admission process.
The GMAT exam is designed to test skills that are highly important to business and management programs. It assesses analytical writing and problem-solving abilities, along with the data sufficiency, logic, and critical reasoning skills that are vital to real-world business and management success. In June 2012, the GMAT exam introduced Integrated Reasoning, a new section designed to measure a test taker’s ability to evaluate information presented in new formats and from multiple sources—skills necessary for management students to succeed in a technologically advanced and data-rich world.
The Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) is a required test by the majority of law schools. It is a multiple choice test that covers analytical reasoning, logical reasoning, reading comprehension, and an essay.
The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) assesses your knowledge of natural and social sciences concepts and your critical thinking and scientific problem-solving skills required to begin the study of medicine. Learn more about what’s tested on the MCAT exam.
The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX ) is a computer-based test that nursing graduates must pass to become a licensed nurse in the United States.
Most graduate programs will ask you to submit three letters of recommendation from professionals in your field, most commonly faculty. A letter of recommendation takes time and thought to put together, so you should think about who you would like to ask carefully and give them as much notice as possible prior to your request.
Tips:
- Before asking, you should know to which programs you are planning on submitting applications and what the process will be for the faculty member in order to submit their letters of recommendation.
- When asking, plan on visiting the professor during their office hours to make the request in person. If you cannot, plan an e-mail that reminds the professor of who you are, details your request, and mentions why you have asked them specifically to write your letter.
- Note that a professor may say that they are unwilling to write a letter of recommendation for you. More often than not, it is because the professor does not know you well enough or does not have enough time to properly draft a recommendation.
A personal statement is a document you will write responding to a prompt or prompts requested by the admissions department. Personal statements often need many revisions, and are benefited by being reviewed by many people ahead of submission. For more information on how to write a personal statement, visit the Personal Statement Guide.
