Graduate School Planning


Introduction

You may be feeling completely overwhelmed at the prospect of applying to graduate school.  Perhaps insecurities and doubts are circulating through your mind on this important topic, and you wonder if you are indeed ready – or even if it is appropriate for you - to make that big leap toward obtaining a master degree.

Graduate school is not for the faint of heart; it is a full-time commitment that requires a lot of time, effort and money. This is not a quick and easy decision to make, and before you even begin the long and arduous process of planning for graduate school, you should ask yourself the following questions:

• Why, specifically, am I considering a graduate degree?

• Do my career goals actually require that I obtain a graduate degree?

• Should I be getting a Master Degree or a Doctorate?

• Should I go to graduate school immediately after receiving my Bachelor 
   Degree or is it a better idea to wait?

• Which graduate program should I choose?

            Grad Profiles.com.  In depth graduate and professional school
            profiles

            Grad Schools.com.  Search over 60,000 master degree,
            doctorate / doctoral degree, PhD degree and graduate
            certificate programs

            GraduateGuide. Directory of graduate schools in the United
            States and Canada

            GraduateSchool4U. Free graduate school advice and tips

            Grad Schools.com--Fellowships. One method of potentially
            financing your graduate degree

            The Peterson's Guides. Tools for finding a graduate program,
            contacting admissions officials, navigating entrance tests, 
            and financing your education

• What is the application process?

• Will I need to take any tests in order to be accepted into a graduate program? GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, MAT

 GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, MAT

• Can I afford it?

You should carefully consider and research the answers to these questions before you fully commit yourself to the graduate school planning process.  This process can be a challenge in and of itself, and to suddenly decide halfway through that process that you’ve changed your mind can seem like a waste of time and money.  Therefore, before taking any action toward the application process, try to be 100% sure that you truly wish to obtain a graduate degree.  That is the very first step.

To get some assistance in working through all of these graduate school questions and answers as they pertain to you and your career goals specifically, make an appointment with a career counselor in the WSU Department of Career Services on the third floor of the Student Center, ext. 8072.  You don’t have to figure this all out by yourself!