Researching Different Programs
Deciding where to go to graduate or professional school can be a difficult decision. Here are some general suggestions on how to research programs and questions to consider.
- Talk with faculty, mentors, graduate students and other professionals in your field of study. Ask them for suggestions of strong programs and faculty whose interests align with yours.
- Review your own research materials. Whose work do you like, where are they teaching and where did they do their graduate work?
- Conduct internet and print research on different programs and application requirements. Consider the positions students obtain after completing these programs.
Tips for Students Pursuing Doctoral Study
- Look for programs that have more than one faculty member working in areas of interest (where possible).
- Investigate issues of faculty accessibility and how often they meet with their advisees.
- What types of funding are available? What is the eligibility for research assistantships, teaching assistantships, fellowships or grants?
- How long are students taking to complete their degree?
- What kind of research groups and opportunities for professional development are there?
Tips for Applicants to Any Program of Study
- Visit campuses to talk with faculty and current students; sit in on classes
- Look at the relevant facilities, especially libraries, classrooms, and computer labs.
- The campus visit may be the best way to gauge whether the intellectual environment and atmosphere of the department and school are a good “fit” for you.
- Ask about placement figures and if the program/school helps students obtain the kinds of jobs they wish to get, such as academic, government, and private sector.
- What is the educational approach? Theoretical or applied? Lectures or seminars? Case-Method or quantitative?
- Consider location; graduate students tend to remain in an area for a significant period of time and perhaps even after graduation.
- Apply to a variety of schools/programs based on selectivity; a mentor can help rank choices.
It is also important for applicants to consult:
- University and departmental Web sites
- Graduate school catalogs and brochures (available in print and online)
- Guides such as
- ABA/LSAC Guide to ABA-Approved Law Schools
- Peterson's Guide to Graduate Schools
- Princeton Review
- GradSchools.com
- GradProfiles.com
- Hobson’s Guide to International Education
- PhDs.org
- AAMC Medical School Admission Requirements (in print at the Health Professions Advising Office)
- Other guides in the CAPS Resource Center
- The Health Professions , Business, and Law GPS Web pages
