1. Graduate School: Making the Decision
LS-OKAMP
Graduate School:
Making the Decision

2. Getting Started
Talk to as many people as possible to assist you in making an informed decision.
Talking to others is an important first step in making informed decisions. The more persons you talk to the better.

3. People to Talk To Other undergraduate students Graduate students
Your faculty
Parents & family
Prospective employers
Who Should you talk to?
There are a variety of people who might be helpful to you in this decision making process. Peers can offer a perspective that is often similar to your own.
Current graduate students can offer valuable insight into what graduate school is like and “trick of the trade.”
Faculty can give much insight into what your department looks for in perspective graduate students, entrance requirements, potential sources of financial aid and research projects, and can be potential sources for letters of recommendation.
Family - It’s important to talk decisions over with family members and to consider together the impacts of graduate studies, both positive and negative.
Prospective employers are a good source of information about salaries, career advancement, and job security for someone who has a graduate degree versus an undergraduate degree.

4. What is Graduate School?
Training in research
11/2 to 2-year program (M.S.)
4 to 5-year program (Ph.D)
Fewer classes per semester
Courses focused in major area
One-on-one faculty interaction

5. Why attend graduate school?
Your career goals make graduate school necessary
To specialize in a particular field
To do research
To broaden expertise in an area
Better job, salary, & promotions
To teach at a university

6. Options Go straight from undergraduate to graduate school
Work full/part-time & school part-time
Work now, school later
Work for company that sends you back to school

7. Going Straight Through
Easiest choice and workload
Still in “learning mode”
Can defer student loans
Need to find ways to stay motivated

8. Work and School
Longest option
Larger workload
Money is always nice

9. Work Now, School Later Hard to be a poor student again
May have family obligation
Heavy workload
Maturity and work experience can be added value

10. Company Pays May limit choice of universities and areas of study
Obligation to work for company upon completion
Job security good
Able to maintain steady income

11. Choosing a Graduate School
Explore several graduate schools that
you would consider attending:
Look for university’s home page on WWW
Write or call for information and catalog
Don’t over look your current university

12. What to Consider Campus climate Resources Available
Reputation/Prestige
Housing
Financial Aid

13. Departmental Information
Areas of study to match your interests
Faculty and their expertise/research
Fellowships, assistantships available
Teaching requirement
Reputation

14. Entrance Requirements
Competitive GPA
Entrance Examinations

15. Application Process Application form Statement of Purpose Transcripts
Entrance exam scores
Letters of Recommendation
Application form
Type your application form.
Be sure to ask to be considered for all relevant forms of financial aid.
Send application form early to maximize financial aid opportunities
Meet all deadlines.
Statement of Purpose
A one to two page written essay detailing:
Motivation and interest in graduate school
Why are you pursuing graduate school?
Background
Why should we choose you?
Academics- GPA, honors, awards
Service - professional/honor societies, etc.
Work - include coop & internship experience
Research experience
Languages - foreign, computer
Publications/Presentation
Personal Characteristics - what makes you unique, special
Plans for graduate school
Why that particular program?
Identify area of interest
Identify faculty you’d like to work with
Career Plans.
What are you going to do with your degree?
Any plans to continue for PhD
Future career plans
How does grad. school fit into plan?

16. Funding Graduate School
Graduate College Level
Departmental Level
Other Sources
Apply early
Financial aid can be sought based on these categories
Academics
Need
Combination of merit and need
Residency
Ethnic group membership
Gender
Major/Field of Study (check departmental scholarships)
Religion
Membership in Professional/Student Associations
Where to look
Library
Online

17. Types of Aid Federally guaranteed loans Teaching assistantships
Research assistantships
Fellowships/scholarships
Work-study
Governmental, state, private

18. Timeline
Questions?
Hand out timeline.