Graduate School Planning

Make sure you can answer the question, “Why are you going to graduate school?” Graduate school is a significant investment of time, energy, and money and should be done for the right reasons. Most students pursue an advanced degree because it is a requirement for their career goals. For example, if you want to pursue a career as a lawyer, doctor, CPA, professor, school counselor, physical therapist, nurse anesthetist, or other specialized occupation, you must complete the advanced degree requirements for that field.

However, some students see grad school as a way to postpone job hunting or they may still be undecided about their career and assume they will get it “figured out” while in grad school. While more education is typically never a bad idea in life, it may not always be the best strategy for recent grads with bachelor’s degrees. We recommend that you touch base with a career advisor to ensure that pursuing an advanced degree now is the right plan for your particular career goals.

For some good and bad reasons to go to grad school, check out Candid Career's Grad School: Should You Go? video.

Make sure you understand all the expenses involved. This information is typically available on the school’s website. Look into the financing options available, such as
Assistantships – Paid, part-time employment that may include tuition waivers
Fellowships – Based on academic achievement
Grants and Scholarships – Gifts of money, typically with no obligation for work or repayment, but may be linked to an academic discipline or project, many of which can come from sources outside the school
Loans – Low interest loans are available to most graduate students

Financial aid packages, based on both merit and need, are first come, first served. It is to your advantage to submit your application early. Be aware that some programs, like law schools, may limit the amount of time students may work so that they concentrate on academic success.

The decision of which graduate degree to pursue is just as important as deciding to attend graduate school in the first place. Most master’s degrees are highly specialized, so you need to make sure the degree is correctly aligned with your career goals and the employment marketplace. For example, let’s say you wanted to go into environmental advocacy. Should you pursue a highly technical degree, like an M.S. in Environmental Science, or a Master of Public Administration with an Environmental Policy concentration? That decision is based on many factors and should be thoroughly researched. Here is some other helpful information that will help you understand what all those advanced degree letters mean.

Master’s Degrees provide additional and specialized training, experience, research, and scholarship in a particular discipline. 

MS – Master of Science

MA – Master of Arts

MBA – Master of Business Administration

M.Ed. – Master of Education

MSN – Master of Science in Nursing

MSW – Master of Science in Social Work

 

What is the difference between the MS and MA degrees? In general, the MA degree has a broader scope with a strong emphasis on one or more of the following areas: the humanities, an interdisciplinary field, discipline-specific theoretical and general knowledge, or professional field of study. The MS degree is more of a focused approach with a science base to include a balance of liberal arts, technological knowledge, and practical skills needed for a particular discipline within the field.

 

A professional degree provides training to acquire specific skills and knowledge necessary to work in a particular profession. 

J.D. – Juris Doctorate (law)

M.D. – Medical Doctor

D.V.M. – Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Pharm.D. – Doctor of Pharmacy

D.D.S. – Doctor of Dental Surgery

D.O. – Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

D.P.T. – Doctor of Physical Therapy

The highest degrees awarded are Doctoral Degrees, which require completion of an academic program of studies, a comprehensive examination, and often a dissertation, which is a significant work of original research. For example: PhD (Doctor of Philosophy), Ed. D. (Doctor of Education), or PsyD (Doctor of Psychology). Specialist and Advanced Master’s Degrees are study beyond the master’s but less extensive than the doctoral. For example: Ed. S. (Education Specialist). And Post-Doctorate degrees are simply advanced study/research/training in a particular area, not really “degrees.”

Once you have determined that graduate school is right for you and have selected a program of study, it’s time to start researching schools. The research and application process can be very time consuming, so start early. Ideally, start the entire process a year and a half before you wish to enroll.

As part of the school selection process, consider these factors:

• Tuition costs (public vs. private)
• Geographic location of the school (in-state vs. out-of-state, travel and housing considerations)
• Reputation and quality of the program (accreditation, ranking)
• Selectivity of the program (your chances of getting in)
• “Culture” of the program (emphasis on research or practice, collegiality among and between students and faculty)
• Will the program meet the necessary educational requirements for licensure or certification?
• When classes are offered (some schools have evening programs which allow students to work full-time while attending classes)
• Faculty (do they have practical experience in their field of expertise? How extensive is it and with whom? Are there faculty members that share your areas of interest [check their research]? Are there one or more faculty members that might be good mentors for you, given your career goals?)

Most prospective graduate students will apply to several programs, often ranging from a few highly-selective “reach” schools (your chances of acceptance are lower), to schools where you are relatively competitive, and to back-up schools (your chances of acceptance are good).

Gather as much information about the schools as you can. Ask your professors if they know about the schools you are interested in. Use guides such as those published by Peterson’s. However, sometimes there is no substitute to actually going to the school for a visit. A school visit will enable you to tour the campus and surrounding community, check out the housing options, speak with admissions representatives, sit in on classes, and meet current students and faculty. Frequently a campus will have a “feel” to it that you can’t experience without being there. Some graduate schools host open houses. It may not be financially feasible to visit all the schools you wish to attend, so do as much research as possible to narrow your list to the schools you are most interested in.

• Is Grad School Right for Me?
• Exploring Graduate Programs
• My Top Graduate Programs
• Peterson's Graduate School Search
• The Princeton Review
• GradTrek

The graduate school application process requires you to stay organized, especially when you are applying to multiple schools. Admission and application deadlines and requirements vary widely between schools, so make sure to adhere to the admissions timelines and instructions provided by the graduate schools to which you are applying. 

Sample timeline, assuming your goal is to submit a completed application package by January 1st:

Junior Year - Second Semester

• Read the "Graduate School Guide" provided by FGCU Career Development Services
• Start researching the graduate schools that interest you.
• Get organized. Create a file for each school with the admission requirements and timelines.
• Talk with your faculty about your decision and what schools they recommend.
• Make a plan for completing an internship, research project, and/or volunteer activity in the next six months that will enhance your professional skills as well as enhance your graduate school candidacy

Summer Before Senior Year

• Register and start studying for the required standardized exam(s).
• Optional: Register for a test preparation course if you think it is necessary.
• Start conducting research on how you are going to finance your degree
• Start working on your personal statement(s).
• Start working on your resume or CV as appropriate, based on the application instructions for each program.
• If a portfolio is required, start assembling all your materials

Early Fall

• Finalize personal statement and resume/CV.
• Request letters of recommendation from faculty. Include personal statement and resume/CV with request.
• Order transcripts from all post-secondary institutions and request official copies to be sent to schools.
• Take standardized exams and request that your scores be sent to the appropriate schools.
• Keep your grades up.

Mid-Late Fall

• Complete application forms.
• Make copies of all application materials for your records.
• Complete portfolio (if required).
• Follow-up with any faculty that have yet to submit a letter of recommendation.

December

• Submit all application materials to all schools.
• Start making plans for any campus visits (optional).

Personal statements are sometimes called an “application essay” or “statement of goals.” Admission committees use these to help further assess your qualifications and your “fit” with the program. Some schools may provide guidelines for the statement or ask you to answer a specific question while others leave the content up to your discretion. However, it is not intended to be a review of your resume. Personal statements are very “personal,” so yours should be different from other candidates’ since you have your own story to tell. Here are some of the elements you may consider including on a personal statement:

• Interest and motivation in the occupation, program, field, and institution.
  • Discuss how you became interested in the field and your career goals
  • Why you want to attend that particular school/program
• Reasons why you believe you will be successful in this particular academic program or the field
  • Include personal characteristics (i.e. integrity, perseverance), special skills, or related experiences
  • Any unique qualifications that may differentiate you from other applicants

Make sure your personal statement leaves an impression that is consistent with your qualifications. For example, in your law school essay, if you state that you are committed to advocacy and social welfare, there had better be some evidence of that in your resume, perhaps as part of your service learning.

In terms of writing style, there is no one “correct” way. However, here are some style suggestions:

• Write naturally, but concisely, without using large, overly-pretentious words.
• Avoid using gimmicky or “meaningful” quotations unless they perfectly fit the tone and content of your statement. Otherwise they come across as cliché or unimaginative.
• Be specific and focused. Students often try to cover too much material. You are better off providing full, detailed descriptions that enable you to personalize your essay better.
• Use the active voice, not the passive voice. (Active: “The student jumped over the box.” Passive: “The box was jumped over by the student.”)

Focus on highlighting why you would be a good candidate for the program; not on trying to explain why you may have had a poor GPA your freshman year or other issues in your qualifications. Some programs allow you to submit an “addendum” to your application where you can address them.

Be sure to seek feedback from others before submitting the document. It must be perfect in terms of grammar and spelling. This document is also a demonstration of your ability to write clearly and effectively, which is critical for most graduate programs. 

Some schools want the letters from faculty, while others may want them from professionals in the field. Follow the guidelines for each school.

Here are suggestions for asking faculty members for letters of recommendation:

If possible, ask for your reference from the faculty member in person. This way the faculty can put a face with your name. Most faculty members know their students pretty well, but it is best not to make assumptions.

Sample verbiage: “Dr. Smith, I plan to attend law school in the fall and must provide a letter of recommendation with my application package. Do you feel you know me well enough to provide a reference that will describe my skills and potential for success in law school?”

If they agree, follow the directions below:

• Send the faculty member an email confirming your discussion. Include in the email:
  • A copy of your personal statement and resume and tell them which schools and academic programs to which you are applying. (For example: FSU M.S. of Library Science).
  • It is acceptable to ask (nicely) the faculty member to focus on a particular area. For example, your leadership qualities or your research skills.
  • How the references are to be submitted:
    • Some graduate schools require the faculty to log on to a website and submit the reference electronically.
    • Some graduate schools require the reference to be mailed directly to the school. In this case, provide the faculty member with a stamped, addressed envelope.
• Send a thank you note to all your references, and let them know which program you decided to attend.

IMPORTANT: Make sure you give faculty members plenty of time to write the reference letter – no less than four weeks prior to the deadline, preferably give them even more time. And tell them exactly when the deadline date is!

Even if your current plans do not include going to graduate school, it is advisable to obtain the letters from the faculty NOW while their connection to you is strongest…not five years from now when they may not remember you as well. For these letters, let the faculty know that you are undecided about your immediate graduate schools plans, so they can write the letter in more general terms. If the letters are in hard copy form, scan them into a PDF document to ensure their safe storage, and keep them on file.

 

• Graduate School Prep Checklist
• Read tips on creating a curriculum vitae (CV) on our Resume Writing page.