Graduate/Professional School - Researching graduate schools and programs
It is important to take time to research potential graduate schools in order to find programs that are a good fit for your interests, personality, skills and goals. The following are some resources or strategies to help you identify and learn more about graduate programs:
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Consult directories, including Peterson’s Guides and The Gourman Report, and business magazine rankings to generate ideas. Many of these resources are located in the Career Center’s Resource Room.
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Use online resources, such as www.gradschools.com, to search for particular programs in specific geographic areas or in particular fields.
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Visit school websites to gather more information about the types of degrees offered, curriculum, program highlights, faculty and more.
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Attend a graduate school fair or speak with graduate school recruiters when they visit campus.
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Speak with your professors about the graduate programs you are considering. They are experts in their discipline and have plenty of valuable knowledge about preparing to enter the field. Ask if they know of programs you should consider or other faculty or professionals they may know with whom it would be useful for you to connect.
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Speak with professionals in your field of interest. Ask where they attended graduate school and what advice they have for individuals entering the profession.
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Look for web pages of faculty and current students enrolled in the graduate programs you are considering. Many times there may be links to these pages from a program’s main website.
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Contact students who are currently enrolled in the programs you are considering to get insiders’ knowledge about what the program is like. Utilize social networking sites and student web pages to identify current students or ask a graduate program administrator if there are current students with whom you can speak.
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Check with the Career Center to see if any LU alumni are currently enrolled in a graduate program at schools you are considering.
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Read academic journals in your field. Take note of article authors, what kind of research they are conducting and where they teach. If you are impressed with an individual’s research or publications you may want to consider a graduate program in which that individual is a faculty member.
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Utilize professional associations to find out which graduate programs are endorsed by the organization and if they have any recommendations for prospective students who are contemplating advanced study in the field.
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Read publications by faculty members of the graduate programs in which you are interested and research their professional background. Contact faculty members whose research interests are similar to your own and inquire about the graduate program, their work and/or your own research ideas or professional goals.
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Visit the campuses of the schools to which you are applying or admitted. Being on campus can help you determine if a particular school feels “right” and may allow you to connect with current students.
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Make an appointment to speak with a Career Center counselor about your ideas or plans for graduate school.
The Career Center strongly encourages students to being their graduate school search during their junior year. Once you begin to research potential graduate schools, it is helpful to maintain a list of potential programs. As you investigate further, eliminate or add schools and programs as necessary. The goal is to create a diverse list of graduate programs that fit your needs and goals.
Generally, it is wise to apply to at least 6 programs, each with varying degrees of selectivity. Keep in mind that applying to graduate school requires organization, time management, application fees and/or travel to and from campus visits. Be sure to maintain a list of potential programs that is a reasonable size for you to manage.
Investing a significant amount of energy into graduate school research may be time-consuming, but carefully examining your options and considering various programs will increase the likelihood of satisfaction once you begin your graduate school journey.
