Career Services Graduate School Guide
Our Graduate School Guide will help you find the graduate program that’s right for you, while also giving you insight into the application process and important deadlines to look out for.
This is a general guide compiled from multiple resources. Each area of focus or individual program may differ so please look into them specifically.
What is Graduate School?
- An advanced program of study focused on a particular academic discipline or profession.
- Traditionally considered “academic”…centered on generating original research in a particular discipline.
- Also “professional”…centered on developing skills and knowledge for a specific profession, or a combination of both.
How is Graduate School Different from Undergraduate Education?
Compared to undergraduate studies, graduate school is a more concentrated course of study including higher expectations for the quality and quantity of your academic work.
In graduate school you will have:
- focused studies in a specific discipline with fewer elective possibilities
- rigorous evaluation of your work by professors and peers
- smaller classes with much student interaction
- work experience via internships, teaching, or production of original research is often required
What Graduate Degrees are Available?
Graduate degrees are available in almost any subject and come in three levels: Master, Specialist, and Doctorate. Depending on the graduate school/program and degree level you desire, your program requirements and length will vary.
- Master’s degrees are offered in many fields of study. Some are designed to lead to a doctoral degree while others are the “terminal” degree for a profession (e.g., Master of Library Science or Master of Business Administration). For full-time students, completing a master’s degree usually takes 2 years.
- Specialist degrees are usually earned in addition to a master’s degree and will require additional coursework, training, or internship experience. This type of degree usually prepares students for professional certification or licensing requirements (e.g. Ed.S. for school principal).
- Doctoral (Ph.D.) or Professional (Doctoral) degrees (MD or JD) are the highest degrees possible. PhD’s require the creation of new knowledge via independent research – be it basic or applied. Including the time it takes to write and defend a dissertation, this degree may take anywhere from 5-10 years to complete. MD’s & JD’s: Specific schools/programs and training is needed to receive these degrees.
Information from UC Berkeley, Career Center
Where to Find Graduate School Information
Consult sites such as these for researching graduate and professional schools and other appropriate information
How Do I Choose a Graduate School?
- Reputation of the Faculty: What are their academic degrees/credentials and research specialties? What is the student/faculty ratio? Look at faculty websites, if available.
- Quality of the Program: This is measured by many different factors, many of which are mentioned below. You may choose to look at graduate school rankings to help you assess a program’s quality; however, the rankings may be based on criteria that are different from your own. What’s more, many scholars, deans, and advisors question the validity of such rankings.
- Financial Costs: What are the opportunities for fellowships, assistantships or scholarships? What other sources of financial aid are available?
- Admission Requirements: GPA, test scores, undergraduate coursework, specific entrance exams, etc.
- Available Course Offerings: Are courses you need to fulfill degree requirements frequently offered? Will the course offerings help you meet your professional or educational goals?
- Employment: Where are graduates of the program working, and how much are they earning?
- Facilities: Consider the quality of on-site facilities such as libraries, computer labs, and research facilities.
- Geographic location: Will studying in a particular location help you meet personal or professional goals?
- Student Life: Consider the diversity of students, student organizations, housing, and campus support services.
Information from UC Berkeley Career Services
Admissions Requirements and Essentials
- Official Transcripts
- Graduate Admissions Tests:
GRE (Graduate Records Examination)
LSAT (Law School Admission Test)
MCAT (Medical College Admission Test)
GMAT (Graduate Business School)
CBEST (California Basic Educational Skills Test)
CSET (California Subject Examinations for Teachers)
- Personal Statement or Statement of Purpose. Visit the Writing Center first for assistance with a personal statement or statement of purpose. Always follow the writing prompts given by the graduate school found in the admission packet.
- Letters of recommendation: Ask early and give info to faculty about you. Always ask: “Can you give me a strong letter of recommendation?”
- CVs and Resumes, include if part of the admission packet
- Writing samples for Ph.D. schools/programs or others that are research-based
FREE Graduate School Admissions Practice Tests
Often hosted at The Claremont Colleges, students can sign-up for a free practice test (e.g. GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, etc.). Watch for sign-up opportunities in Handshake.
Preparing for Graduate School: Four-Year Plan
By Charlie Yates, ’15, Pitzer College
First Year: Explore
- Have fun and experience college!
- Take a fair amount of introductory courses
- Talk to professors during office hours
- Check out Career Services, fellowship websites, academic clubs, etc.
Second Year: Assess
- Think about which courses interest you more than others
- Take a research methods course (most natural science/social science majors require them)
- Talk to professors about helping with potential research projects
- Go to 5C talks and presentations from outside lecturers and actively build a scholarly network
- Plan to do research over the summer…on or off-campus
Third Year: Experience
- Continue working on your major requirements
- Start doing research with professors
- Again, plan to do research over the summer, especially if you did not do it during the summer after sophomore year.
- Talk to advisors and mentors about going to graduate school
- Start looking at graduate schools and programs of interest
- Register/study for standardized tests (ex. GRE, LSAT, MCAT, GMAT)
Third/Fourth Summer: Decide
- Try to take standardized tests (entrance exam)
- Make a list of potential graduate schools
- Start researching each program’s requirements for application and deadlines
- Check out program applications
- Look into potential graduate school fellowships
Fourth Year: Complete
- Solidify list of graduate schools and programs
- Obtain letters of recommendation
- Take standardized tests (again if needed)
- Complete applications and submit them
- Look into funding sources for graduate school
General Tips
- Most field groups have a “graduate advisor,” so seek them out
- Research schools and programs, talk to professors re: schools and programs, and research faculty at schools and programs.
- Mantra for everything: “I will start early!” Start in junior year, if possible.
- Try to attend professional conferences related to your area of interest and off-campus presentations (usually you can get a student discount).
- Set aside time to study for graduate school entrance exams, and take the exam before Oct. of your senior year.
- Continuously work on your Resume or CV
- Take a thesis course, a senior capstone project, or an independent study
- Think about personal statements, but always tailor them to the specific school
- Talk to office assistants and professors ahead of time to get a feel for the specific program
- Build rapport with professors and ask for strong letters of recommendation only
- Applications: Get them in early.
- But don’t forget…you can always apply again at a later time!
