Is graduate school right for you?

Deciding on whether or not to attend graduate school is a decision that requires careful thought. These resources will help guide your decision.

Begin by asking yourself these questions:

Do I really love the field enough to obtain an advanced degree?
Talk to alumni or professors and research the subject. You need to be enthusiastic about your field of interest to keep up with demands of graduate life.
Is an advanced degree required to enter a particular profession or obtain a certain level within the field?
Do I have the financial resources to cover the cost of graduate school?
Do I have the motivation, intellectual qualities and self-discipline to stay in school for one to seven more years?
Some people find that taking some time off to "discover themselves" and/or gain work experience helps to develop more clearly defined goals.
Am I going to graduate school for the right reasons?
Graduate school is a large commitment of time, energy and money. Evaluate your reasons for wanting to attend.
Do I want to go to school full time or part time?
Some programs require full-time attendance, and some types of financial aid do as well, while a part-time program allows you to work and earn an income while attending school.
Should I attend right away or take some time off?
There are pros and cons either way, so weigh them to see what's best for you in terms of time, finances, personal/family interests, etc.

Finding & Evaluating Graduate Programs

Resources to help you search for graduate schools and programs based on location, career field, tuition, and a variety of other factors.

Admissions requirements: Requirements usually are your GPA, work experience, classes, test scores, etc. Evaluate your choices to determine those that are a reach and those you consider acceptance to be a sure thing.
Curriculum: Make sure the courses meet your needs and suit your goals. How long is the program? Programs can vary in credit hours.
Reputation/quality: Is the program accredited? How many of the graduates find employment in their field? Does the department assist students with this process?
Faculty: What is the student/faculty ratio? Are the faculty members accessible to the student? Are the faculty members committed to teaching, research or both? Is there one with research interests similar to your own?
Location/size: Does size of the school/program matter? Do you want to be in a metropolitan area?
Cost/financial aid: The bottom line is often the bottom line. Are assistantships, loans and fellowships available?
Culture of the department: Some departments are small, tight communities, while others are impersonal and comprised of mostly commuter students. Visit your choices to determine if they are a good fit for you.

Crafting your personal statement

The audience for your "personal essay" is an admissions committee composed of members of your future profession or academic discipline. When they read your essay, they will be seeking depth and substance, along with a true passion and commitment to your area of study. They will also be looking for individual traits or characteristics that make you an outstanding graduate school candidate.

In your essay, be sure to:

convey your long- and short-range career goals.
present yourself as an individual with desirable personal abilities, background, interests and plans.
describe the nature and significance of your relevant experiences, and give concrete evidence of your knowledge, competence and motivation in the field of your choice.
explain your special interest in this particular graduate program.
account for any conspicuous weaknesses in your record.
demonstrate your writing ability and communication skills in general.

Conduct a thorough self-assessment of your interests, motivations and career goals before you begin to write. Consider these questions:

Why do I want to pursue a graduate school program?
What are my career goals and how will a graduate degree further them?
What are the special features, approaches, or values of this particular program?
How do my interests, values, strengths, and experiences relate to the program?
Why do I want to be a part of this program and why would this program want me?
What is my interest and motivation in this field, and can I trace these to any concrete experience?
What are my personal, academic and experiential strengths related to this field?
What experiences demonstrate my competence and motivation in this field?
What kinds of experiences have taught me the most?

Before you begin, make lists of information that may be pertinent to the admissions decision: professors, courses, research projects, internships, travel, and other experiences that have been important. Include work, extracurricular and volunteer activities, special skills, honors and awards.
Give yourself plenty of time. The admissions committee reads essays thoroughly and carefully. Make sure you've given it your best effort.
Be sure to read the essay questions on the application carefully. Make sure you answer all questions and address issues outlined.
Make certain that each application contains an essay that specifically answers the questions asked by that school. One size may not fit all.
Your spirit, character and uniqueness should come through but your writing should be formal and correct.
Each essay should contain at least a sentence or two that tells why you have chosen that particular institution.
Strive for a strong opening line or paragraph. Begin with something beyond the predictable, something that demonstrates the qualities that set you apart from other candidates.
Specific knowledge, skills and insights acquired through internships and other work experiences, paid or volunteer, and related to your proposed field of study, are particularly strong material.
Include any experiences that demonstrate interpersonal talents, entrepreneurial skills, ability to perform under stress, unusual background, important lessons learned, or commitment to a worthy cause, and demonstrate their relevance.
Draft! Draft! Draft! Good writing is writing that is easily understood. Have one good writer critique your essays, and another proofread them.

Letters of recommendation

Graduate school recommendations come into play when an admissions committee is trying to decide between you and one or more other candidates. Most departments will request three to five letters of recommendation.

At least one letter, and preferably two or more, should come from faculty members in your major field. You may also wish to obtain a recommendation from a professor in an unrelated discipline in order to show the breadth of your academic interests.

Choose letter writers based on their ability to evaluate your academic and/or work performance in a strong manner from personal observation.
Develop these relationships semesters before you need the letters.
Schedule appointments, early in the fall semester, to request the letters in person.
Convey to your recommenders your reasons for going to graduate school and your interest in specific programs. Ask if they would be comfortable making a strong recommendation, and listen for any reticence.
Let your recommenders know when you will submit your applications so they can send the reference letters at the same time. Give them at least a month in which to write the reference and ask them to meet a deadline.
Provide them with all of the necessary forms, plus addressed and stamped envelopes, if appropriate, and your background information. Identify key points that you would like to emphasize.
Follow up to ensure that letters have been completed and sent within an appropriate time frame.
Include your recommenders’ telephone numbers on applications. More than ever, admissions officers are inclined to place a phone call to a recommender for more details.
Reference letters can be confidential or not. Admissions officers may give more credence to a reference if you have waived your right to read it; you will need to decide the advantages or disadvantages of either choice.
Be sure to thank your references and keep them apprised of your progress and outcomes.

St. Bonaventure University

Is graduate school right for you?

Begin by asking yourself these questions:

Finding & Evaluating Graduate Programs

Crafting your personal statement

Letters of recommendation