The hardest part of making the decision to pursue a graduate degree may be choosing what grad schools to apply to. Many grad schools are extremely competitive, and mediocre students may have a hard time getting in. At the same time, a graduate degree from a relatively unknown grad school can be a waste of money. For this reason, Samiha Esha posted this advice on selecting a grad school:

Apply somewhere where you’ll be among the most qualified students in that department. Unfortunately, we know about the same 10-15 schools when it comes to applying. Anyone who is applying anywhere will apply to MIT, UIUC, Purdue, GT, UT Austin, UC Berkley, Princeton, CMU, Cornell, U. Michigan, etc. These schools receive about 2100 applications per year for only 200 seats. On the other hand, there are schools which are eagerly waiting for a good student to come by. Any school in the US top 100 is “good enough”. They all do good research and rank higher than the rest of the world. Graduates from any school can get a great job here/anywhere. Ditch your prejudices.

As far as the list of prospective schools goes, don’t follow the rankings blindly. Look into little details. Things that matter include ranking, acceptance rate, average funding, peer ranking, recruiter ranking, etc.

When applying to grad schools, it’s important to keep in mind that funding is everything if you don’t want to end up with a ton of debt at the end of your degree program. Apply to schools that offer assistantships and fellowships so that some of the cost of the program as well as some of your living expenses will be covered. Additionally, send applications to as many schools as you’re interested in. The application fees will set you back a bit, but it will increase your chances of getting into a school that’s perfect for you.

There are careers that require that you hold a graduate degree. You can’t be a doctor, lawyer, or college professor without one. However, most real-world positions do not require that employees hold graduate degrees. In fact, many employers will hire a person with a bachelor’s degree over a person with a master’s degree because, in general, they both have the same level of experience, but the employer will have to pay the person with the master’s degree more than the person with the bachelor’s degree.
Just as there are reasons to go to grad school, there are reasons not to. A recent article by Penelope Trunk offers five reasons NOT to go to grad school:
1. A humanities PhD makes you less employable not more employable.
Most people … | Read the rest of this entry »

A recent report issued by the Counsel for Graduate Schools calls for the revitalization of U.S. graduate schools in order to make the country more competitive in the global economy. The U.S. currently has the world’s strongest graduate school network, though some countries are quickly advancing toward it. According to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, this report offers the following suggestions about revising U.S. grad schools:
The report lobbies for a 10% increase in federal funding for graduate education programs, more scholarships for underrepresented minorities, and a more streamlined visa system. Furthermore, the report says, universities must overhaul their graduate programs by making them more interdisciplinary, for example, blending engineering with the health sciences. And businesses should increase their research collaborations with graduate … | Read the rest of this entry »

Unfortunately, a bachelor’s degree doesn’t necessarily guarantee a job. Many graduates of four- year colleges find themselves struggling to obtain jobs that utilize their degree, and instead find themselves working as administrative assistants or telemarketers. These students used to rely on graduate school when their bachelor’s degree didn’t earn them a decent job. However, according to the ColoradoDaily.com, many of these students are starting to enroll in trade schools rather than grad schools:
Community colleges used to be a place to study hard and try to get into a four-year university. Now students with four-year degrees are using them to get jobs.
“We have become the new graduate school,” said Irene Kovala, interim vice president for academic affairs at Minneapolis Community and Technical College.
What these grads … | Read the rest of this entry »

Are you a history major looking to continue onto graduate school? The James Madison fellowship is a great opportunity for graduate students who plan to teach american history or social studies for junior high or high school students.
The fellowships are intended exclusively for graduate study leading to a master’s degree. James Madison Fellows may attend any accredited institution of higher education in the United States. Each individual entering the James Madison Fellowship Program will be expected to pursue and complete a master’s degree in one of the following (listed in order of the Foundation’s preference):
Master of Arts (MA) in American history or in political science (also referred to as “government and politics” or as “government”)
Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) concentrating on either American … | Read the rest of this entry »