How to Pick the Best Grad School for You
Everyone has different tastes, different preferences, different ways of learning, etc. Just as I am sure picking an undergraduate program was difficult for you, choosing a graduate school to attend can be an even more daunting task for some.
How can you pick the best grad school for you? The answer is not always going to be so black and white. Various factors will come into play such as time, knowledge of the program, future job prospects, statistics, etc. Here are a few things I think will help make your big decision a little bit easier to manage when the fateful day comes.
Allow time
Time is of the essence. I am sure most of you have heard that saying at one point in your life or another. Be that as it may, it is no less true here. Do you think you are going to find the absolute best school for you to attend if you have three months to research as opposed to three years? No, and do not let anyone else tell you otherwise.
Waiting until the absolute last minute (much like some of you do for everything college related) simply will not cut it. Procrastinate studying for your final but do not procrastinate your graduate school preparation! (Do not tell any of your professors I said that, though.) At the very least, allow yourself half a year. Obviously, the more time the better. It will give you a chance to review information, visit campus, contact counselors, and get letters of recommendation.
Research your industry
Knowing what you are going to do after graduate school is probably just as important, if not more, than figuring out where to go. By knowing your industry and possible careers from that, you can work backward in a sense and narrow down schools that are more suitable to your potential career field.
It is important to learn as much as possible about what professionals in your chosen career do every day. Interview people in the field you are considering for post-graduate school. See if you can shadow and observe them. Pick their brain and have them tell you what they like and dislike about their career. The best research you can do is in-person.
Have a decent number of options
Start out with a decent number of options on your graduate school list. Be sure to keep an eye on and research each one with diligence. Do an Internet search utilizing broad keywords such as “graduate programs in business” or law, medicine, education, arts and sciences, etc. And don’t be afraid to include overseas schools. Rankings can be a decent resource here but be sure to utilize other sources also.
Make a spreadsheet
This will help keep you organized and on top of everything. By creating a spreadsheet, you can compare and contrast the different aspects and qualities of each school. Create some columns for features such as location, financial aid offerings, cost, program ranking, admissions rate, the number of people talked to, etc. By laying everything out in front of yourself, it will make the picture just a little bit clearer when it does come time for you to make that final decision of where you want to continue your higher education.
Email offices of the school
It is important that when you do this, preface that you are an interested student hoping to learn more about the program and culture of the school you will potentially attend. Pay careful attention to how they respond to you. Do they come off as short and curt? Do they happily reply to your email and provide you with what you were looking for? How long did it take them to reply? Did they even reply at all? Most importantly, were they professional? Keep in mind how they treat you before you are a student is just as important as how they will treat you when you are a student.
Plan a campus visit
There is no better way to get a preview of your future home than to visit it! This is the only way to immerse yourself in the culture and lifestyle of your potential graduate school. Make the time to plan out a visit to each serious school you are thinking of attending. If you have a friend or family member attending the school, or even the same program, have them show you around.
Talk to students and alumni
The best feedback you can get is from the people who did it or who are currently doing it. Politely ask to speak to someone in the program or a recent graduate of it. Buy them coffee or lunch and pick their brain about their experiences in the program. This is your best chance to hear first-hand accounts of what life was like on campus, the rough times they faced, and the successes you can one day emulate for yourself.