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Grad/Professional School
The graduate or professional school application process also requires effort, attention to detail, persistence and follow through. Plan backwards from when you hope to start:
- Determine if graduate/professional school is right for you
- Research educational expectations for your career field
- Consider your level of commitment to the field of study (it should be high)
- Consider whether graduate school fits into your life circumstances.
- Identify the program type you wish to pursue
- Identify admission testing requirements, typically:
- Business – GMAT
- Dental School – DAT
- Law – LSAT
- Medical School – MCAT
- Veterinary School – GRE General
- some require GRE Biology
- some will allow the MCAT in place of the GRE General
- Most other programs requiring admissions testing – GRE General
Note: Verify the requirements for each program you are interested in as they can vary.
- Identify specific programs of interest
- Location
- Consider online programs
- Consider the importance of geography
- Ability to enhance your outcomes at the conclusion
- School/program reputation
- Program’s success rate in placing people in the types of jobs for which you are interested
- Whether there are faculty with your academic interests that will be able to mentor you
- Cost
- Total cost for attendance
- Options for financial support
- Location
- Begin requesting letters of recommendation (need 3-5 letters)
- Develop a calendar of admissions’ deadline dates
- Take any required admission testing (taking one year out allows you time to retake if necessary)
- Identify funding options
- File the FAFSA – though there is less money for graduate school, start here
- Ask the institution about:
- Grants and Scholarships – money offered a student for educational expenses, with no repayment or work associated
- Fellowships – stipends or tuition support, with no repayment or work associated; awarded based on merit or need
- Assistantships – financial assistance offered as remuneration for part time work on the campus
- Research Assistants – support a faculty member in their research
- Teaching Assistants – either teach a course or support a faculty member in the teaching of a course; may provide grading, small group lessons, exam proctoring
- Graduate Assistant – work for an office/department as a paraprofessional role
- Complete admissions applications
- Write personal statements
- Have your personal statement reviewed by Career Development
- Complete funding applications
Toni M. Terry, BA
"I am 67 years old, soon to be 68, and to be able to say I did this at this day in my life is just gratification for my own self."