CHOOSING A GRADUATE PROGRAM

Factors to consider when selecting a graduate program include: The quality of the faculty (Are they leaders in your field? Do they offer a mentor relationship?) The program's reputation (How is the program viewed by experts in the field?) Assistantship, Internship and/or Research opportunities (Does the program offer opportunities for students to gain practical/research experience in the field?) Financial assistance (Does the program offer students tuition assistance/waivers? Will the institution offer scholarships?) Program requirements (Are students required to take comprehensive exams or write a thesis?) Size and diversity of the student body (Are the classes a reasonable size? Is there much diversity in the graduate school?) Location (Is the institution in a place where you would like to live for two or three years?) Schedule flexibility (Do you have a choice in attending classes on a full or part-time basis? Is it possible to work while in school?) Accreditation (Is the program nationally or regionally accredited?) [back to top]

Resources to Help with Your Graduate School Search:

U.S. News

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/grad/rankings/rankindex_brief.php

Law School Admission Council

http://www.lsac.org

Business Week Online

http://www.businessweek.com/bschools/index.html

The Student Doctor Network

http://www.studentdoctor.net/index.asp

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