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Faculty Advice: Real Professors, Real Answers... Question: What is the most important advice you would give an undergraduate who is thinking about going to graduate school?
Answer(s): My advice: My most important advice to undergraduate students who are thinking about Graduate school is to plan ahead of time, request for information, and talk to the experts in your area of interest. A prospective student may also wish to think aloud about the following issues. Do I have a high GPA? Do I have a passion for research? Can I make a difference or a substantial scientific contribution/scholarship? Will Graduate School assist me to realize and broaden my knowledge and skills? Do I want to be a top notch research scientist or academic? Where do I see myself in the next 5-to-10 years from now? If the answers to these questions is in the affirmative then I will strongly encourage the prospective student to seriously consider Graduate School. The prospective student's exceptional qualities and abilities have a direct bearing on the success and completion of graduate studies. Tonny J. Oyana, Ph.D. Find out whether or not a graduate degree will add significantly to the knowledge skills and abilities you need to pursue the career you have in mind. A graduate degree may be unnecessary. If you decide a graduate degree will make a significant difference, study program options to determine which best serves your needs and interests. Be able to clearly articulate why you have chosen a particular degree program. Then ask yourself, "Am I willing to put in the time, energy and financial resources required to earn the graduate degree?" Keith Snavely Apply to at least ten schools based on their fit with your research agenda. If you don't have a research agenda, don't apply until you do. Darren E. Sherkat My biggest advice is to think ahead and take courses that can prepare you to succeed in the graduate program you are interested in, preferably courses in that program. Tom Johnson While college has become the standard thing for most people to do after graduating high school, going to graduate school should not be the default option for college graduates. You should have a specific and clear reason why you want to go to graduate school, and that reason most likely will be along the lines of "I want to be a professional in Field X." Graduate school is all about turning unusually intelligent people with good undergraduate educations into professionals. That process requires intense and sustained study unlike what most undergraduates experience, and a degree of specialization far narrower than is encouraged for undergraduates. If you go to graduate school just because you did not know what else to do, you probably will NOT enjoy the experience, and likely will drop out or flunk out. Paul D. Welch Make sure in your cover letter or statement of professional goals that your stated desires match what the graduate program has to offer. Ronald J. Pelias Graduate school is an excellent way to deepen your knowledge of a certain subject, meet smart people, and learn more about yourself. Having an advanced degree (in particular a Ph.D. in the humanities these days) does not, however, guarantee you a job. So when choosing a program of graduate study you should balance dreaming and "realism." Be flexible and enjoy the course of study for itself, not just for rewards after graduation. Theodore R. Weeks "First, get as good of grades as possible. Many graduate programs look at your last 60 hours (instead of the entire 120+ hours). Second, make it a point to visit the program in which you are interested. This may incur the expense of a road trip but it's always better for the program to review a candidate if they have met them in person. Finally, make sure you have professors write letters of support to get into graduate school. Your pastor, parents, or employer may think a lot of you, BUT, graduate faculty want to hear from former professors to assess your ability to do graduate work." Mark J. Kittleson People seek graduate degrees for a variety of reasons. If your reason is love of the discipline, then the primary concern in selecting a program is to choose one that will nourish that love the most. There are many secondary reasons for choosing a program: reputation, money, or future career opportunities. But the program you choose will shape you to the core of your being ever after. Therefore choose carefully and clearly with that in mind. Thomas Alexander Get some research experience as an undergraduate. Demonstrate your interest in the pursuit of knowledge. Doing research is a big part of what you will do in graduate school and showing you have a commitment to research at the undergraduate level speaks highly to your interest in attaining a graduate degree. Mark R. Dixon It is easier to continue now than to leave a gap and come back later. Dr. Sakthivel Jeyaratnam When considering a master's degree in Workforce Education and Development, evaluate the work experience that aligns with your undergraduate major. In order to have a successful academic experience in the Workforce Education and Development master's program, this relevant work experience is vital. Marcia A. Anderson The most important thing a prospective graduate student should do is to fully research the possible graduate programs in the part of the country where they wish to live. Once they know what is out there, a prospective student should do the necessary homework to find out which program will provide them with what they need. Which program is the right size, has the right resources, the best facilities, and the best financial assistance? Only the prospective candidate can answer these questions. Ed Shay |