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Graduate School Considerations
Program Fit
- Faculty research interests and specializations: Do they align with your goals?
- Degrees offered: Ensure the program provides the degree you need.
- Curriculum and flexibility: Includes part-time or online options.
Opportunities and Support
- Research grants, internships, and assistantships availability.
- Access to mentorship and professional development opportunities.
- Networking with alumni and professionals in the field.
Reputation and Quality
- Program rankings and competitiveness.
- Accreditation by relevant professional bodies.
Financial Considerations
- Tuition and fees affordability.
- Scholarships, assistantships, and funding options.
- Cost of living in the program's location.
Location and Environment
- Proximity to family or support systems.
- Campus culture: collaborative and inclusive.
- Access to research facilities and industry hubs.
Program Outcomes
- Job placement rates and alumni network engagement.
- Program's impact on research or creative output.
Personal Fit and Work-Life Balance
- Program workload and rigor.
- Availability of wellness programs and affinity groups.
- Opportunities to build a peer community.
Logistics and Accessibility
- Application requirements (e.g., GRE, portfolio).
- Program start dates and timelines.
- Accommodations for students with disabilities.
Long-Term Vision
- Alignment with your career and personal growth goals.
- Backup options in case the program doesn’t work out.
Grad School: Should you go?
Grad School: The Application Process
Books
A Guide to Academia by Prosanta Chakrabarty
A Guide to Academia is a handbook for all those individuals thinking seriously about going to graduate school. Written by an author with extensive experience navigating the academic world, the book explains all the steps and potential bumps in the road that a student might encounter as they take the plunge into academia. Each chapter begins with a section called the "hard truth," which will help students determine if they are on the right path. Starting with an undergraduate student looking for a graduate school, the reader is taken on a journey up the academic ladder through graduate studies, a postdoctoral fellowship and an assistant professorship. Each chapter gives advice on not only how to survive the current stage but how to get to the next stage quickly. Enhanced with material from the author's own job applications and interview presentations, A Guide to Academia provides concrete examples of the tools needed for a successful career in academia.
ISBN: 9781118317167
Publication Date: 2012
Managing the Graduate School Experience by Mark H. Rossman; Kim Muchnick; Nicole Benak
Knowledge is power. Simply stated, Managing the Graduate School Experience: From Acceptance to Graduation and Beyond provides graduate students with power as it helps them to understand and complete a graduate degree, regardless of how the degree is offered--online or on-campus. It also encourages them to take control of the graduate school process as much as possible and negotiate with faculty and the administration regarding all aspects of the program. Some additional key features of this book include: Experienced faculty members who have served on more than 400 graduate committees, have chaired more than 100 doctoral dissertations and eighty master's theses, and have instructed thousands of learners on their journey to earning their degree Reflections of more than fifty cumulative years of graduate school experience A non-technical, no jargon, easy-to-read style. Succinct and to the point A Student centered approach that has helped hundreds of graduate students complete graduate degrees
ISBN: 9781475817959
Publication Date: 2015
GRE Prep Course by Jeff Kolby
Comprehensive, Rigorous Prep for the New GRE.
Fully revised for the new test.
Every year, students pay $1,000 and more to test prep companies to prepare for the GRE. Now you can get the same preparation in a book. GRE Prep Course provides the equivalent of a 2-month, 50-hour course.
Although the GRE is a difficult test, it is a very learnable test. GRE Prep Course presents a thorough analysis of the GRE and introduces numerous analytic techniques that will help you immensely, not only on the GRE but in graduate school as well.
Features:
* Math: Twenty-two chapters provide comprehensive review of GRE math.
* Verbal: Develop the ability to spot places from which questions are likely to be drawn as you read a passage (pivotal words, counter-premises, etc.). Also, learn the 4000 essential GRE words.
* Writing: Comprehensive analysis of the writing task, including writing techniques, punctuation, grammar, rhetoric, and style.
* Mentor Exercises: These exercises provide hints, insight, and partial solutions to ease your transition from seeing GRE problems solved to solving them on your own.
ISBN: 9781889057613
Publication Date: 2012
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