Graduate School

[Q-ball]

Hello, I just wanted to know if anyone could shed some light on how to go about preparing for graduate school, and what to expect. Thanks in advance for your comments.

[DirectorDST99]

Q-ball, have you already received your bachelor's degree?

You should be preparing to take the GRE and/or depending on what area you want to do your graduate studies, there may also be another test, entrance exam if you will,that you may have to take. You need to check with the schools of your choice.

Graduate school is absolutely nothing like undergraduate school. I remember starting my program in the fall of 99 with 12 others...well it's near graduation time and only 3 of us are left. I said that to say this: papers are due almost every week, lots of research, you will burn the midnight oil, but you get out of it what you put in to it. By the way, acceptable graduate papers are never under 10 pages in length.

I hope this helps. If you need specifics, don't hesitate to ask.

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Director #2
LMAC, Spr 99
Galveston Council of Greeks NPHC, President

[the411]

I'd start here:
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/beyond/bcrank.htm

Request some viewbooks and applications first (i.e. get on some mailing lists). Once you have an idea of what exactly you should be considering in a school (program compatibility, reputation of program, acceptance rate, average test scores, fellowship availability, etc.), it will be much easier for you to decide where to apply. My best advice is that you visit the campus AND talk to both faculty members and current students about the program, and even alums if you can. While everyone's experience is very unique, it helps to get as much insight from a diverse group of people as possible.

Good luck!

[DELTABRAT]

Also Q-Ball:

You should be preparing to get letters of recommendation from credible sources. Depending on what you find out (via Sorors Director and 411's advice) they can be from professors or employers in direct supervisorial positions. I focus on this because the transcripts, GRE, personal statement and "personal" paperwork were easy for me. Just a matter of gathering it all up. But when it came to letters of rec, I had graduated 5 years prior to applying, and many professors had left, etc. Luckily I was in the field in which I planned to get the degree so getting letters from my supervisor/other people with advanced degrees with whom I collaborated was suffucient.

Some grad schools say "professors" ONLY. So you wanna find out.

Also look at transcripts and requirements for GPA. That way if anything is deficient, you can make up work (at a JC) or at the University to which you are applying or ask about any conditional admission policies. Hopefully your grades are up to snuff, but just in case...

PEACE

[This message has been edited by DELTABRAT (edited December 21, 2000).]

[Q-ball]

Thanks for the advice and comments. I still feel overwhelmed by the whole process of applying to graduate school. This is my junior year in college so I have to figure out where I want to attend grad school,take the GRE, and apply by Novemeber. Is it common to feel overwelmed when it comes to decisions such as grad schools? What other options are there if I do not attend grad school?

[Little32]

You need to speak with people at you prospective universities. Depending on the program, it is always good to have spoken with members of the department that you wish to enter. You need to understand the current research interests of the department, because these are the people who will be advising you on your own research. Also, if your interests aren't in line with the department, that tends to weaken your chances of getting in. Research, research, research. Your choice in graduate school is very important. You can be there for up as many as six years, depending on your program. (I am applying to PH.D programs.) So make sure that it is where you will want to be. Well that's my two cents for now.

[DirectorDST99]

Little32, I am looking for doctoral programs, but I'm having difficult time. I know that I want to do a distance learning program for sure.

What resources did you use to locate doctoral programs?

This process is tougher than looking for master's programs. Whew!

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Director #2
LMAC, Spr 99
Galveston Council of Greeks NPHC, President

[prettygyrl]

Dag reading all this make sme a little scared........I mean I have a little to work on my Bachelors but dag six years in grad school I thought grad school would be an additional two-three years after I obtain my Bachelors.............whew maybe I should rethink my life plans:c

Director if you do no mind my masking what masters are you pusuing?

[Little32]

Director,
I am applying through a consortium that helps individuals who wish to pursue careers in teaching, so that made it a lot easier. There is a site called embark.com, that I checked out. It has a school finding program that lets you choose a lot of different options. I don't know if distance learning is one of those options, but it is worth a shot. I will think about it some more and see if I can think of anything else. It is hard work though. That's the truth.
PG (hope you don't mind the abbreviation). Don't get too worried. The length of time you spend in grad school varies depending on program. Some of them can take six years, some take as little as one. If it is something that you really want, you will find that the amount of time it takes to acheive your goal is almost incidental.

[12dn94dst]

Hi all!

I'm not sure what degree you're planning to pursue (MS, MBA, JD, etc.) Q-ball, but I've been researching various MBA programs and most of them require applicants have at least 2 years of work experience prior to entering the program. Knowing concepts inside out is one thing, but knowing how to APPLY them SUCCESSFULLY is quite another. I've also found that some MBA programs are accepting students not only with varying undergrad majors (business, engineering, art history, english, etc.) but also with undergrad GPAs less than 3.0, however the GPA requirement to remain in the program is still 3.0. This is by no means a reason (we don't do EXCUSES around here ) to let your grades slip, but IF they do, it's something to keep in mind.

[DirectorDST99]

PG, I'm pursuing my M.A. in speech communications with a concentration on organizational communication. When I finish in May, I would have completed my program in only 4 semesters.

My bachelor's degree was in journalism. I want to pursue my Ph.D. in Management with a concentration in leadership and organizations. I may have found a program that offers distance learning. http://www.waldenu.edu

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Director #2
LMAC, Spr 99
Galveston Council of Greeks NPHC, President

Hi all!

I just completed my first grad. school course in Marketing and received an "A". I'm very proud of myself. I'm not going full time, but I will take two classes this spring. I figure I should be finished by Spring or Summer 2002.

At my school, you are allowed to take 12 hours before you take the GMAT for admission. I guess this is for those who just want take a couple of courses for a job or to decide if grad. school is for them without coming out of pocket for tests. I plan to take the GMAT in either March or April.

[Rain Man]

Hello to all.

Hey, Q-ball, I am just about to officially begin my MBA program in Jan. (24th). But I can tell you my application experience.

I applied for two schools in my hometown, one of which was my alma mater. While I can say that my alma mater really wanted me badly, my heart was really set on a private business university because you can get your degree in 18 months, classes meet once a week, you will work in a predetermined group from matriculation to graduation (kinda like pledging again if you will), and teaching will be from a "whole-brained perspective". But I digress.

At the business school, if your undergrad accum is over a 2.75, you are exempt from taking the GMAT. You must have 4 years work experience, a typewritten statement of interest explaining why you want to enroll in graduate school (I think my reason blew them away; email me for details), and two recommendation letters (I got one from my job supervisor who happens to be an adjunct faculty member at the business school). Well, I was automatically admitted into the business school's program (I think it was more because I was told a decision would be made in 4 weeks after submitting all materials, and I received no response after 8 weeks).

In short, the bare essentials for a grad program are Bachelor's degree (of course), x number of years of work experience, x number of recommendation letters, and be prepared to take the GRE or GMAT exam, especially if your undergrad GPA isn't all that hot, but you're a junior, so there's plenty of time to raise it should that be the case.

In short, my grad school application experience, while it was not as painstaking as some may make it out to be, was an interesting process nonetheless. If you truly feel that grad school is in your future plans, you should definately seek appropriate avenues to fulfill your goal.

Good luck, Q-Ball

Rain Man

[DELTABRAT]

Little 32:

May I ask what type of career in teaching you are pursuing? Is this teaching at the college/university level? If so, what consortium is it that you are working with?

Thanks for your information.

[Little32]

Deltabrat,
I am trying to become a professor. The program is called IRT and you can find it at irt.andover.edu I believe. If not go to andover.edu and you can get to the page from there.