Graduate School Search

Not every career path requires graduate school. It’s highly recommended you research your intended pathway to determine if you need to get a graduate degree. Some degrees may require you to have experience in the field before applying to graduate programs. Be cognizant of these requests and plan accordingly.

Really consider the time, effort and money it will take to complete a graduate degree. This includes potential student loans, working part-time instead of full-time and time away from loved ones. 

While graduate school can be a valuable opportunity for further education and skill development, it’s important to approach it with clear goals and motivations. Using it as a fallback option because of a lack of job opportunities might not lead to the most fulfilling or successful experience. It’s essential to carefully consider whether graduate school aligns with your long-term career aspirations and if it will genuinely contribute to your personal and professional growth.

Quick Tips

• Ask for advice from professors and mentors in the field you want to work in. 
• Talk to current grad students about their experiences.
• Look at tuition and fees for programs you may be interested in and consider how you’ll cover the cost.
• If you’re already employed, will your current employer support your tuition if the program relates to your job?
• Determine if you want an in-person or remote/hybrid experience.
• Consider visiting schools you’re interested in applying to – in person or via information sessions.
• If you’re not able to visit, it can be beneficial to schedule a meeting with the graduate program director and/or professors.

“Education boosts earnings and reduces unemployment (BLS, 2022).”

The chart below is provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Current Population Survey.

After determining the types of programs you want to apply to, you need to research the actual institutions that offer your intended degree. As a Merrimack College undergraduate, you could look at which programs are offered here to earn a master’s degree. But you can also consider colleges and universities across the country which may have alternative options. Use search engines and professional association websites to support your research.

Once you identify a few institutions you would consider applying to, remember to think about:

• Your career goals and personal interests, along with your lifestyle and the program’s format. 
• Length of program – is it the industry standard or are there specific reasons why it is an exception? Is the length of the program what will work best for you personally? 
• Will you be required to be in person for your program or are there opportunities for hybrid or virtual participation? What size institution do you want to be in? Do you have a preference on how large or small the cohort you’ll go through the program is?
  • If your program would be in person, don’t forget about the commute, traffic, parking etc. 
  • Specific areas of focus or research, and which professors you’re particularly interested in working with and learning from.
• Are there application fees, test requirements (GMAT, GRE, MCAT, etc.) or other qualifications you need to meet before applying?
• Does having notable alumni or faculty mean something for your participation?
• Is there a specific set of courses you really want to take? Not all graduate programs are able to offer the same content.
• Do you have any research experience? Some programs may ask about this and it’s not meant to discourage you from applying, but be honest! You can include topics you have informally researched for classes, for example.

As you think through these considerations, we recommend making a document to track your potential applications. Make note of important application deadlines, testing dates if they require scores and other items you learn about each program. This will help ensure you stay on track with your application materials and can be considered for the appropriate entrance term.

• As you submit applications, include this information in your tracking and include the relevant contact person for when you have future questions. 
• It may be beneficial to separate potential graduate schools into categories to help make your decision.
• Find out if the institution offers fee waivers for their application or even the testing requirement.

There are many types of materials you will need to have prepared throughout your graduate school application process. Some of these will require forward thinking to ensure they’re submitted on time.

Resume – make sure all your documents are ready to apply for grad school. Confirm your resume is updated and prepared for the specific type of program you’ll be applying to. Utilize career advisors, professors and others to support the revision process. 

Letters of Recommendation – depending on the programs you’re applying to, you may need a letter of recommendation or solely the name of a reference who knows you well and can speak to your academic competencies as well as personal characteristics. Make sure to connect with your potential references before submitting your application.

Personal Statement & Essays – consider the written component of your application. Many programs require a personal statement or series of essays and it may be your only opportunity to stand out as an applicant. If possible, gain access to the questions you’ll need to answer and begin drafting out your submission. You can utilize tutors, professors and references to review and edit your drafts. Be trust to who you are and showcase your passions. You should cater each personal statement or essay to the specific program you’re applying to.

Transcripts – find out how you can request your transcripts from all institutions you’ve attended (including dual credit courses).

Financial Aid Information – prepare any financial aid information and documents you may need to apply through FAFSA or for scholarships. You should do research into what opportunities exist for each program you’re interested in. Look into the pros and cons of taking out student loans (federal or private), whether they offer tuition assistance through assistantships or other opportunities and other financial resources. Don’t forget to consider your living expenses as applicable.

Test Scores & Application Fees – ensure you know how to request test scores be sent to the institutions you apply to. If you’re required to pay application fees, you may want to consider spacing out your applications to spread out when you need to pay for the different fees.

The information provided here is generalized across many different types of graduate programs. As mentioned in previous sections, please check with your individual institutions for their appropriate timeline to ensure you don’t miss any deadlines. Most students should start the process of taking their graduate school entrance exams in their junior year and applying to programs in their senior year.

Junior Year (Two years before graduate school)

• Fall semester: Research graduates schools, determine which entrance exam will be required and how you will pay for them, make note of application deadlines to plan ahead for next year, and start determining who could be a reference for you.
• Spring semester: Take time to prepare for entrance exams, schedule your official entrance exam, narrow down your potential graduate schools and consider reaching out to program alumni for more information.

*Exams are typically available throughout the summer if it is easier to plan around your academics or other commitments.

Senior Year (One year before graduate school)

• Fall semester: review the updated application timeline at your institutions of interest, prepare your personal statement or essays, request your official transcripts from all relevant colleges, know how to submit your entrance exam scores to your program and complete your application by assigned deadline.
• Spring semester: Watch your email for updates about your admission status or if you’ll need to complete additional steps in the process such as interviews.

Most programs will have specific timelines posted to their website about the application process, but also what happens after you submit your application. If you have questions about it, you should reach out to their Graduate Admission team.

Some graduate programs will require an interview, but not all will. If your program does require an interview, the notes shared by the interviewer will be reviewed by the admissions committee. Graduate program interviews can have new nuances compared to traditional interviews, but many of the traditional interview techniques still hold true: prepare, project confidence, provide deliberate responses and use positive body language.

Reminders

• Interviewing is a 2-way street, you are interviewing the program as much as they are interviewing you. Do you feel like you can fit into the program’s culture and get along with students and faculty? 
• You can practice by doing mock interviews with peers and/or using online resources to conduct mock interviews.
• You should be able to answer why you’re interested in their institution, their program and any other related pieces about this particular program. It can be helpful to conduct a good amount of research on the program to prepare a few questions to ask the interviewers.
• Make sure you dress for success!
• Send thank you notes via email or LinkedIn to help stand out.

First of all, congratulations! All acceptances are exciting and should be celebrated. Many programs will have varying deadlines and acceptance notification timelines. Ensure you look into the deadlines for each program you have applied to and been accepted at.

If you were accepted to multiple programs you will have to decide which program is the best fit for you. This is a good problem to have!

• Research the different financial aid and payment options for each program
• Visit the school and programs, speak with current students and faculty
• Consider the location and commute each program will have

Ultimately, you can only choose one graduate program and you’ll have to make the commitment to them within their specified timeline. Be communicative with your graduate admission contact or faculty members. Ask questions to the right people. Make the decision that is right for you.

Don’t forget to inform other programs that you have decided you will not be attending their institution. This will help you to clear out your inbox and focus on the most important next steps for your program of choice.

If you are not local to the program you chose to attend in person, make sure to plan out your housing search appropriately. Some locations may be timeline specific – for example, the city of Boston typically rents September – August. Other places may have more flexibility to pick up a lease up to 60 days before you need to move in.

Only 14.4% of people over the age of 25 have completed an advanced degree such as a master’s degree, professional degree or doctoral degree. (2021, US Census)

You should be proud of yourself and your accomplishments no matter what. It can be difficult to hear that you weren’t accepted into a program, but it means there’s another opportunity out there for you.

• In some cases, you may be waitlisted or rejected from your preferred program. However, you may have received an acceptance from another program. You spent a lot of time deciding where to apply and should fully consider your options as you take it all in.

• Sometimes, you have only applied to one program and need to create a plan to pivot. This is a great time to meet with a trusted advisor or mentor to discuss future opportunities to continue gaining skills and expanding your experience. Remember, you can always apply again the next cycle.

You’re going to feel a lot like you did going into your first year in college – potentially nervous, afraid or anxious about starting a new academic program. You may have had to go through a lot of changes to prepare for your fresh start including moving, new / different financial streams of income and more.

• Remember you’re a NEW student. It takes time to adjust and feel like you’ve got a handle on it.
• Practice good time management skills to ensure you’re on time for meetings, appointments, classes and more.
• Ensure you’re keeping up with your classmates and expectations of the program. Seek tutoring or faculty support early and often.
• Use your resources at your institution to your advantage. Do they have free or reduced price tools to access or special hours for graduate students to come into an office for appointments?