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Getting intoGraduate School
Getting intoGraduate School
Judith A. Sugar, Ph.D.Judith A. Sugar, Ph.D.School of Public SchoolSchool of Public School
TODAY’S ASSIGNMENT:TODAY’S ASSIGNMENT:
Choose a graduate program that you think you would like to apply to.
Choose a graduate program that you think you would like to apply to.
Choosing a Graduate Program
Choosing a Graduate Program
• How did you go about choosing a program?
• What did you come up with?
• How did you go about choosing a program?
• What did you come up with?
Sources for ProgramsSources for Programs
Start with the universe of possibles:
1. internet sources:www.petersons.comwww.gradschools.com
2. your professors
3. professionals already in the field
4. authors in published literature
Start with the universe of possibles:
1. internet sources:www.petersons.comwww.gradschools.com
2. your professors
3. professionals already in the field
4. authors in published literature
Choosing Where to ApplyChoosing Where to Apply
• Funnel: start with all possibilities, then do research to select final 12.
• Of the 12, make some of them “reach” schools, some “likely” schools, and a few “very likely.”
• Funnel: start with all possibilities, then do research to select final 12.
• Of the 12, make some of them “reach” schools, some “likely” schools, and a few “very likely.”
Do your homework!Do your homework!
2 very important aspects:
• the faculty and the program
• personal preferences, e.g., geographical location, big city vs small town
2 very important aspects:
• the faculty and the program
• personal preferences, e.g., geographical location, big city vs small town
Questions to Ask & ResearchQuestions to Ask & Research
• Faculty & their interests?
• Apprenticeship program?
• Length of program?
• What is the curriculum?
• Standards for admission?
• Costs of program?
• Financial support?
• Faculty & their interests?
• Apprenticeship program?
• Length of program?
• What is the curriculum?
• Standards for admission?
• Costs of program?
• Financial support?
Who are the faculty?How do their interests match
yours?
Who are the faculty?How do their interests match
yours?
Note that graduate programs are more specialized than undergraduate programs.
Note that graduate programs are more specialized than undergraduate programs.
Type of Program:“Apprenticeship” or Not?
Type of Program:“Apprenticeship” or Not?
If “apprenticeship,”:• faculty member must see a “match”
with you• does faculty member plan to take a new
student?• interested faculty member should not be
going on sabbatical, retiring, etc.• check that faculty member has
maintained your common interests
If “apprenticeship,”:• faculty member must see a “match”
with you• does faculty member plan to take a new
student?• interested faculty member should not be
going on sabbatical, retiring, etc.• check that faculty member has
maintained your common interests
Who decides on applicant’s admission?Who decides on applicant’s admission?
What is “the time to graduation”?
What does the curriculum require?
What is “the time to graduation”?
What does the curriculum require?
What they say versus reality:
• check with past or current students
What they say versus reality:
• check with past or current students
What are the standards for admission to the
program?
What are the standards for admission to the
program?
• minimum GPA
• minimum GRE
• completion of specific courses
• field or internship experience
• other?
• minimum GPA
• minimum GRE
• completion of specific courses
• field or internship experience
• other?
What are the costs for the program?
What are the costs for the program?
• tuition
• fees
• health insurance
• etc.
• tuition
• fees
• health insurance
• etc.
What kinds of financial support are available?What kinds of financial support are available?• GAs, TAs, RAs
• stipend, and what else? (tuition & fee waivers, health insurance, etc.)
• high stipend ($16,000) may be offset by high tuition & fees ($9,000)
• how many years of support?
• GAs, TAs, RAs
• stipend, and what else? (tuition & fee waivers, health insurance, etc.)
• high stipend ($16,000) may be offset by high tuition & fees ($9,000)
• how many years of support?
Aspects of the Application
Aspects of the Application
• grades (transcripts)
• test scores (e.g., GREs)
• cover letter/statement of intent
• statement of interest
• actual application form(s)
• letters of reference
• grades (transcripts)
• test scores (e.g., GREs)
• cover letter/statement of intent
• statement of interest
• actual application form(s)
• letters of reference
What is the application process?
What is the application process?
1. What are you required to submit?
2. To whom do you send your application?
a. university’s Graduate Schoolb. individual graduate program you’re
interested in
3. What are the deadlines?
1. What are you required to submit?
2. To whom do you send your application?
a. university’s Graduate Schoolb. individual graduate program you’re
interested in
3. What are the deadlines?
What is the application process?
What is the application process?
4. Cover letter, statement of interest, & CV: each packet should be tailored to the program that you’re applying to.
5. Getting your letters of reference.
4. Cover letter, statement of interest, & CV: each packet should be tailored to the program that you’re applying to.
5. Getting your letters of reference.
Make a timeline for yourself.Make a timeline for yourself.
Letters of ReferenceLetters of Reference
1. request the minimum number of letters (they are averaged)
2. decide on your referees
3. provide referees with specific information about each program & the deadlines.
1. request the minimum number of letters (they are averaged)
2. decide on your referees
3. provide referees with specific information about each program & the deadlines.
Letters of ReferenceLetters of Reference
Due School Program AddressComment
1. 1/15 UNLV Dentistry Dr. Sugar,Dental SchoolUNLV, LasVegas, NV …
2. 1/21 …
…
12.
Due School Program AddressComment
1. 1/15 UNLV Dentistry Dr. Sugar,Dental SchoolUNLV, LasVegas, NV …
2. 1/21 …
…
12.
Letters of ReferenceLetters of Reference
4. provide a copy of your application materials to referees.
5. give referees address labels, possibly stamps & envelopes too.
4. provide a copy of your application materials to referees.
5. give referees address labels, possibly stamps & envelopes too.
SummarySummary Do your homework.
Give yourself enough time.
Seek (good) advice at all points of the process.
Do your homework.
Give yourself enough time.
Seek (good) advice at all points of the process.
