If you’re thinking of graduate studies, there’s a lot to ponder. Which program is best? Should I go now? How do I make myself competitive? These are great questions! Here are some tools to help you explore them.
Graduate School Considerations
Grad school shouldn’t be considered an assumed next step following your bachelor’s degree. Evaluate what the graduate degree would help you achieve. Is it a required qualification for the career you want? Have you researched the job you’re targeting and its education needs? Is your goal to become a subject-matter expert on a certain topic? Do market research, consult professionals and mentors in your field, and reflect on the pros and cons to determine if graduate school is worth investing your time and money.
Grad School FAQ
How is graduate school different from undergraduate studies?
- It’s more independent and involves more reading and writing.
- It transitions from practical skills acquisition to theory and inquiry-driven research.
- You become a peer in your field, and the expectations for your performance are higher.
- In some programs you can get paid to go to grad school instead of paying for it. You’re part employee, part student.
- Conferences, presentations and publications become more central to your experience.
Will I be able to afford graduate school?
Programs and institutions offer different financial arrangements for graduate studies.
- Some programs will waive your tuition and offer you a stipend to serve as a graduate research or teaching assistant employed by a faculty member while working toward your degree. These assistantships are particularly common in science fields.
- A master’s in business or a law degree are often paid for out of pocket.
- Research financial aid sources on the program website and meet with the graduate program coordinator to ask about assistantships, fellowships, scholarships, loans and other means of payment
Does it matter if I've been done with my undergraduate degree for a period of time?
Many graduate students take time after they complete their undergraduate education to gain experience in their industry. Some graduate programs prefer candidates with work experience.
Graduate School Pros & Cons
Pros
- Immersion into your field and topics you love.
- Becoming an expert researcher and peer alongside faculty.
- Advanced degrees are a required or preferred qualification for many jobs in industry and academia.
- Can lead to greater earning potential.
Cons
- Academically and psychologically challenging. (Some studies have shown that graduate students are more likely to experience depression and anxiety than the general population).
- Becoming overqualified and screened out by some employers; you might need to relocate geographically.
- Foregoing full-time salary to remain a student for a period of years.
Explore Programs
We recommend thoroughly researching programs and consulting with your professors and advisors. Make sure to search for accredited graduate programs, and don't be afraid to search in a variety of disciplines — you never know what you'll find!
Resources for finding grad programs:
Contacting Faculty Advisors
At the graduate level, every program has its own admission requirements and methods of assigning you to a graduate advisor.
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Some programs will assign you an advisor,
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some will have you select one once you are in the program
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some will require you to secure an advisor before applying for admission.
If you are unsure, ask the graduate program coordinator.
Even If you don’t need to identify an advisor before applying, it’s still a good idea to research current faculty whose work interests you. In your application, you can mention how what you want to learn and accomplish in your field aligns with current research happening at the institution. If you need to secure an advisor before applying, use these tips:
- Learn about the faculty advising structure for programs of interest. Every program has its own admission and research requirements.
- Learn about the backgrounds/focuses of possible advisors. Use the program’s website to research and identify which faculty you would like to work with. When reaching out to a faculty member about potential research opportunities, make sure to very concisely share these things in your initial email:
- What do you like about their research or focus? How do your interests align?
- What could you bring to their program?
- How will it help you reach your future goals?
- Include your curriculum vitae (CV) in your outreach. Give faculty an overview of your background and qualifications, and attach a CV to your introduction email. Learn how to create a CV through the Career Development Center. Don't send research proposals, transcripts, or other attachments unless they are requested.
- Make a good first impression. Take your time with your first email. Use the appropriate title for the potential advisor (e.g. Dear Dr. Ramos is often more appropriate than using a first name.) Use an email address that is appropriate (university email or an email that is your first and last name). Mention any connections you may already have to the program.
- Be patient. Faculty often have many competing priorities. Allow 2 weeks before sending a follow up email after your first. In the first email, request a meeting by telephone or in-person to further discuss your research interests and opportunities. In the second email, reiterate your interest, BUT if you still do not hear from the faculty member, reach out to the graduate program coordinator for the program and ask how to proceed instead.
Prepare Applications
Application requirements vary for each graduate program — make sure to check the program’s website for requirements or with a graduate program coordinator if you have any questions. Graduate programs often require:
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Application form and fee
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Transcripts
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A personal statement, research statement, or essay responses
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An entrance exam such as the GREs, MCAT, or LSAT
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Letters of recommendation
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A resume or CV
It's important to begin preparing these materials in advance and give yourself plenty of time to make changes if necessary.
Guide to Great Grad School Applications & Interviews
There's a lot involved in applying for grad school — beyond entrance exams, there are often personal statements, research statements, and interviews. We've put together a guide to crafting effective personal statements and compiled a list of common graduate school interview questions. Check out the guide!
Click to view guide
Oregon State's Grad School Resources
The Grad School website is also a great resource to guide you through the graduate school application process.
Take an online class to help you apply! Applying for graduate or professional school can be a daunting task. Learn how to overcome hurdles like where to apply, how to choose an advisor, what to look for in a school, and how to obtain funding with GRAD 420 (offered online).
Finance Graduate School
Financial aid for post-baccalaureate education generally is awarded in two forms: gift-aid and self-help aid. Gift-aid includes grants, fellowships and scholarships (institutional or external) that do not have to be repaid or earned. Self-help aid includes loans that must be repaid, or work-study funds that must be earned through working on campus.
Assistantships where a program will waive your tuition and pay you a stipend while you attend school in exchange for you conducting research or teaching for the program are particularly common in the sciences. For example, you may work in a professor’s microbiology lab, conduct investigations and publish your findings during a research assistantship, or you may teach Writing 101 classes to first year students as part of a master’s of English teaching assistantship for a stipend.
Make sure you research all possibilities before attending a graduate program and annually while enrolled in one. Tips on funding graduate education are available through Oregon State's graduate school.