How do I pick the "best" graduate school?

During a year like 2020, it is likely that we will reevaluate our lives. We might take a moment to figure out if what we are doing is working, and if not, what we might do to change that. Maybe circumstances forced us to make a change. Many have lost their jobs, many no longer have a place to live, or it’s possible that worst of all, we lost a loved one. It’s also possible that nothing changed your current situation, but you have decided that it’s time to go down a new path.

When people look to make a change, they often consider graduate school. Should you go? Can you go? What would that look like in 2020?

One question I get asked very frequently:

“How do I pick the “best” graduate school?”

First and foremost, it depends what you mean by “the best”. Each person is going to be looking for something different, so “the best” most likely means different things for different people. Your first task is to decide what you want and/or need from a graduate school and what your definition of “the best” is. Don’t worry about what a magazine is telling you, or your friend, or your family, or someone on social media. This decision is all about what you seek from a program and what you hope to do once you complete that program. It’s important that this decision is based solely on what you hope to gain from the experience and from the program you choose.

A few things to ask yourself:

Do you need the degree in order to do what you want to do?

Do you need networking or an internship to lead you into your role?

Do you need support and/or a mentor throughout your program and after (as you work on a dissertation, certification, licensing, etc.)?

Knowing why you are going to graduate school is the most important factor in your decision. If you don’t know why you are going, it’s probably a good idea to wait until you are certain. Unless of course, you are going for fun. In that case, time and resources might not be a concern. If that is your situation, enjoy, learn and have fun through the process! If you aren’t in that situation it is important to know your why, especially when it comes to degrees that might have more of a general focus, for example an MBA. Many will go into an MBA program assuming that it’s the golden ticket to getting a job. It might be. However, in some cases, being highly educated, without a lot of experience, can actually work against you. Research the career you hope to enter and figure out what the requirements are. If the jobs are asking for 3-5 years of experience, you know the degree might not help you as much as getting a job in the field. If, in the job description, the first item listed as a requirement is “Graduate Degree” then you know it’s an important first step to get where you want to go.

Once you know what you want to do and why you want to go to graduate school, there are people who can help. These individuals and groups are amazing resources. Be sure to take advantage of every service and program your university/college provides.

Seek out faculty who are in the area you would like to pursue. If it’s a Masters/PhD program that is similar to your bachelors degree, then it will be easy to identify faculty members. You will likely already be in many of their classes. Ask politely, start with faculty you know if possible and talk with them as early as possible to make sure you are respecting their time. especially if you want to ask them for a letter of recommendation (we can cover this topic soon). If you are changing directions, start earlier because you will probably need to establish new relationships. For example, if you decide to go to Law School, you can research Law Professors, or educators who went to law school. They can be a great support, but you don’t want to reach out to them in a rush. Develop a relationship with them as early as you can.

Your career center can help you and support you with your graduate degree. Many of the coaches/counselors will have done a masters degree, and many of them are trained to support you in researching the best programs for your goals. The Career Center at your school can be an incredible resource throughout your exploration. Even as alumni, many have programs to keep you engaged and provide assistance if you decide to go back to school.

Each program is different. Once you have determined programs you think are best for you, the work is not done. You will need to research each one and talk to the program directors/representatives at each institution.

Each program is going to have different application deadlines, requirements, application submission requests and timelines. Be sure to carefully evaluate each one and understand what you will need to provide and what will be expected of you upon admission.

Talk to individuals at each institution and each program. You might need to seek out a PhD mentor or faculty supervisor. It’s possible that in a masters degree you would need to do student teaching and you will want to understand the process. You might be a teaching assistant in an undergraduate program, so you will want to fully understand what that entails.

Graduate school is hard. It’s expensive and it requires a commitment of time and energy. Make sure you know why you are going and what you hope to gain from the experience. Once you know, research the program which would provide that which you seek. Don’t go into it expecting it to help you figure out what you want to do. Research the career you want in your life. It’s possible that you can do that job/career/profession without the degree. If so, start doing it, get experience. Make sure you love it and want to do it long term. Then go to graduate school. If possible, have your employer pay for it, if that’s an option.

If you can’t do the job you want without it, then the above will be helpful. Ask about scholarships, work study programs, grants, and most importantly learn about what people do once they graduate from the various programs. What is the placement rate? What jobs are their graduates doing? This information will give you a very good idea of what to expect when you finalize your degree and what roles you might fill once you graduate.