Introduction:

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In today’s world of specialization, a graduate degree can help you develop the necessary expertise in your chosen area, significantly improve your career prospects and also give you an entry into areas which may be reserved only for experts in that field. You need to make sure that the additional 18-24 months is spent wisely and worth the investment.

 

While our previous articles focused exclusively on undergraduate programs, let’s explore graduate school programs and the admissions process. While many things are different, the one thing that doesn’t change with graduate school is the fact that it will continue to be a period of tremendous personal and professional growth. You will build an even wider network of eager, like-minded individuals which will bear fruit later in your life and career.

 

A graduate degree is quite different from an undergraduate degree. There are significant differences such as the increased academic intensity and rigor in coursework, more of depth vs. breadth. Graduate school tends to be more research oriented – classes tend to be fewer, smaller in size and more interactive. Students may also have worked for a few years before enrolling for graduate school and will bring that experience into the classroom. These differences will require you to make the necessary adjustments to succeed and make the most of graduate school. Having clarity on what to expect will stand you in good stead when you get there.

 

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Admissions:

 

Let’s take a closer look at what it takes to get admitted to a Graduate School and how it differs from undergraduate admissions in terms of process, selection criteria, and the various components of the application package. Read our FAQs to know more about undergraduate admissions in detail.

 

In undergraduate, you study a broad range of subjects and even have the opportunity to switch majors, whereas pursuing a graduate degree is narrower in scope with close alignment between your area of study and your career options. Keep this in mind while looking at and shortlisting colleges and programs. The universities should be selected based on your specific areas of interest and career aspirations. Look into the research work that is being done at these colleges, as against settling for the overall ranking or brand name of the school.

 

Admissions decisions for graduate programs are made by the academic department to which you are  applying, and not by a central admissions office. Doing your homework and researching is critical and cannot be overstated. Best to correspond directly with the department and try to establish some connect with the faculty, if possible. It is not enough, in fact you’d be ill-advised, to simply rely on the prestige or brand name of the school when deciding on your Graduate program. Instead, focus on the area of study and homing in on finding the program that fits your specific interest.

 

Even within the well-defined components, it is not simply a GRE (for graduate admissions) vs. SAT (for UG). The scores are interpreted and applied very differently in the admissions process. The cut-offs and thresholds vary considerably for graduate admissions, not only from school to school, but also at the department and at the program level. Likewise, your personal statement will need to be much more related to your area of study, what do you want to study and your motivation towards pursuing that (similar to UK applications – which shall be covered in one the upcoming months). This is in contrast to the typical undergraduate essay that asks you to share your experiences and life story in a nutshell. Interviews are also more commonly conducted as part of the admissions process.

 

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Summary:

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Spending an additional couple of years for graduate school may seem like an expensive proposition, assuming you can afford it and have the desire and capacity to complete it successfully. You are going to learn to think better, acquire deeper knowledge, and gain competencies and skills that are job relevant (make sure that the program you choose is aligned to your career needs), plus you'll build a network of alumni in your chosen field. These advantages outweigh the downside and tip the scales to make graduate school worth the cost and the effort.

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College & Me is a series of articles featuring useful information about College Admissions for undergraduate and graduate degree programs in US colleges.

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