Evaluating Grad Schools: A Preliminary Checklist

Careful research will help you find the right school. As you look through university catalogs, check out websites, and visit campuses, make your own personal checklist to evaluate each graduate program. Below are some options you might want to add to your checklist.

Atmosphere of the campus

Do you prefer a formal or informal campus? Big city or small town? Thousands or hundreds of students? Liberal or conservative? You're going to be immersing yourself in the campus for a couple of years, so it should someplace where you feel safe and comfortable.

Atmosphere of the department

Do the professors and students seem to get along and enjoy working together? Or is there a sense of competition among members of the department?

Assistantships

Are teaching or research assistantships available? What are the requirements for getting an assistantship? How many hours of work does the assistantship require, and what kind of stipend or tuition remission does it offer?

Additional resources

How many computer labs are available for students? What kind of equipment do the research labs have? How well-stocked is the library? Is money available for attending conferences?

Prestige of program and faculty

Is the program well-known in the field? Are the faculty members respected for their research and contributions? How does the program rank in listings such as the one published by US News and World Report?

Academic requirements

What grade point average (GPA) and Graduate Record Examination (GRE) numbers does the graduate program require? What additional academic requirements do you need to be accepted into the program?

Attrition rate

How many students who begin the graduate program finish it with a degree in hand?

Add your own requirements to this checklist. Be sure to fill out your checklist for each school as you visit the campus or talk to students and faculty. Otherwise, you may forget what you discover about a particular program.