Where Should You Apply?

You've made the big decision to invest your time and money in graduate school. Now how do you decide to which schools you want to apply? Of course, you can study catalogs and websites, but there is a lot more information out there to help you make your decision.

Check with professional associations

Every profession has one or more professional associations. You may already be a member of some associations, which often offer reduced rates to students. These associations may have information about the best graduate programs in the field. If nothing else, you can talk to members of the association to see which schools they attended.

Talk to your professors

Talk to the professors in your undergraduate program. Ask them where they went to grad school and whether they feel it was a good choice. Ask them which schools have the best reputation in the field.

Talk to other people in the field

Find other professionals who are working in your field and ask them which schools they recommend.

Read professional journals

Another way to find out which schools and which professors are well known in your field is to read professional journals, especially the biographies of professionals whose articles have been published. See from which schools these professionals come and add those schools to your list.

Go online

You can get a lot of general information about a school by visiting its website, including a list of faculty members, lists of class offerings, teacher-student ratio, and admission requirements. However, much more information about schools is available on the Internet. Mailing lists and discussion groups, social networking sites, and blogs can put you in touch with students and alumni who can give you inside details about a specific graduate program.

Check the program cost and funding options

What is the cost of tuition, books, and living expenses? Are grants and stipends available, or will you be relying on student loans?

Once you have developed a list of possible schools, you will want to visit their campuses and then begin the application process.