Selecting a Graduate School Program (Part 3)
Unicorn Gate at the University of Aberdeen
By their junior year in college, students who are thinking about attending graduate school should start researching graduate programs online. Consider the following factors:
Location. Are you tied to a particular geographical location? Your choices will be pretty limited automatically. If you’re free to relocate, consider applying to schools in an area you’ve always dreamed of living.
Google. Start by Googling such search terms as “Masters English” or “English graduate program” or “graduate school English” to generate a great quantity of programs. You can learn a LOT through idle browsing.
Ranking. All graduate programs are not created equal. Your needs as someone pursuing secondary teaching accreditation are very different from someone who’s planning to become a research professor. Examine various programs’ application requirements: in general, programs which require the GRE are more selective. Selectivity matters mainly if you’re interested in getting a Ph.D. after your Master’s. Contact a librarian to help you find an issue of U.S. News and World Report which ranks university programs nationally. These breakdowns are very specific: for instance, USN&WR ranked the University of Minnesota 13th in GLBT studies in literature.
Faculty. So, you’re a great fan of women’s issues in the Victorian novel. Because you cited Susan Gubar in every single paper you ever wrote, you might actually like to go to Indiana University and study under her! In other words, you might select your graduate program because of the particular faculty or resources in your area of interest. The downfall of this strategy, of course, is that your favorite scholar is liable to retire or trade up to a more prestigious university.
Fundage. No two ways about it: you have to go to a program you can afford. Many people work slowly toward an advanced degree, keeping to a pace that fits their yearly budget and work schedule. More traditional graduate students hope to earn fellowships (free tuition plus a small stipend), teaching assistantships (free tuition and a small stipend in return for teaching), or research assistantships and do not work outside of the University.
Chime in, readers! What are other factors to consider?
Not to mention who will let you in! Do you have any advice, from a Metro State professor to a Metro State graduate, about just how high (or low) to reach? Are there certain schools, or kinds of schools with a more or less rigorous curriculum, that the Metro State English program may or may not have prepared us for? Do schools look into that kind of thing (like how well known your undergrad school is) when considering you?
I guess what I’m asking is, I went to a MN school that is NOT the U of M, and I probably can’t expect UNC to have ever heard of us. So will they be impressed that I graduated with a near 4.0 and honors when they haven’t even heard of my school?
Wow, that is a complicated comment!
I think that another thing to really look at is your goals. What do you really want to do for 40-50+ years of working? If you spent all that money, is it something that will be worthwhile all through your career? As the age of retirement keeps increasing, I think it makes sense to have a higher degree as ageism is alive and well in this country and I do believe it will keep you viable in the job market longer.
That’s an interesting perspective, Julie. Definitely something to think about.
And, Rachel: I understand your question completely. One way to know “objectively” is to take the GRE and see where your scores place you. This gives you a kind of ball park idea about how you rank compared to other potential graduate students in your subject area. The logical component of the test is supposedly the best indicator of success in graduate school.
That said, THE MOST IMPORTANT part of your application will be your recommendation letters. Metro professors have placed their English graduates at state master’s programs, as well as at places like the University of Delaware, which selects only 12 students nationwide in any given year. Graduate schools are indeed used to 4.0 and honors, but they’ll happily listen to colleagues from anywhere sing the praises of a truly outstanding student scholar.
How does one go about procuring letters of recommendation (what is the protocol?). If we haven’t made personal connections with our professors how do we know that they will write us good letters of recommendation? At this point I am concerned that my professors don’t see me as a “truly outstanding student scholar” but my ultimate goal is to attend graduate school. There is nothing like researching graduate schools to make one feel insecure and incompetent. I truly believe that I would make a great scholar but lately I have been having second thoughts about my ability to even get into a grad school.
Also, did you take the GRE English subject test? I wish this school had GRE information sessions like it does for the GMAT.
Bonni, follow this link (http://www.tammy-durant.com/?tag=recommendation-letter) to an earlier post about recommendation letters, or use the tag in the column on the left.
I’ve received a number of questions from people wondering about preparedness for graduate school and how can you tell if grad school is a likely option for you: I plan to approach this question in a future post. And, in the meantime, you and I should talk soon!