Academic Advising and Requirements
Graduate School Advising FAQ
Should I go to graduate school?
Some professions require an advanced degree, and in many fields promotions and raises are determined in part by level of education. If you are passionate about a particular subject, want to continue research on an issue and share your knowledge with others, you may want to consider a Ph.D. and a career in academia. Such a career allows you the independence to decide for yourself what you want to work on, a lifestyle with great flexibility, and the pleasure of constant intellectual challenge and growth.
Should I do a Master’s or a Ph.D.?
That depends on where you want to end up.
There are many terminal master’s degrees in such fields as: Library Science, Art Management, Performance Studies, Public Administration and Social Work.
If your goal is a Ph.D., you should consider your chances of getting in and finances. If you do not feel fully equipped to get into a grad school of your choice right out of college, getting a master’s is a good way to enhance your portfolio. Some programs offer the master’s with the option of going on to a Ph.D. It is generally easier to get into the master’s program but the funding is often reserved for those pursuing a Ph.D.
Where should I apply?
To answer this question, start by asking faculty members in your department. They are aware of the quality of various programs. Some of the criteria for selecting a grad school are the same as those you considered when choosing a school for your undergraduate studies: reputation, student/professor ratio, library facilities.
Your studies at the graduate level, however, will be much more focused and therefore your choice should be determined by more precise considerations, perhaps the most important of which is potential advisors. You should, of course, research various schools to find a place where experts are working in your particular area of interest. For those pursuing a Ph.D. this will assure you of an appropriate director for your dissertation. But, an advisor can have a strong influence, not only on the outcome of the dissertation but also on your career in general. A good advisor will mentor a student in the profession, introduce him/her to others in the field, help establish contacts, and sometimes aid in getting papers accepted for publication or selected for conferences. Note that while the reputation of your advisor can be important, the person most renowned in your field is not necessarily the best advisor. An advisor must be available and accessible. If he/she is too busy traveling, researching and writing to spend time with graduate students, you will not get the guidance you need. If you choose a university that only has one person working in your field, you run the risk of that person leaving before you finish.
Keep in mind that programs at a particular university are not homogenous. A university may be ranked very high but be mediocre in your field and vice versa. Go with the best program for you.
It is a good idea to visit different universities and speak with the graduate students in your prospective program. They can tell you what different professors are like to work with and you will get an idea of what they themselves will be like to work with. Remember, much of what you learn in grad school will come from discussions with your peers and they will be your future colleagues.
It is also very important to inform yourself of the placement record of the programs to which you are thinking of applying.
To how many schools should I apply?
You should apply to about six schools. It is costly to apply to many schools and, in the case of doctoral programs, it is not worth applying to less than the top programs just to have a back up. If you feel that your record as an undergraduate will not get you into a good program, take the time after graduation to enhance your qualifications. (see 2 and 15)
When do I apply?
Applications are generally due between November and February.
How long does it take to finish the degree?
Usually master’s programs are completed in two years. A doctorate usually takes about five to seven years. (If you do a master’s first and then transfer to do a doctorate, the total period of time may be longer.)
That may seem like a long time but you will be engaged in something you love doing and that you will continue after you have your degree. You are not putting your life on hold. Many students move and/or find academic positions once they are at the stage of writing the dissertation. Be aware, however, that many schools now have time limits for the completion of the degree.
When should I take the GRE’s?
If you are planning to go on to grad school right after graduation, the summer before your senior year is a good time to take the GRE’s. It is all right to wait until the fall but it is best to take them after you have had time to prepare (there are many practice tests available online) and when you are free to focus on them (so, not, for example, during the week of midterms). You also want to leave enough time so that if you are not satisfied with your scores the first time, you have time to take them again. You may take the exams only once per calendar month.
How important are the GRE’s?
That depends on the program. In general the GRE’s do not carry the same weight as the SAT’s. They are, however, usually mandatory although a few programs do not even require GRE’s any more. Many programs use them simply as a threshold: good scores allow you to get a foot in the door for consideration. Other schools use them solely in determining financial aid. Generally, the verbal is more important for liberal arts students but for students in English, Psychology and Math there are also subject tests.
What are good scores on the GRE’s?
You should check what the average GRE scores are at the particular schools and in the particular department that interest you. If your ND department has a Director of Graduate Studies, he/she should be able to give you a general idea.
What makes a good personal statement?
The personal statement is one of the most important pieces of your application because it allows the admissions committee to hear your voice and get some idea of who you are as a person as opposed to the bundle of statistics that make up the rest of the application. The essay can give them some idea of what kind of a future colleague you will be. Nonetheless, you don’t want to include biographical detail and anecdotes from your past unless they pertain to your intellectual development. You should use the essay to convince the committee of your knowledge of and interest and commitment to the field, and to explain how their program is a good fit for you and vice versa. You should demonstrate that you have done your research on their department in particular by mentioning specific professors with whom you would like to work and any other details about the program that attract you. You should be focused but not over narrowly; if you seem interested only in a small niche, they may feel that they have no place for you or that they already have enough students working in that small area. It goes without saying that your essay must be very well written. Ask a professor to read a rough draft.
From whom should I get letters of recommendation?
You should ask professors who know your work well, professors who have taught you in a small seminar or guided you in a research project. A senior thesis advisor is ideal. Make an appointment to discuss your application. (Do not ask for a letter of recommendation after class, by e-mail, or in the hallway.) Be sensitive to the reaction you receive to your request; if your professor seems less than enthusiastic, you should seek someone else. He/she may be trying to tell you “no,” or at best will write a lukewarm (damning) letter. You should leave your recommender a month to write the letter and provide him/her with your resume and a copy of your personal statement. You should waive your right to see the letter of recommendation as a courtesy to your professor, and because your recommender will then be more comfortable and the grad school more assured of the genuineness of the recommendation.
What kind of financial aid is available?
Financial aid for graduate students comes in many forms: scholarships, tuition waivers, stipends, teaching assistantships. In general, a student in a Ph.D. program can expect to have all the cost of graduate school covered by some combination of the above. Find out if the financial aid is guaranteed for 5 - 6 years (in the case of the Ph.D.) or if it is awarded on a competitive basis after 1 – 2 years. There are usually fewer funds available to those pursuing master’s degrees.
There are also outside funds available although these are highly competitive. Obtaining a fellowship from an independent foundation will make you a more attractive candidate to a school as you will not be a drain on their limited financial aid. For information on the many such possibilities, see the Office for Undergraduate and Post-Baccalaureate Fellowships.
What can I do as an undergraduate to maximize my chances of getting accepted?
Since good letters of recommendation will be crucial to your applications, you should get to know a few professors very well. This is accomplished especially by doing research either for a professor or for an independent project under the direction of a professor, and writing a thesis. The research and thesis experience are also important to grad schools as they demonstrate your ability to carry on the type of work that will be expected at the next level. Furthermore, a thesis will provide you with a writing sample which many schools require with the application. Another way to enhance your portfolio is to attend and/or present a paper at a professional conference. Take advantage of grants from UROP, Learning Beyond the Classroom, and the Kellogg and Nanovic Institutes to fund travel for research or attendance at conferences. Submit a paper for publication. The Journal of Undergraduate Research, for example, publishes ten student papers every year. You should also use your undergraduate years to learn a foreign language that will be required and/or useful for your graduate degree and future research. Many graduate programs require at least a reading knowledge in one or more foreign languages for the degree and some will even require that you master a foreign language well enough to write a short paper.
What if I don’t complete the Ph.D.?
You should check that the program you are considering grants at least a Master’s Degree along the way (usually an M.A. after two years) so that you don’t end upwith nothing to show for your work should you stop before completing the Ph.D. if you don’t finish the doctorate program, you will not be required to refund the money you have received in financial aid.
Is it all right to take time off after graduation?
Yes, and it can sometimes even be recommended. Graduate school is a big commitment and you should be sure that it’s what you want. Likewise, accepting you into their program means a big investment in you for the graduate school. With the high rate of attrition they want to be sure that those they accept are mature and have duly reflected on their decision. But, if you take time “off” it should be to engage in activities that will make you a more attractive candidate. You might want to gain experience abroad with a Fulbright or Rotary scholarship. You might do service for a year or two. You might get a job in a related field, do research, or take classes.
If you do take some time between undergraduate and graduate studies, there are a few things that you should do before or right after you graduate that will facilitate the future application process. Take the GRE’s. It is easier to prepare and take the exams when you are still in an academic setting and you may not be near a test center later on. Save a writing sample. Don’t discard all your papers since you may apply to schools that will require an example of your written work. Don’t rely on your professors to save or be able to retrieve a paper you submitted a year or so ago. Get letters of recommendation. It is best to have your professors write a letter to recommend you while details of your work are fresh in their mind in order to avoid the generic letter. The Office for Undergraduate Studies has a form that can be filled out to have your letters kept on file for five years. It is a good idea to keep in touch with your professors. Let them know, in particular, what you have been doing to keep up in the field (readings, conferences, etc.) so that they can refresh their letter once you do apply. If you know that you do not plan to go to grad school right away, it is not wise to apply with the idea of deferring if you are accepted. There is no guarantee that you will be allowed to defer and after the time and effort the school has already put into considering your application, they may not be so well disposed if you re-apply another year.
