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Graduate School Timetable

If you are thinking about graduate school there are general dates to keep in mind. Application deadlines may range from August (before your senior year) for early decision programs of medical schools using the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) to late spring or summer (after your senior year) for a few programs with rolling admissions.

Most deadlines for the entering class in the fall are between January and March. You should in all cases plan to meet formal deadlines; beyond this, be aware of the fact that many institutions with rolling admissions encourage and act upon early applications. Applying early to a institution is usually advantageous, as it demonstrates your enthusiasm for the program and gives admissions committees more time to evaluate the subjective components of your application, rather than just the numbers. Applicants are not rejected early unless they are clearly below an institution's standards.

The timetable that appears below represents the ideal for most students who wish to enter graduate school upon graduation.

Junior Year, Fall and Spring

Junior Year, Summer

Senior Year, Fall

Senior Year, Spring

You may not be able to adhere to this timetable if your application deadlines are very early, as is the case with medical school, or if you decide to attend graduate school at the last minute. In any case, keep in mind the various application requirements and be sure to meet all deadlines. If deadlines are impossible to meet, call the institution to see if a late application will be considered. Decisions are often made by April, but this varies with each institution. Decisions can be made as late as June.

Helpful Web Sites

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Graduate School Information Overview

Deciding whether to go to graduate or professional school is an important and often difficult decision to make. Pursuing graduate study affords you the opportunity to delve more deeply into a subject area than you were able to in your undergraduate education. In most cases, you will also be able to work closely with professors and conduct research of your own. In addition, a demanding schedule with work, teaching, research and classes will require you to develop personal motivation as much of your work will be independent (particularly true for Ph.D. programs). Because of the demands, as well as the rewards, not to mention the costs, it is important that you give this decision much thought.

We have all heard stories of the student who went directly from undergraduate to graduate study, partly out of indecision, only to be miserable in graduate school and still without a career direction. We would like to assist you in making the best decision.

Making the Decision

Some Questions to Ask Yourself:

Strategies for Making the Decision:

The Decision is YES...Now Where?

If after much consideration and soul-searching, you decide that graduate school is for you, the next step is to decide what kind of program and where. Many of the same resources will be helpful to you:

  1. Faculty
  2. Alumni who have volunteered to talk with you about their employment experiences, UWP Alumni Connection.
  3. Career Center staff
  4. Resources in the Career Center:

Narrowing Down Your Choices Of Schools:

Write to the Graduate Division of the potential institutions or contact them via the Internet for application materials, information on financial aid, a catalog, and information on a particular program or department. (This later information you may have to obtain from the department itself.)

Establish which criteria are important to you in the selection of a university or college. Factors you might wish to consider:

What will I be doing in three to five years after I complete my graduate program?

Inquire about the kinds of employment are most frequently accepted by graduates of the program you are considering. Visit the institutions and ask near-graduates what they expect to be doing after they graduate.

Attrition

Do students of this graduate department frequently fail to complete their degree programs? Once again, this is not something you will learn from the catalog or the department brochure. Visit the campus and ask both faculty and students.

Depth in the faculty

How many faculty members are in the department? Does the department's reputation rest heavily upon the shoulders of just one or two professors? What if they should go elsewhere?

Diversity in the faculty

Is there a variety of points of view in the department, or are most of the faculty members' approach to the discipline rather single-minded? Would you rather be a disciple or develop your own approach to the field?

Faculty publications

What have the faculty members published recently? This will give you an idea of whether the faculty's interests are similar to your own. In many cases, what the professor publishes is what he or she spends the most time talking about, both in and out of the classroom.

Availability of faculty

Are there several notable professors on the faculty? If so, ask the students how often they actually see or talk with these faculty. Would you be likely to work with the notable professor on a research project, see him/her only in class, or just hear about him/her occasionally?

Internships and assistantships

Does the program have any planned practical experiences? If so, where would you be likely to work and what would you do?

Fellowships and funds

How much fellowship money is available? How many students receive fellowships? Are you likely to be among the lucky few?

Ph.D. production

How many Ph.D.'s has this department produced yearly? What is the average length of time it takes to complete the degree?

Assistance in finding a job

What percentage of graduates and degree candidates in this department succeeds in finding employment? To what extent is the department helpful in enabling the graduate to find suitable work?

Admissions preferences

Does the department prefer to have a recent graduate of an undergraduate institution apply? Or, do they prefer applicants having work experience relevant to their field?

Versatility

To what extent can you use the degree from the department to pursue other kinds of work? Is there much latitude for transferring this degree to other fields?

In addition, look at the size of the school/department, the city itself, transportation, geographical location, employment opportunities in your field, cost of living, and opportunities to pursue extra-curricular interests.

Choosing a graduate school involves finding a program that matches your academic interests as well as your personal preferences and needs. After all, you will be there for at least two years, and probably longer if you are pursuing a Ph.D.

The Application Process

Most Applications Consist of Six Sections:

  1. Application form
  2. Personal statement/autobiography/essays/portfolio
  3. Transcripts of past academic work
  4. Letters of recommendation
  5. Test scores (GRE, LSAT, MCAT, GMAT)
  6. Financial aid forms

Application Deadlines:

Many schools have application deadlines well in advance of the entrance date. Be sure to check the particular department in which you are applying for the application deadline dates. You also need to be aware that financial aid deadlines are often different (and sometimes earlier) than the regular application dates. Be sure to register for the appropriate test well in advance of when the institutions need your scores. Begin the application process early. It often takes more time than you realize to complete the forms and to send the letters of recommendation and transcripts.

Filling Out Your Application Form:

In completing the application form and personal statement, make sure you type it or print legibly and that it is written in clear and concise language. It should state who you are, your goals, and why you want to attend that particular institution. For many schools, the written essay plays an extremely important role in the selection process. Have someone review your personal statement or essay and check for clarity and proper grammar.

Letters of Reference:

Most graduate schools require two or three letters of reference. Some schools may simply ask that you supply names and addresses, others will provide you with forms that you must give to the letter writers, and still others will request letters but have no specified form. Remember that for very competitive program, a letter on departmental stationary directed to that particular program may give a better impression of you. Contact your references to see if they are willing to compose individual letters. References may use the same letter for all institutions, but individualize it with a schools address.

To assist in facilitating your reference requests:

If you are applying to more than one institution, it is important to record all activity related to the application process.

Getting Accepted:

Ensure Your Materials Are Complete:

Make sure that you have completed all of the necessary forms and that the appropriate office has received them. You should conduct follow-up telephone calls to confirm that the graduate school has received your materials. Never assume that because you have not heard from an office, your application is complete.

Research Advisors:

In graduate school, you will be working closely with your advisor, so you should conduct research on the individuals who most closely match your interests. The graduate catalog often lists the research interests of the faculty. Check in the college for publications written by these faculties. Are they conducting research/writing in areas of interest to you?

Write or call the faculty that interests you. Inform them you have applied to the program, what your interests are, and how your interests relate to their research. If possible, schedule a time to meet, or at least talk on the phone. This way, when your application comes across their desks, it will mean more to them. By talking with the faculty, you will also find out if you are compatible in other ways beyond just research interests.

Visit the School You Are Interested In:

A visit to the school can be particularly enlightening. Does it match the description in the catalog? Sit in on the classes, talk with students currently in the program, talk with faculty, check out the physical and social environment of the campus and community. Ask the questions of yourself and others listed on the previous page. Is this a place you will feel comfortable living/working/studying in for the next few years?

If you cannot visit the school, ask for names of alumni in your area with whom you can discuss the program in greater detail. Check with faculty or the Career Information Network (CIN) to access alumni names.

What Next?

Once your application is completed and you have talked with people at the universities/colleges, sit back, relax and enjoy your free time. Form a group of friends who can provide you with support once you start receiving responses from the institutions.

Feel free to contact the Career Center at any time during your graduate/professional school decision-making and application process for assistance or information.

FINANCING GRADUATE SCHOOL

Sources and Types of Aid:

Sources for Aid:

  1. Graduate schools
  2. Federal government
  3. State government
  4. Private foundations
  5. Commercial institutions

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Interviewing for Graduate School

Before answering the following questions, it is important to remember that most interviewers will be looking for three elements when you answer questions: 1) your answer; 2) how well you can organize your thinking; and 3) how well you express yourself. For more information about preparing for interviews and answering questions, refer to the handouts available at the Career Center or at http://www.uwplatt.edu/careercenter.

Interviews will vary among programs and the individuals conducting the interviews. Questions may be direct, indirect, hypothetical or behavior-based. Below is a sampling of questions you might be asked during an interview:

Personal Characteristics/Skills/Strengths:

Academic Experiences/Performance:

Extracurricular Activities:

Weaknesses:

Goals:

Leadership/Teamwork/Problem Solving Skills:

Field Specific Questions and Current Events:

You will undoubtedly encounter questions that related specifically to your chosen field of study. Be certain that you are aware of current trends, issues and controversy in your field so that you will be able to answer questions intelligibly. Below are a few examples:

Questions Applicants Might Ask an Interviewer:

Asking questions not only helps you as a candidate determine the "fit" of the program with your desired academic and career objectives, but it also communicates to the selection committee the extent of your interest in their program:

Helpful Web Sites

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Tri-State Graduate Schools

Wisconsin

Illinois

Iowa

Visit http://www.nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cool/ to search for program specific graduate schools.

Visit the Career Center's Tri-State website to gain more information about the Tri-State area.

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