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There are many reasons to attend graduate or professional school. This personal decision may include factors such as:

The process of deciding to pursue an advanced degree also involves conducting a personal evaluation. It is important that you assess the following factors:

Thinking about these questions is crucial to help clarify your career goals and direct you to a graduate program that will be a good match. If you are struggling to answer these questions or want to discuss your questions about going to graduate or professional school, learn how to schedule an appointment with a CDC counselor

Thoroughly researching graduate or professional schools will significantly enhance your ability to make a good decision and help prioritize which schools match your educational and career goals. Consider how important the following criteria are to you when evaluating programs:

Websites for Researching Graduate and Professional Schools

The following websites can help you compare programs:

• : resource to help you prepare for graduate school
• : online directory of graduate programs
• : reference tool to help you locate schools of interest
• : database where you can search for online programs by state or degree
• : ranking information for graduate and professional schools

Faculty can be another excellent source of information. Discuss your interest with them and ask them to suggest potential graduate programs that match your goals. Additional sources to consider are currently enrolled graduate students. Conduct informational interviews with students, asking questions regarding the campus environment, faculty accessibility, program diversity and employment opportunities. Learn how to request an interview on the CDC Informational Interviews page. Other ways to learn about programs include attending information sessions and open houses as well as sitting in on a class, if available.

Graduate awards are usually given based on past academic performance and/or financial need. Financial aid for graduate and professional schools is offered in different forms, including grants and scholarships, fellowships and assistantships, and loans.

Grants and Scholarships

Awarded based on financial need and/or academic performance. This "gift assistance" does not obligate the recipient to repay the award.

Fellowships and Assistantships

Available through your department of study and/or they may be funded by the state. These types of awards may cover part or all of your tuition and provide stipends.

Loans

Available through a variety of private and government sources. Student loans must be repaid, but feature lower rates of interest and/or deferred payment options. Apply for loans at each institution to which you have applied for admission through the Financial Aid Office. Also, check with banks, credit unions or educational loan organizations for private loans.

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Research additional graduate and professional school financial resources using the following websites:

• : National scholarship database designed to simplify the scholarship search
• : Database outlining fellowships and funding award programs
• : Guide for information on financial aid for college
• : Resource to help find college scholarships
• Database with thousands of scholarships 
• : State agency responsible for administering financial aid programs
• : Program that provides resources for minority students with significant financial need
• : Overview of scholarships available to minority students

Application policies vary among institutions and even departments within the same institutions. Make sure you have obtained the most recent information from schools to which you are applying. You may be required to supply the following in order to be considered for admission to a graduate program:

Completed Application

Be sure that each application you submit is complete, accurate and on time.

Transcript

An official transcript from the Registrar's office must be sent directly from the institutions you have attended to the schools to which you are applying. Contact the аÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ Registrar’s Office for more information about how to send your transcripts.

Statement of Purpose/Personal Statement

The statement of purpose/personal statement shows the admissions committee how you think and your writing ability. Your goal in writing a statement of purpose is to create a portrait that is both persuasive and personal. It should be a concise, well-written essay about your background, knowledge of the field and your reasons for pursuing graduate study in the field or profession you have chosen. The statement of purpose/personal statement is different for every program, so make sure to follow the prompt. For assistance with your personal statement and graduate school application process, contact the аÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ Graduate Center.

Admissions Examinations

Schools will designate which qualifying examinations are required for your chosen discipline. Do note, many entrance exams offer fee waivers to eligible students. You will find this information on each of the entrance exams websites. 

These are the most common entrance exams for graduate and professional schools:

Plan to take the appropriate entrance examination during your junior year or at the latest during the fall of your senior year if you plan to go to graduate school immediately after college.

If you need assistance with preparing for the exams, academic coaches at the аÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ Learning Center can meet with you to discuss strategies. Furthermore, the Graduate Center offers three GRE preparation courses for аÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ students each summer. 

Letters of Recommendation

Most graduate programs will require three to four letters of recommendation. The letters are supposed to vouch for your undergraduate preparation, ability to study at the graduate level and commitment to the proposed field of study. The individuals you ask to write your recommendations can impact how you are perceived as an applicant.

Your best choices for recommenders are:

• Undergraduate major professors
• Other professors
• Employers
• Advisors
• Teacher’s Assistants (TAs)
• Colleagues

Provide your recommenders with a resume of your professional goals and academic background. For more information about letters of recommendation and the graduate school application process, contact the аÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ Graduate Center.

Writing Samples, Tapes, Portfolios (ePortfolio) and Auditions

These items may be requested for consideration to enter specific programs (e.g. fine arts, design, film, music or architecture). Be prepared to submit any additional information that is requested to enhance your opportunity for acceptance.

Application Fee

Each application must be accompanied by a fee. Include a check or money order for the required application fee.

Personal Interview

An interview may be required before admission is granted. In addition to being an important factor in gaining admission, it provides you with the opportunity to assess the program. Access interview preparation resources on the CDC Interviewing page.

The resources below can assist you in your research and preparation for graduate or professional school:

• Graduate Center: centralized source of support and information for аÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ students applying to or currently enrolled in graduate programs
• : serves аÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ students pursuing health professions requiring graduate or professional degrees
• аÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ Graduate Programs: list of graduate programs available at аÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ