What is Graduate School and Why Go?
Graduate school is education you pursue after completing a bachelor’s degree. It allows you to earn an advanced degree such as a Master’s (MA, MS, MBA), Doctorate (PhD, EdD), or Professional degree (JD for law, MD for medicine, DVM for veterinary medicine, etc.).
People choose graduate school for different reasons:
- To specialize deeply in a subject area.
- To enter careers that require an advanced degree (law, medicine, counseling, research, higher education).
- To advance professionally, such as moving into leadership or specialized roles.
- To increase earning potential in some fields.
Because it’s a major investment of time and money, many students take time between undergrad and grad school to work, gain experience, or clarify career goals.
Researching Graduate Schools
Finding the right graduate program takes time and intention. Unlike undergrad, it’s much harder to switch once you’ve started, so thorough research is key. Here’s how to approach it:
Clarify your goals
- Ask yourself: What do I want to do after graduate school?
- Make a list of careers that interest you and check if an advanced degree is required.
Identify programs that match your interests
- Look at faculty profiles — who is doing research, projects, or clinical work that excites you?
- Read program websites carefully to understand their curriculum, specializations, and expectations.
- Consider program culture: Is it collaborative? Competitive? Do they emphasize research, practice, or professional application?
Compare program structures
- Master’s: Usually 1–2 years, focused on coursework and/or research.
- Professional Degrees: 2–8 years, preparing you for fields like law, medicine, or health professions.
- Doctoral Degrees: 5–7+ years, research-intensive, often leading to academic or highly specialized roles.
- Check if programs are terminal (ends with that degree) or lead into a PhD.
Evaluate practical factors
- Location: Do you want to live in that city/region for several years?
- Cost of living: Beyond tuition, can you afford housing, transportation, and health insurance?
- Program size: Would you thrive in a large cohort or a smaller, more intimate program?
- Flexibility: Is the program in-person only, or does it offer hybrid/online options?
Investigate funding
- Look at assistantships (teaching, research, administrative) that cover tuition and provide a stipend.
- Assistantships are part-time jobs where you help teach classes, grade assignments, or assist faculty with research.
- Most assistantships cover some or all of tuition and provide a monthly stipend.
- Search for fellowships and scholarships offered by the school or external organizations.
- Fellowships are competitive awards that provide funding with no work requirement. Some come directly from the university, while others come from government agencies (like the National Science Foundation) or private organizations.
- They may cover full tuition, fees, and living expenses.
- Some employers will pay for you to attend graduate school part-time while you keep working.
- This is more common in business, healthcare, or technical fields where upskilling benefits the company.
- If you’re already working, ask your HR department about “tuition reimbursement” or “professional development” benefits.
- Loans are often another way students pay for graduate school.
- Federal student loans are available for graduate students (and sometimes private loans).
- These can cover tuition and living costs but must be repaid with interest.
- Funding can vary widely between types of programs and schools.
- In many PhD programs, full funding (tuition + stipend) is common.
- In professional programs like law, medicine, or business, students often rely heavily on loans, though some scholarships exist.
- Master’s programs vary widely: some offer assistantships and funding packages, while others expect students to self-fund.
- Ask programs about how many of their students are typically funded — this is critical information. Good questions might include:
- What percentage of your incoming students receive assistantships?
- Does funding cover health insurance and student fees?
- Are students guaranteed funding for multiple years, or must they reapply annually?
Build your school list
- Start with 8–12 programs of interest.
- Narrow to 4–6 serious options (a mix of “reach,” “target,” and “safety” schools).
- Use resources like Peterson’s, U.S. News Graduate Rankings, and professional association directories to build your list.
Connect directly
- Attend graduate school fairs or virtual info sessions.
- Email faculty whose work interests you — ask about their research and whether they’re taking new students.
- Reach out to current graduate students for honest perspectives about workload, culture, and funding.
You can also use this Graduate School Checklist to keep yourself on track or the CSU Career Center’s Applying For Graduate School Handout.
Applying to Graduate School
Applying is a multi-step process that takes planning. Most applications include:
- Application form & fees
- Transcripts from all colleges attended
- Letters of recommendation (usually from faculty or supervisors)
- Statement of purpose or personal statement explaining your goals and fit
- Test scores (GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, depending on program—though many programs are now test-optional)
Timeline (typical two-year prep)
- 18–24 months before enrollment: Begin researching programs, career goals, and funding options.
- 12–18 months before enrollment: Take required admission tests (GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT), draft personal statements, and contact potential recommenders.
- 9–12 months before enrollment: Finalize program list, visit campuses (if possible), and request letters of recommendation.
- 6–9 months before enrollment: Submit applications, order transcripts, and ensure test scores are sent.
- 3–6 months before enrollment: Receive decisions, compare financial aid offers, attend admitted-student events, and make your choice.
- By April 15 (for most programs): Submit your acceptance and funding decision.