What is graduate school?

A graduate program involves specialized knowledge and concentrated study in one area. In this respect it differs from undergraduate study, which introduces you to a wide range of subjects and gives you certain general intellectual skills—reading critically, writing clearly, and arguing persuasively.

A graduate program is generally more focused on a specified area of interest and on acquiring specialized skills to practice a profession or do advanced research. However, it does not merely entail an additional number of courses. It requires active participation in research and often professional practice programs as part of the curriculum. (Kidwell, 1999, p. 6) Graduate School and You

There are typically two paths sought after completion of a bachelor degree — master’s or doctoral programs. Which degree you seek depends on your career objective.

Master’s– A master’s degree will either give you the foundation for a doctoral program or provide a professional track which helps you specialize in a particular career area.

There are different types of master’s degrees, for example:

• MBA: Masters in Business Administration
• MSW: Masters in Social Work
• MSEd: Masters in Education
• MLS: Masters in Liberal Studies

Doctorate– A doctoral degree is a highly specialized degree which assists individuals in specific career goal objectives. Many individuals obtain a doctoral degree to become professors, researchers or doctors (Medical, Dental, Veterinarian).

There are different types of doctoral degrees, for example:

• MD: Medical Doctor for medical practice.
• JD: Juris Doctor (Latin for Doctor of Jurisprudence) for law practice.
• Ph.D.: Doctor of Philosophy for researcher or college professors.

Graduate schools are very competitive and require a lot of organization and planning.

There are five main criteria schools consider for admittance:

1. Undergraduate GPA (especially in your major)
2. Bachelor degree in a related field of study
3. GRE (or other standardize test) scores
4. Letters of recommendation
5. Your personal statement