Researching Graduate Schools

Many students begin their graduate school research by speaking with professors about top programs in their field. Others begin by conducting their own research, then taking their list to professors for input. Either way, it is essential to include your major professors in this decision process. Not only will they have critical insight into the quality programs in your field, they will likely have contacts at those institutions to help open doors for you.

The best place to begin researching most graduate programs is the Peterson's Guides, available in the Career Center. This is a multi-volume definitive source that houses information on all accredited graduate programs in North America. Petersons.com is another good source, although the information contained in the books is much more thorough. 

As you develop your list of target institutions, it is important to think about your criteria for choosing a graduate program. Reputation of the program, geographic location, program size, and access to top-notch resources are all viable reasons for choosing where you will do your graduate work. As you further narrow down your choices, you will want to consider how positive or negative your interactions with each program have been, including responses to e-mails and phone calls. Hopefully, you will have the opportunity to visit each of your top programs in person, and this visit can be critical in terms of how you were received and the availability of  research/library facilities and the like.

Based on all of your research, and depending on the specific program of study you're interested in, you should target approximately 9-12 programs to apply to. An equal number of these programs should be reach schools, probably/maybe schools, and safety net schools. Remember that safety net schools are ones that you would be perfectly happy attending - not "if I absolutely have to and there's no other alternative" programs. This way, you're increasing your chances of acceptance.

At the graduate level, fit and match are of critical importance, so be sure that your research interests, career goals, philosophy, and/or practical training interests align with the programs you choose. Once again, your faculty can be critical in helping you find a program that best aligns with your goals.