Graduate School: Choosing
Graduate School > Choosing
Choosing a graduate school
Once a student has decided to apply to graduate school, the selection of schools to which to apply becomes an important decision. Prospective graduate students need to develop objective and subjective criteria for good decision-making. The following section suggests criteria and some resources to help gather information.
Objective and Subjective Criteria
A list of criteria can be very useful for comparing and evaluating graduate school programs. The following factors are adapted from PATH: A Career Workbook for Liberal Arts Students by Howard Figler. Additional academic, geographical, and personal factors can be added.
Suggested Exercise: Make a list of criteria that are important to you in selecting a graduate program. What programs match your criteria?
After this exercise, you can begin to think about the following:
People Resources
- Macalester professors, advisors, alumni, and others who have attended graduate school
- Career Development Center career counselors
- Potential employers in your field
- Graduate school representatives, some visit Macalester each fall
- Current faculty, students, staff at the graduate school
Internet Resources
- GradSchools.com - Online resource for grad school and program information. Browse by program or school and read a variety of articles.
- The Education Supersite - Search more than 35,000 graduate programs, including business schools, law schools, and more.
- National Association of Graduate and Professional Studies (NAGPS) - Includes information on taxes, financial aid, benefits of NAGPS membership, including grad student discounts, and NAGPS regional/national conferences.
- U.S. News & World Report Best Graduate Schools -
View school rankings and find detailed information about more than 1200 schools.
- Financial Aid for Law School - Law School Admission Council Online, awards, loans, and advice specific to law students, LSAT, admissions testing..
- Financial Aid for Medical School - Professional organizations, and other resources specific to medical students, loans, and admissions testing page.
- Pre-Med Advisor - Financial aid for medical school.
- Take the GMAT - The Graduate Management Administration Council (GMAC) provides information about graduate business schools, admissions and testing, as well as tips on financing your M.B.A.
Additional Resources
- Websites of Graduate Programs
- CollegeSource Online database of college catalogs provided through the DeWitt Wallace Library.
- Current copies of catalogues and other materials requested from the schools
- Directory of Special Programs for Minority Members
- Gorman Report: A Rating Of Graduate and Professional Programs
- Minority Graduate School Locator Service
- Peterson's Annual Guides to Graduate Study
To pursue a career as a teacher, it is necessary to obtain an education major in college or graduate school and a Teacher's Certification. Below we have provided some links where you can go to find all sorts of information concerning education and jobs in the field.
"You need to be able to think fast, and pull new ideas off the top of your head when you are working with children. You have to react to what they do and work it into the lesson plan"
- Erika Stevens, an early education instructor
Examples of Job Titles for Education Majors
- Adult Education Teacher
- Educational Resource Coordinator
- Educational Thearapist
- Athletic Coach
- Elementary School Teacher
- Employee Training Instructor
- Curriculum Specialist
- Day Care Administrator
- School Psychologist
- Tutor
- Secondary School Teacher
- Vocational Rehabilitation Councelor
- Kindergarden Teacher
- Libarian
- Educational Researcher
- Special Education Teacher Administrator
- Training Specialist
- Guidance Counselor
- Education Resource Coordinator
- Student Affaris/Admissions/Personel/Administrator
- Instructor, College/University
Some of the above require education beyond the Bachelor's degree, and some rely upon the liberal arts component of the education major.
Education Resources
Thinking about law school can be pretty overwhelming. However, we do have some resources, both here at Macalester and outside in the community, that should be helpful.
The best college coursework for students wanting to be lawyers, as reported in the National Law Journal:
38% Liberal Arts
22% Business and Finance
14% Science & Technology
10% Political Science
7% Economics
9% Other
Preparing for Law School
Area Law Schools
Macalester Resources
Additional Resource
Is Law School for You?
First, ask yourself the following questions:
- Do I enjoy working closely with people regarding significant events or issues affecting their lives?
- Can I empathize with a client's situation, yet have the ability to objectively analyze the issues and their consequences in light of existing law?
- Do I enjoy educating or teaching a person about a subject about which he or she may be ignorant or have significant misconceptions?
- Am I able to articulate in a clear and concise manner my analysis of a problem to others, whether it be verbally or in writing?
- Do I enjoy being an advocate?
- Can I argue both sides of the question with enthusiasm?
- Do I like detail work?
- Do I enjoy searching for the facts of a situation?
- Do I like to read and study?
Of course, you don't necessarily need to have answered all of these questions with an emphatic "Yes!" There is still time for you to develop your skills and passions in the direction of law. However, if you answered in the negative to a majority of these questions, perhaps you should think more in depth about why you would like to enter the field of law. See also: "Don't be a Fool--Stay Out of School;
29 Reasons Not to Go to Law School." This article was originally published on Nolo.com, a resource providing law books, legal forms, and legal software.
It is beneficial to have clear goals of what you want from an MBA for the admissions process. "You should choose a school because it matches your specific academic and career interests." "Experience has shown admissions counselors that candidates without clear goals at the application stage are not likely to have clear goals by the time MBA graduation nears." (from MBA.com) MBA programs look for people with good leadership skills, communication skills, initiative and motivation. Personal qualities are most important in deciding the candidacy of a student to the program. (from "Peterson's Guide to MBA Programs")
MBA programs are designed to provide you with "firm grounding in the staples of business education - finance, strategy, operations, management, marketing, … how to work in teams, to motivate others, to see the "big picture" when solving problems." Important factors are "strong communication and interpersonal skills ...[and]…technical knowledge." Since the world is changing so fast, it is important that MBA graduates know how to learn on their own. ("Peterson's Guide to MBA Programs")
Wanting an MBA is often not enough for one must also display much interest in persuing goals with an MBA that are specific, and yet broad enough for you to mbe admitted into programs. The "b-school admissions counselors expect to see evidence of your professional interests to ensure that you will take full advantage of the MBA." ("Exploring the MBA", from CDC Library)
Preparing for and Applying to an MBA Program
College Coursework for Study
- A more interdisciplinary program is increasingly valued in every field, especially business.
- One does not need a certain major to enter the MBA. Basic skills in economics, calculus, and statistics are advisable as preparation foundation for graduate study in business.
What to do Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, and Senior years?
Freshman-Sophomore years: Get a rounded education and show post-MBA goals
Junior year: Start application process research and test-taking
Senior year: Complete application process.
The Application Process
The MBA programs are different in selectivity and qualities. You should spend time researching the programs to which you might decide to apply. The application process will look at and evaluate a candidate's general presentation, academic profile, professional work experience and personal qualities. Factors influencing a student's performance include: academic background, work experience, personal characteristics and post-M.B.A. goals. "Whatever your profile may be, make sure you can articulate your reasons for pursuing an M.BA. clearly, succinctly, and persuasively both orally and in writing." (Peterson's Guide to MBA Programs.)
Basic Application Requirements
- Application to the graduate program (e.g. the graduate application)
- Undergraduate performance
- Transcripts verifying the baccalaureate degree
- GMAT (Graduate Management Admissions Test) scores
- Recommendations from those familiar with the student's academic performance
- A written personal statement or essay
- Academic prerequisites of each graduate school
- GRE test scores
Possible Requirements
- An interview
- Resume/curriculum vitae
- TOEFL scores (if student's primary language is not English)
- Other possible specific requirements for specific programs
(Peterson's Guide to MBA Programs)
- Check with the specific schools and programs for the specific requirements they may have for your application.
- In your application and interview, be sure to take into consideration the reasons why you are interested in their specific school or program, why they would be interested in admiting you, and why you and the school are a good match (The Princeton Review's "The Best 80 Business Schools, 2000).
Finding the Right Schools
Not all MBA programs are alike, because MBA programs help one become specialized in a field or just explore the possibilites. The developments of the international markets is creating new possibilities for MBA holders. Useful links:
Possible Areas of Concentration to Consider
- Accounting/Finance
- Arts Administration
- Economics
- Entrepreneurial
- Health Care
- Hotel Management
- Human Resources Management
- Information Systems/Technology
- International Business
- Management
- Marketing
- Operations Management
- Organizational Behavior/Development
- Public Administration
- Public Policy
- Quantitative Analysis
- Real Estate
- Strategic Analysis
- Taxation
- Transportation
From "Peterson's Guide to MBA Programs", 1995.
Area Business Schools
Minnesota
Wisconsin
CareerJournal's Hidden Gems (B-Schools)
Provides much more information on the following ten schools and other schools as well.
Other Possibilities of Schools
Resources
General Websites
New Programs
As the field becomes founded more on a variety of fields, there are new mentions of entrepreneurship, ethics, Total Quality Management (TQM), information technology management, and leadership development in nearly all basic M.B.A. programs. Awareness of teamwork and globalization, and increased diversity are highly recommended.
Articles concerning MBA degrees
MBA seeking jobs
Financial Aid Resources
A Day in the Life of a Student
From The Princeton Review's The Best 80 Business Schools, 2000
Male MBA, First Year
Kenan-Flagler Business School, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
7:00 am: Review notes for my first class.
7:30 am: Eat some high-energy cereal; read The Wall Street Journal - professors like to discuss news items that relate to the class topics.
8:00 am: Read review for quantitative methods exam; do practice problems; reread case on control systems for organizational behavior class.
9:00 am: Arrive at school. Go to reading room to hang out with everyone. Check student mailbox for invitations to recruiter events.
9:30 am: Integrative Management Class: guest speaker from case-study discusses how the company approached problems.
10:45 am: Hang out.
11:00 am: Organizational Behavior Class: Get in a couple of good comments; debate the effectiveness of a management decision with another student in class.
12:15 pm: Grab some lunch and sit with friends. Talk about the lousy cafeteria food and who's dating whom.
1:00 pm: Go back to reading room to review for 2:00 class.
2:00 pm: Microeconomics Class: Listen to lecture on monopolistic competition.
3:15 pm: Arrive at home, change into work-out clothes. Go running, lift weights relax.
6:00 pm: Eat dinner; watch the news. Read the next day's case.
7:30 pm: Headback to campus for study group.
7:45 pm: Discuss cases, help each other with homework problems on interpreting regression statistics; discuss how to account for capital leases versus operating leases.
10:00 pm: Back at home. Review more cases; read next class assignment in textbook; work on problem set.
Midnight: Sports on ESPN 'til I fall asleep. Boardroom dreams.
Female MBA, Second Year
The Fuqua School of Business, Duke University
6:45 am: Get dressed, listen to CNN, and pick up The Wall Street Journal on way to school.
8:00 am: Arrive at school. Bargaining and Negotiations class. Perform role play on conflict resolution.
10:15 am: Hang out, grab a bagel.
10:30 am: Intermediate Accounting Class discussion on cash flow statements, nothing exciting.
12:45 pm: Arrive at admissions office to review resume of applicant to b-school.
1:00 pm: Conduct interview of applicant.
1:45 pm: Write evaluation of candidate. Hand in to admissions secretary.
2:00 pm: Attend quality advisory board meeting discuss creation of corporate survey.
3:30 pm: Competitive Strategy class. Lecture on barriers to entry.
5:45 pm: Attend recruiter event. Tell the recruiter how interested I am in the industry (I know nothing about it).
7:45 pm: Over to the health club for aerobics.
8:45 pm: Drive home, eat dinner, and finally read The Wall Street Journal - of course, it's not news by now.
9:30 pm: Study class notes; prepare next day's case.
11:45 pm: Quality phone time with my boyfriend.
12:30 pm: Boardroom dreams.
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