Unfortunately, there are no magical resources that list all available graduate programs for a particular topic. Many programs on the same topic will have different names or group many specialities under the same umbrella program. This means you will have to put energy into finding programs that match your interests and are a good fit for your career goals and other criteria. Make sure you put some thought into what you want to get out of graduate school before starting to research into the different types of programs and degrees out there.
Gather the Preliminaries
Before you delve into curating a list of graduate programs that you might be interested in, put some thought into these parameters:
- Know your career objective: The reason for attending graduate or professional school is to prepare for a specific career. Clarity about what your post-grad school career goal is is essential for a strong application. Knowing your own values, skills and work characteristics is crucial in choosing which fields and programs to pursue.
- Identify the different kinds of degrees and programs: Look into a broad range of graduate degree options. You don’t need to go into details of specific programs just yet, but it’s a good idea to be mindful of the differences between a master’s and a Ph.D. for example.
- Identify the factors: Since you will be spending a considerable amount of time in graduate school, it is important to think about your comfort. For instance, would you prefer a small school or a big one? Usually, students consider size, faculty, facilities, location, reputation, financial aid, student body, school affiliation, campus environment, tuition requirements, career support, student organizations or special program requirements.
- Develop a criteria sheet: It’s recommended you make a spreadsheet or find a way to record all the information important to you so that you do not have to visit school websites again and again. You don’t have to narrow down the criteria just yet! Record anything and everything that comes to your mind. Here’s a template to get you started:
Graduate School Tracking Spreadsheet Template
Resources
We suggest students use the following resources to help ease the searching process:
- View graduate programs that CNS alumni have attended in our Career Guides by Major.
- View the list of graduate programs available at UT Austin here.
- Use GoogleScholar to find papers on research topics you are interested and look to see which labs published the paper.
- As you conduct your search, try seeking advice from professors, faculty, students and alumni of the programs you are considering as well as contacting people who work in your field of interest, unaffiliated with the programs. Ask them which programs they recommend or which research labs would be a good fit for your interests.
- Utilize rankings or established platforms to find graduate schools:
Steps
Here are a few steps we suggest to keep in mind while searching. Remember, make sure to tie your research back to your career goals and criteria:
- Find out if you are comfortable with the culture and locale of the programs you are considering.
- Know certificates, licenses and degrees available in your field and understand the different career options associated with each. Find out if the school has accreditation, and what sort of prestige is attached to the program.
- Consider the value placed on the prestige of graduate school programs in your field of interest.
- Know how you will be matched with an advisor, and try to meet with an advisor before you make a final decision.
- Find out how departments support their students.
- Ask the percentage of students who graduate from the program and average length of time.
- Inquire about job placements of graduates from the program in the past several years.
- If possible, visit each campus, visit with faculty who specialize in your area of interest, meet with admissions staff, and sit in on classes.
Narrow it Down
- Reach out to faculty in the department you are considering working with or even set up a campus visit.
- Weigh the different factors you noted. Keep in mind though: the university chooses you. It’s a good practice to apply to a diverse set of universities and communicate your fit effectively.
- Ask the departments for names of current graduate students who can talk to you about their experiences both in their current program and what they learned from their research while applying.