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Graduate School and Professional School

If you are considering graduate/professional school, assess how furthering your education fits into your personal growth and interests as well as the trends and development of the profession. For each school you are considering, research the program of study, faculty, admissions procedures, availability of financial aid, opportunities for practical experience such as internships, accreditation, and the follow-up of previous graduates. When applying, begin the summer before your senior year of college or one year before you plan to start graduate school.  

If you would like to meet with a career counselor to discuss your interests in attending graduate  school/professional school or would like to have a career counselor  critique your graduate/professional school application, please make an appointment by calling 717-948-6260. 

Suggested Questions for Graduate School Campus Visitations
Graduate School and Testing Info
Applying To Graduate Or Professional School
Graduate School Checklist

Suggested Questions for Graduate School Campus Visitations


OVERALL PROGRAM

  • Indicate the characteristics that distinguish this program from others in the same field.
  • May I have the names of recent alumni and students presently enrolled in the program? (You will want to ask these people about the strengths and weaknesses of the program).
  • What will I be doing three to five years after I complete my graduate program? It pays to find out what kinds of employment are most frequently taken by graduates of the program you are considering.
  • Do students of this graduate department frequently fail to complete their degree programs?
  • To what extent can you use the degree from this department to get into other kinds of work? Is there much latitude for applying this degree to other fields?

FACULTY

  • Depth in the faculty: How many faculty members does the department have?
  • Does the department's reputation rest heavily on only one or two faculty members? What if they should go elsewhere?
  • Are there several big names on the faculty? If so, ask the students how often they actually see or speak with these people. Would you be likely to work with the big names on a research project, see them only in class, or just hear about them occasionally?
  • What have faculty members published lately? (Compare the professors' interests to your own).
  • Is there a variety of points of view in the department, or are most of the faculty members' approach to the discipline rather single-minded? Would you rather be a disciple or develop your own approach to the field?

STUDENT LIFE

  • Are there student organizations related to this program or major?
  • What are the social and cultural activities of the school?
  • What percentage of students attend full-time/part-time?

CAMPUS FACILITIES

  • What library and computer facilities are available? How accessible are they?

INTERNSHIPS

  • Does the program include planned practical experiences? Ask for examples of internship placements.

FELLOWSHIPS AND FUNDS

  • How much fellowship money is available? How many students receive fellowships? Are you likely to be among the lucky few?

FINANCIAL AID

  • What types of financial aid are offered? How much money is available?
  • What criteria are used for choosing recipients?

CAREER SERVICES & FOLLOW UP OF GRADUATES

  • How many organizations recruit on campus and who are they?
  • Is follow up done on graduates? Where are the graduates employed? (Note what percentage of the graduates the department has figures on).
  • What percentage of graduates and degree candidates in this department succeed in finding employment? To what extent is the department helpful in enabling the graduate to find suitable work?

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

  • What is the relative importance of admissions test scores, undergraduate grades, recommendations, statements on applications, experiences, and other requirements?
  • Does the department prefer applicants immediately out of an undergraduate program or do they prefer applicants with work experience? If they prefer or request experience, ask "What kind of experience are you looking for?"

Graduate School and Testing Info

If you have identified some graduate programs you wish to explore further, don't forget to use the World Wide Web to visit your school of interest.

Relevant Links that will provide additional information:

Contact the PSH Career Services office to get your access token  --   call  717-948-6260, or stop by the office located in the Susquehanna building (north  entrance).

                    

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