Graduate Programs
Frequently Asked Questions WHEN CONSIDERING GRADUATE SCHOOL
Selecting a Graduate Program
- How do I select a graduate program?
- Do rankings by U.S. News & World Report mean anything about the quality of a graduate program?
- How can I tell if a graduate program is a good program or not?
- How can I find out more about a graduate program's particular orientation or specialty areas?
- What are some sources of information about graduate programs in psychology, human development, family studies and sociology?
- Should I get a Master's degree or a Ph.D. (doctoral degree)?
- I am interested in research, what should I look for in a graduate program?
- I am interested in being a college professor, what should I look for in a graduate program?
- I am interested in applied work for program development, program evaluation, or policy, what should I look for in a graduate program?
- I am interested in working directly with people such as therapy or counseling, what should I look for in graduate program?
- Should I visit a program before agreeing to attend?
- Can I contact faculty members directly about working with them in a graduate program?
Preparing for and applying to graduate school
- What courses should I take to strengthen my ability to get into graduate school?
- How important are Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores?
- Can I improve my GRE score?
- How should I prepare for the GRE?
- My grades were low in my freshman year and this hurts my overall GPA, will this matter?
- What are graduate admissions committees looking for beyond grades and test scores?
- What is the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) and why do I need this?
- Many applications ask for a statement of interests, what is it important to say?
- How important are letters of recommendation when applying to graduate school?