Find out what recent graduates are doing. The investment in graduate school should pay off. Were graduates able to get promotions at their current workplaces? Were they able to get better jobs? Did they find work in academia or in industry?
Do the math. If you get into a high-ranking graduate program, you should be proud. But you also need to make sure that the prestige translates into jobs later on, especially if you have to pay your way through the program. Some of the companies who hire in specific fields don't care where you got your degree, only that you have it. But, if you plan on going into academia, where you get your degree is crucial.
Ask about face time. In graduate school, the connections you make are just as valuable as what you learn, sometimes even more so when you are looking for jobs. Before you take on the graduate school admission process at a specific school, find out if the professors are accessible. Are they known for helping graduate students finish their theses or dissertations? Working with a scholar who has a big-league reputation is nice, but it doesn't matter much if he never talks to you.
Is the program flexible? The best graduate school for you may not be the most prestigious. If you want to work while attending school so you can keep your benefits and maintain your 401(k) contributions, then you should look for programs with night and weekend classes or consider online graduate schools.
Put your own needs first when looking at graduate schools. It's all about fit. If you get into the right graduate program, then your career has more potential to grow.
For more information on graduate schools, visit the career and money section of Life123.com.
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