Thinking About Graduate School?
A. Is it for you? Should you apply right after graduating from Westmont?
B. What to consider:
School’s reputation - Program’s reputation - Focus of Program -
Faculty - Location - Price Tag - Available funding -
Class representation and size - Length of Program
These types of lists can be a place to start:
http://programs.gradschools.com/pacific-coast/social_work_msw.html
http://www.gradschools.com/programs/sociology.html
http://www.gradschools.com/social_sciences.htm.
C. Getting into Graduate School: What can I do?
- Take as many advanced courses as possible in your field.
- Get to know your professors, see if you can assist them in research, etc.
- Spend your summers wisely: volunteer, do an internship, read!
- Find out what test or tests you’ll be required to take in order to apply.
- Start the application process early and keep up with what is happening at Universities.
- Apply to several schools (six is a good number).
- Visit as many schools as you can, and talk to the professors.
- Writing and researching is what grad school is all about; demonstrate you can do the work.
- Master’s vs Doctorate program: choose to apply for the doctorate.
- Be prepared to apply again if you are not accepted the first time around.
D. The application essay
- Start early, this is important and you will want to write the very best essay you possibly can if you hope to get into graduate school.
- Pay extremely close attention to spelling, grammar, sentence structure, and word usage and have others proofread your essay, including your advisor.
E. Become a member of Professional organizations and Non-Profit
Organizations, etc.
Useful websites:
National Association of Social Workers
American Sociological Association
American Anthropological Association
The National Academies’ Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education: