Choosing a Graduate Program: An Essential Checklist
You’ve decided to continue your education with a graduate program and have winnowed all the possible programs down to a short list of three to five schools.
Now the real work begins.
Choosing a graduate program is grueling and time-consuming. As it should be. After all, this decision will have major implications for your future. To help make the process easier we’ve created a checklist of steps for vetting programs. While non-exhaustive, this checklist is a good starting point when deciding where to apply—and, later, enroll.
Online vs. On-Ground, Degree vs. Certificate
Online graduate programs offered by accredited and reputable brick-and-mortar schools, like UTEP, are now commonplace and generally well-respected. If you need (or would enjoy) the convenience and flexibility of an online program—for example, if you’re working a part- or full-time job or have family or other obligations—make sure you include them in your search. Online graduate program can be especially valuable if you want to take advantage of your employer’s tuition reimbursement plan but there aren’t suitable graduate programs in your area.
The other decision you’ll have to make before going much further is whether you want to earn a graduate degree (like a master’s) or a graduate certificate. While degrees and certificates both offer an opportunity to earn additional credentials, advance in your career, and evolve as a professional, it’s important to consider your field, career aspirations, time, and resources when making your decision. For more on this topic, read our eBook Online Graduate Certificate Program or Degree: Which Is Right for You?
Map Each Program’s Offerings to Your Goals
This exercise may sound basic, but it can be a surprisingly helpful early step in choosing a graduate program. Taking a methodical and standardized approach to researching programs, rather than wandering aimlessly through school websites and marketing brochures, can save time and ensure you’re focusing on the factors most important to you.
Start by writing down all the outcomes you want from graduate school. For example, “move into management,” “make more money,” “acquire new skills,” or “change professions.” Making them time-bound (“make more money within the next six months”) is even better. Next, list program attributes that can help you achieve each outcome—courses that build specific skills you’ll need, opportunities for industry experience with internships or co-ops, etc. Then, when researching programs look specifically for the attributes on your list.
Say, for example, you currently work in construction and are looking for a master’s program that can help you move into management. Your worksheet may look something like this:
Outcome: Get Promoted to Management Within Two Years
|
Program A |
Program B |
Program C |
Accredited? |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Duration |
21 months |
13 months |
24 months |
Course on cost analysis and bidding methods/tools |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Course on construction scheduling |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Internship Included |
Yes |
No |
No |
Faculty with industry experience |
Some |
All |
All |
Focus on theory/research or practical application |
Both |
Practical |
Theory/Research |
Access to a career services department |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Percent employed in construction management within 3 months of graduation |
91% |
72% |
87% |
Laying out your research like this can help you compare programs more objectively. It may even help eliminate a program or two from your short list, if you uncover that a school you had thought was a contender is severely lacking in an important area.
Visit Campus
If you’re deciding between two or three programs, visit each campus if possible. Many schools hold open houses or information sessions where prospective students can tour the department; ask questions and network with current students, faculty, and staff. Some also hold special events for admitted students, travel stipends included. (For online programs, see if there are any upcoming webinars for prospective students to learn more about the school and ask questions.)
While there, try to get a sense for the culture and atmosphere. See if you can picture yourself there. If the school is in a different geographic area than where you currently live, get a feel for the location to better understand how relocating there may impact your family. These are also excellent opportunities to introduce yourself to admissions representatives and to hear firsthand from people who were recently in your situation—leading us to our next item.
Talk to Current Students
Just as you’d want to hear customer testimonials before making a major purchase, it’s critical to speak with at least one student currently in the program. After all, they were in your situation not too long ago and are pursuing a similar career path or interest. What better source for learning what the program is really like? The easiest way to do this is by contacting the school’s admissions department, who will be happy to connect you with current students. Just keep in mind that these students were chosen by the school, so they might not represent the whole, or even the majority, of their cohorts.
Use these conversations to ask about the qualities you can’t find on a school’s website or in a brochure, such as:
- How accessible are faculty? Are they willing to go the extra mile to make themselves available to students?
- How would you rate the quality of the instruction? Are professors truly experts in their fields?
- How helpful has the career services department been in helping you prepare for interviews and search for internships and full-time jobs?
If the program you’re considering is entirely online or a combination of online and in-person (blended), include these additional questions:
- How easy to use are the school’s technology platforms (Blackboard, for example)?
- Do students in online programs have access to campus services like the library, writing center, and tech support department?
- Where do you go for help and how easy is getting it?
These kinds of questions can help bring to light factors—and important differences between schools—you may not have thought of.
Speak with Alumni
Equally important as feedback from current students is the perspectives of alumni, as they’ll be able to describe the program’s impact over the longer-term. For example, has it helped them advance in their careers or successfully change professions? How long did it take to achieve the objectives they had when starting the program? Would they do it all over again? Even alumni just a few years out should be able to give a balanced perspective of the program and the effect it’s had on their careers and lives.
Ask Employers Their Perspectives
If your primary motivator for attending grad school is to expand your professional prospects, it’s a great idea speak with employers in your desired field before committing to a program. Explain to recruiters and hiring managers for the jobs you want that you’re planning to enroll in a graduate program and ask their perceptions of the schools on your short list. Are there schools they prefer to hire from, and why? Conversely, are there schools they avoid for some reason? Ask about the strengths and weaknesses of graduates they’ve hired from certain programs. This insight can help you choose a program viewed favorably by employers over one that doesn’t carry much weight or has a poor reputation in the industry.
Compare Financials
This goes without saying, but carefully run the numbers for each program on your short list. When calculating a program’s total cost, consider tuition, fees, and living expenses for you and any family members relocating with you for the program’s duration. (Of course, if a program is online, you won’t have to worry about renting an apartment and other costs associated with moving to a new city). Factor in any scholarships, either awarded by the institution or by a third party, you may be eligible for and any employer-sponsored tuition reimbursement you plan to take advantage of. For a more complete picture of the ROI you can expect, compare each program’s total cost with the salary increases a graduate degree typically yields in that field.
What’s Next
A graduate degree through UTEP Connect is just what you need to accelerate your career. Whether you want to climb the ladder in your current job or start off on a totally new path, our flexible online master’s degree and certificate programs can help you achieve your goals. We invite you to explore our online programs and see what it will take to make that next step in your career. If you want to learn more about UTEP Connect’s 100% online graduate certificate programs, reach out. An enrollment counselor will contact you directly.