Should I Attend Graduate School?
Deciding whether to attend graduate school is a uniquely personal choice. However, if a graduate degree is required for your desired career path or if you have a strong interest in specializing in a particular field, it may be worth serious consideration. Ask yourself the following questions to assess your knowledge and motivation to pursue graduate education.
- Do I have a clear understanding of what I want to do?
- Does my ideal career require an advanced degree?
- Do I feel excited to dive deeper into my field of study, contributing to the research and current understanding
- Am I prepared for 1-7 more years in school?
If you responded no to any of the above questions, it doesn’t necessarily mean graduate school is the wrong choice for you, it just means we need to dig in deeper to make a more informed decision. If you are unsure of whether or not the career(s) you are interested in require graduate school, the educational attainment data on O*NET is a great place to start your research.
Finding Graduate Programs and Organizing Your Search
When preparing for graduate school, begin by thoroughly researching potential schools and programs. You’ll also need to spend some time reflecting on your goals and what you expect from a graduate program so that you can find schools that align. Researching your career of interest to clarify what specific degree is required, identifying your values and priorities, and consulting with faculty, alumni and professionals in the field are all important steps in narrowing your search. Utilize our Finding & Evaluating Graduate Schools: Strategies & Template resource to ensure your search and application process is organized and well thought out.
Graduate School Application Materials
While every graduate school varies, the following materials are commonly requested in applications:
- Resume or CV
- Personal Statement(s)
- Letter(s) of Recommendation
- Specific Standardized Tests
- Interviews Upon Acceptance
Graduate School Application Materials: Frequently asked questions
Every graduate program application will require you to submit a resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV). This document is intended to provide an overview of your background, including your skills and experiences. The choice between submitting a resume or CV will vary depending on your background and program of interest. Unless programs specifically request one document over the other, generally speaking, resumes are commonly used in industry roles, whereas CVs are more common in academic or research settings. Learn more about resumes and CVs, and begin updating your own documents by downloading one of our editable templates.
Writing about yourself can be difficult! Before beginning your brainstorming, visit the graduate admissions webpage for the programs you are applying to, as most schools will provide a prompt or instructions on what they expect you to include. Utilize our personal statement guide for information on structuring your statement, an activity to help you get started, and sample excerpts from actual personal statements. Additionally, please know that the Fleishman Career Center staff can provide personalized support in developing your personal statement. Schedule an appointment with a consultant on Handshake by hireBING.
Identify any preferences or rules the schools you are applying to may have for who should write your letters of recommendation and how many to submit. Generally, programs will request 2-3 letters from professionals who can support your candidacy. This can include faculty members, job or internship supervisors, professionals in the field/industry, or other staff at your university.
When requesting a letter of recommendation, it is helpful to include the schools/programs you will be applying to, an updated copy of your resume, and any specific points or skills you are hoping your writer will highlight. It is best to provide those you ask with at least 30 days to write the letter.
Sample request for a recommendation letter:
Hi Professor Baxter,
I hope you’re well. I’m in the process of applying to graduate school to pursue an MBA and want to ask if you feel comfortable writing a strong letter of recommendation on my behalf. Given the impact you have had on my academic journey, I believe you would be the ideal person to speak to my abilities and potential as a graduate student.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time as your student and later TA in Microeconomics (ECON 160). As my professor and supervisor, I believe you could provide insight into my work ethic, communication skills, and dedication to the subject matter.
I would be honored if you could write a letter of recommendation for me as I embark on this next chapter of my academic and professional journey. The deadline for submitting letters of recommendation is Dec. 1st, 20xx. I have attached an updated copy of my resume to this email for your reference, and I am happy to provide any other details you may require if you agree to write on my behalf.
Thank you so much for your consideration, and I look forward to hearing from you. If you have any questions or need additional information, please let me know.
Sincerely,
Your Name
Some graduate schools may require an interview as a portion of the application process as an opportunity for the admissions committee to learn more about potential applicants, assess required skills and competencies, and evaluate overall fit for the program. These interviews vary depending on the university and graduate program, but the Fleishman Career Center can provide individual support with your preparation. Schedule an interview preparation or mock interview appointment with a consultant and/or practice using Big Interview, an online interview practice tool available 24/7 and free to Binghamton University students.
Financing Graduate School
While graduate school can be a significant financial commitment, many students combine multiple funding sources to help cover the cost. Becoming familiar with the common types of funding available can help you build a plan to support your graduate education.
Most grants and fellowships are outright cash awards, sometimes known as “gift aid”, provided by a department, university or outside organization. Often they cover the cost of tuition and fees plus a stipend to cover living expenses. Some are based exclusively on financial need, some exclusively on academic merit, and some on a need and merit.
Certain types of support, such as teaching, research, and administrative assistantships, require recipients to perform a service for the university in exchange for a salary or stipend: sometimes tuition is also provided or waived.
Teaching Assistants (TAs) work with professors and may require instructional responsibilities. Research Assistants (RAs) are employed by their graduate schools to assist in conducting academic research. Both TAs and RAs are typically hired directly by the professors with whom they will be working and are paid by a fixed stipend on a quarter or semester term contract basis.
You should check with the financial aid officer of the school you wish to attend before applying for a loan to determine if the school may offer a financial aid package that makes borrowing unnecessary. You can then borrow only what you really need once the school has made its aid offer. Various federal and private loan programs are available for graduate study. For more information, contact your school’s financial aid office, the graduate academic department, and check websites.
Specific questions about graduate school funding should be directed to the financial aid office or academic department of the program you’re applying to. If you’re interested in discussing financial planning or building a budget, consider scheduling an appointment with a financial educator at the Fleishman Career Center.
