Finding & Evaluating Graduate Schools: Strategies & Template

Applying to graduate school is a big decision that requires thought and consideration. Use these strategies and template to evaluate different graduate schools and decide which programs are right for you based on your individual needs, academic interests, and career goals.

Finding Graduate Programs

Graduate programs can be highly specialized and vary greatly across different universities. The following resources can be helpful in researching graduate programs:

Alumni: Use the student outcomes tool and/or Mentor Match to explore and learn more about the graduate programs alumni have pursued in the past.

LinkedIn: Look up companies and careers that interest you. What graduate programs have professionals at these companies, especially those in roles you’re interested in, attended?

Graduate School Fairs: Attend graduate school fairs and recruitment events to connect with representatives from graduate schools and learn more about different programs.

Faculty: Binghamton University faculty are experts in their fields. Schedule a meeting with a faculty member in your area of interest and talk to them about your academic and career goals.

Journals and Publications: Many scholarly articles and research publications are associated with a university. Look into your field of interest and find articles that sound like research you might want to work on. The schools where this research took place will likely have labs and research programs that will be of great interest to you.

Planning, Applying, & Evaluating Your Options

It’s important to keep your graduate school application process organized. Graduate school applications can be costly and time-consuming, so consider each school carefully and only apply to programs that are a good fit to maximize your time and resources. Our evaluating graduate schools template allows you to carefully consider graduate programs, track application deadlines, and ultimately make more informed decisions once you begin receiving offers. The template provides a strong foundation; however, we encourage you to make a copy and add any categories that are more personal to your search and goals. Know that a career consultant can support you as you begin researching programs and filling out the sections.

Picture Source: Freepik.com