What is Graduate School?
Graduate school constitutes an advanced program of study focused on a particular academic discipline or profession. Traditionally, graduate school has been "academic" (centered on generating original research in a particular discipline), but it may be "professional" (centered on developing skills and knowledge for a specific profession), or a combination of both.
How is Graduate School Different from Undergraduate Education?
Compared to undergraduate studies, graduate school is a more concentrated course of study and expectations regarding the quality and quantity of your academic work are greater. Graduate programs also entail:
What Graduate Degrees are available?
Graduate degrees are available in almost any subject and come in three levels-Master, Specialist, and Doctorate. Depending on the graduate school program and degree level you desire, your program requirements and length will vary.
Before making the decision to go to graduate school, it's a good idea to look at what may be behind your decision. Here's some resources to help you evaluate whether graduate school is the right direction for you now:
Daniel Smith of the SSU McNair Scholars Program advises prospective applicants to do the following before applying to a graduate school program:
1. Get research experience
2. Interact with at least two professors in your major outside of class
3. Look for internship/volunteer experiences related to your long term interests
4. Set up a regular study schedule for the GRE several months in advance
5. In order to determine your fit in a graduate program, read faculty profiles and bios, and look for specific matches in the description of the program. [See more on determining your fit here.]