Resources

Graduate School Q&A

Prior to submitting your graduate school application...

When should I start thinking about graduate school? When should I start preparing to apply to graduate school?

The most important thing you can do to prepare for graduate school is gain research experience. Start by taking research methods classes at your college or university. For a lab like the CoMM Lab, we are looking for students who have training in data science, statistics, quantitative research methods (surveys, experiments) and/or qualitative research methods (interviews, content analysis). It also helps to have strong writing and presentation skills, so consider classes in journalism, English, and/or Communication Studies.

Once you have some basic research skills, getting involved in research as an undergraduate research assistant is a great way to start preparing for graduate school and will give you connections and experiences that will help you when applying to graduate school. Check with your student employment office about undergraduate research assistant opportunities, or try asking a favorite professor if they need help with their research. You could also do a directed study, where a professor supervises your research for course credit. This works best when you already know a professor well, so be sure you are visiting your professors in office hours and reading their research!

For more detailed timelines on when to apply to graduate school and how to prepare yourself leading up to the application process, see these helpful resources: timeline for undergraduate students or general monthly timeline.

Do I want a PhD or a Master’s degree?
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PhDs are research-focused academic degrees, while Master’s degrees are typically more specialized professionally-oriented degrees. The main difference between these degrees is the focus on research. PhD programs, while they do include a few years of academic classes, primarily focus on independent research, culminating in a dissertation,or final book-length report on the student’s original research. Master’s degrees give students specialized education in a particular field and place less emphasis on original research. Here is more information on the work and effort involved in getting a PhD, and how PhD programs differ from both undergraduate and Master’s graduate programs. Here is more information on work and effort involved in getting a Master’s degree. There are also programs that offer a Master’s/PhD track, where you will complete your requirements for getting a Master’s and have the option to continue towards a PhD.

How do I pick graduate schools to apply to?

It is important to recognize that admission to graduate school, especially a PhD program, is not very similar to admission to undergraduate programs. Generally speaking, there is no admissions office for graduate school - faculty directly select the students they want to work with. For that reason, it is very important to make connections with faculty in the programs where you would like to study. Reach out to mentors or professors who work in the area you are interested in, explain your goals/interests and ask for their advice on specific programs/professors to reach out to to submit your graduate school application. You can also browse schools and programs here: school rankings, schools by program, or this graduate school guide. Also keep in mind that the best graduate school advisors may not be at the schools with the best overall reputations for undergraduate programs. That’s OK! It’s much more important to have an excellent advisor in graduate school than it is to be at a school that is highly-ranked for it’s undergraduate programs.

How many schools should I apply to?
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Apply to a range between 5 and 10 schools, making sure that you apply to some reach schools and some safety schools. Visiting or contacting your selected schools before or after applying is also a good idea.

When should I start making my list of potential schools?
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Begin drafting a list of potential schools and programs after doing some research on what programs exist (by asking your mentors/professors/contacts). Draft your list based on features that are important to you (geographic location, research advisor, labs or research groups, student groups, advising or career services, networking center, etc.)

How will I fund graduate school?
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Funding graduate school can often be aided by fellowship or assistantship opportunities within the school’s department, scholarships (also called grants) offered by the school or external scholarships. Although it is not uncommon for students to self-fund Master’s degrees, you should not go to a PhD program that does not guarantee at least partial funding for doctoral students. Fellowship or assistantship opportunities allow graduate students to work in exchange for lower tuitions and stipends for living expenses. Many PhD programs will guarantee funding for a fixed number of years, after which graduate students in good standing may apply for research, teaching, and/or administrative positions within their department to continue to receive funding. You can also apply for external fellowships from schools, government agencies, foundations, and some companies. Funding opportunities can be explored on these sites: fastweb.com, gsmr.org, gograd.org, salliemae.com.

For more resources, visit:

https://phy.duke.edu/advice-applying-graduate-school

https://www.uwb.edu/getattachment/careers/majors-and-careers/gradschool/grad-school-eight-tips-for-getting-into-grad-school-4-09.pdf

Working on your graduate school application…

What is required to apply to graduate school?

While different schools require different materials, a graduate application most often includes 2 or 3 Letters of Recommendation from professors who know you, your Statement of Purpose, your GRE test scores, TOEFL scores if your undergraduate degree was issued by an institution where English is not the primary language of instruction, your undergraduate transcript, your resume, and possibly writing samples, publications, or projects if requested.

Who should I ask to write my letters of recommendation? Are letters of recommendation from work advisors or research mentors better than letters written by past professors?

Graduate schools typically prefer letters of recommendation to be written from undergraduate research advisors - either from laboratory experience or from an independent research study/project. However, most schools state their preference on letters of recommendation on their respective Q&A websites. Asking professionals to write your letters of recommendation will be easier if you make connections and establish relationships with leading researchers or professionals in your field of interest early in your undergraduate career. This way, these professionals will be better able to speak to your strengths and potential in graduate school because they know you personally and know how you work.

When asking someone for a letter of recommendation, you should provide them with context: your resume/summary of your accomplishments, application materials you will be submitting to graduate schools, a description of why you want to go to graduate school and a list of the schools you are applying to. More information on letters of recommendation for prospective PhD applications can be found here, and information on letters of recommendation for prospective Master’s applicants can be found here.

What do I write in my statement of purpose?

Students should write about the experiences that motivate their interest in graduate school. Unlike undergraduate application essays, graduate admissions committees are less interested in your life story, and more interested in why your research goals are a good match for the program and advisor to which you are applying. Your statement should be tailored toward your target program (and you may need different versions for different applications!). If you are interested in a PhD, tell the admissions committee in your statement of purpose why you have the potential to conduct research in your field, and highlight your research experience and published or unpublished projects. Identify specific faculty members you would like to work with, and explain how your interests are complementary with theirs. If you are interested in a professional Master’s program, tell the admission committee in your statement of purpose why your particular field is motivating to you, how you would add value to the program, and why you are interested in that specific school/program in the first place. You can find many more tips on content, formatting and writing style here and here.

What types of experience, writing samples and/or projects should I include on my resume?

It is important and beneficial for you to highlight any research and professional experiences you may have or have had in your application. Published or unpublished projects - whether research or industry-focused - that relate directly to your area of interest allow the admissions committees to get a good picture of your current skills and competency in your field, evaluate your potential in your area of interest, and/or your ability to succeed in their program. It is beneficial for you to include project descriptions, academic publications, and research/professional experiences on your resume. Here are tips on how to edit or build a strong resume, and here is a good reference for learning the difference between CVs and resumes, as well as how to edit each one.

Do I need a publication to be admitted into graduate school?

No, but it definitely helps admissions committees and potential advisors assess your research experience, motivation level and potential in the research field. Unpublished projects also assist admissions committees and potential advisors in evaluating your potential in your specific research area or industry domain. Having these projects highlighted in your application (statement of purpose/letters of recommendation/resume) or accessible on a personal website will demonstrate your abilities to your schools of interest.

What is the most important part of my application?

The most important parts of your application are the pieces that allow admissions committees to see who you are underneath your GPA. Letters of recommendation, your statement of purpose and your past experiences/projects are your most important parts of your application.

After submitting your graduate school application…

I had a bad semester/year/etc. as an undergraduate, is graduate school out of reach for me?

Not necessarily! Graduate school applications are usually evaluated holistically, so one bad semester or year of undergraduate grades will not usually prevent an otherwise strong candidate from being admitted to graduate school. However, it is important to address any weaknesses in your application directly. You can do this in your statement of purpose, or ask one of your recommendation letter writers to discuss the issue in their letter. You may also want to discuss any chronic issues with potential future advisors so you can determine if your new program will be able to support you appropriately.

How can I make my application stronger/stand out?

If you are interested in a PhD, the best way to stand out is to 1) have research experience and 2) focus on your research experiences and your abilities in your application. You should tell your own story in your statement of purpose and why you have the potential to succeed in graduate school. You should try to maintain a consistent narrative throughout your application that highlights your ability to learn and grow in your field of interest. You can consider creating and linking a personal website to your resume to highlight your experience/projects. If you are asked to attend an interview with any of the schools you applied to, be ready to articulate your reason for applying and wanting to complete graduate school. For some helpful advice on how to not make your application stronger, read this.

How do I evaluate potential programs/schools and choose one?

One of the most important aspects of graduate school is your research advisor. Spend time considering if the research advisor at that school would be a good match for your work style, how they would contribute to your growth as a researcher and if they would be a good career mentor for you. See more information on how to evaluate a potential research advisor and program here. Lastly, find out whether or not the school/program provides networking opportunities for you to create connections with professionals in your field. Networking will help you have more employment opportunities available to you post-graduation.

How do I prepare and ace my interviews?
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Be sure to have a clear answer for why you want to go to graduate school, why you want to be an expert in your specific field, and what motivates you to conduct your research. Also be ready to thoroughly explain your past research, publications and projects. Be honest and be yourself. Be sure to ask questions in order to gather all necessary information to inform your decision. At the bottom of this page, you can find questions that you can ask a potential research advisor and graduate students when visiting a school. Here you can find some questions you should be prepared to answer in a graduate school interview. Here are more tips on how to succeed in your graduate school interviews.

What are some things I should know before I start graduate school?
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Graduate school is for continuing your education and developing expertise in your area of interest. Below are some resources to help you navigate the hidden curriculum of graduate school. These resources define or describe research terminology, processes, assignments or social norms that you may not have learned in your undergraduate career, but will be useful to know in graduate school and beyond.

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#HiddenCurriculum or #tacitPhd Twitter Threads: Here, here and here

Some Basic Things You Should Know About Being in a PhD Program

A Graduate School Survival Guide (for prospective PhD students)

Tips for Work Life Balance in Graduate School

How to Create Research Poster

Writing Literature Reviews in Graduate School

Tressie McMillan Cottom's Graduate School Guidance (with a focus for students of color)