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发信人: gourmand (大食客), 信区: AdvancedEdu
标  题: So you wanna go to grad school....
发信站: BBS 水木清华站 (Mon Apr 20 13:17:31 1998)


                     So you wanna go to grad school....

If you're reading this, you're on the right track. You have probably
questioned some part of your current career path and are considering
graduate school as an interim strategy to get you where you want to be.
Grad school is a good choice, but also an expensive one, so choose
carefully.

Who are you? You won't be able to answer any questions about your future
until you get a handle on this question. The Myers Briggs Type Indicator
(MBTI) is an excellent place to start. Books like Do What You Are (my
personal favorite) and Please Understand Me will help you understand your
personality and offer excellent insights into the kinds of job
characteristics that will make you happy. Remember, this is something you
will do for most of your waking hours and you are more likely to derive
money from a career that makes you happy than to derive happiness from a
career chosen for money.

Decide which elements of your career you want to carry forward and which
ones you want to leave behind. The more carryforwards, the better. Think in
broad terms. What skills are transferable? The list is probably longer than
you think and there are many books (including resume books) that will help
you construct it.

Now you can start thinking about careers. There are many books and
resources available to help you try out new ideas. My favorite was The 100
Best Jobs for the 1990's and Beyond, which outlines broad current business
trends as well as key jobs targeted for growth. Read newspapers, magazines.
What industries are hot? Which ones interest you? You don't have to decide
exactly what you want to do, but pointing yourself in the right direction
is crucial to a profitable payback on your graduate school investment.

Now you're ready to consider what type of degree you want. What degree will
maximize your benefits and minimize your costs given your fields of
interest and background? Is a masters enough or will you need a Ph.D.? How
much schooling can you take at this point, and how many years of foregone
income can you live without? Make no mistake--graduate school is an
investment decision. Your age, your tolerance for school, and your native
inclinations will all play a role, but your foremost objective is to
improve your career outlook.

Now, find the best program you can possibly get into. The best schools will
yield the best payback, so don't scrimp on education dollars. Read
objective ratings of programs, US News and World Report and Business Week
offer informative annual rankings, but read any objective press you can
find on prospective schools. Apply the same dedication you would to any
investment decision.

Order many catalogues. This is where Gradschool.com can save you time and
money. Request materials on a broad array of programs without leaving your
desk. It's fast, easy, and FREE. This is the fun part--read the copy, look
at the pictures, but remember, catalogues are essentially marketing pieces.
It is their job to make the program sound as good as possible, which is why
you need to read independent sources. The same goes for student admissions
reps, so try to contact people you know for inside information.

The actual application process is tiring and expensive. The more schools
you apply to, the more the quality will suffer, so limit your choices to 5
schools or fewer. Reach for the stars, but also include a "safe" school
that you would be happy to attend. Many schools have admissions rounds, and
your chances of admission improve the earlier you apply, so start early and
finish early. Get feedback on your essays before you submit them.
Recommendations can be tedious--ask for them sparingly and leave ample time
for their completion. Make it easy on people recommending you by giving
them a resume and a letter outlining your goals and accomplishments for
their reference.

Finally, avoid taking more than one entrance exam (GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT)
as they are expensive, high pressure events. Test preparation courses are
expensive, but worth it, especially for top programs. They give focus to
studying and offer an informed group of people with whom to compare notes.

Good luck!

Diana Cirillo
The Wharton School, WG '98

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