GRADUATE SCHOOL
General
Information
The
purpose of graduate school is to provide a general education in
any number of professional careers. There is a broad range
of programs available to acquire through the completion of a graduate
program including M.S. (Master of Science), M.A. (Master of Arts), M.Phil. (Master of Philosophy), M.Ed. (Master of Education), PhD (Doctor of Philosophy), or ED (Doctorate of Education). The typical
graduate program consists of two parts, the first being about a
year's worth of structured coursework and the second being a year of
work towards a thesis. Typically, individuals will select a graduate
major that is in-line with their undergraduate program, and they
have options for attending full or part-time.
The
Basics of the GRE
The
GRE or Graduate Record Exam is an entrance exam used by most schools
and serves as a requirement for admission into a selected program.
The test consists of 3 sections: Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical, with each section being scored on a scale between 200 to 800. Typical average
scores for the Verbal section are 480, 550 for the Quantitative section, and 520 for the Analytical.
In addition to the GRE being offered as a general test, there are also
several subject tests that some schools require applicants to take
addition to the general test.
The
GRE is exclusively administered through the computer (CBT-Computer
Based Test) at specified testing sites so it will be necessary for you to set up an appointment with
a testing center to take it. The GRE is unique in that its questions are administered different for each person because they adapting to your skill level while you take the exam. For example, the test will first ask you an
average-leveled question and if you answer it correcly, the next question will
be harder. If your answer is incorrect, the computer will offer you an easier question next.
GRE test preparation materials are available
HERE.
The
Application Process
The application process to get into graduate school is comprised of a number of parts that, when viewed together, are intended to show
a university that you have what it takes to succeed. It is important to keep in mind that schools have set deadlines for completed applications and it is your responsibility to find the deadline dates and abide by them. The various components of the application process are listed
below. *Please note - not all schools require all of this information,
but this is a guide as to what you can expect.
Acceptable
GRE Scores |
Official copy of your transcripts |
Letters
of Recommendations |
A
Personal Statement |
Short
Essays |
A
Resume |
An
Interview |
|
Frequently
Asked Questions
By
Christopher Volpe, Ph.D.
Assistant
Vice President, Graduate Courses
The
Princeton Review
When
should I take the GRE?
Find
out the admission deadlines for the graduate schools to which you
are applying. Then work backwards so that you take the GRE at least
6 months before your earliest deadline. This gives you some extra
time for unexpected delays in case you need to take the test again.
You can only take the test once per calendar month. And keep in
mind that it can take as long as four weeks for your official scores
to arrive at your designated schools. Some testing months are more
popular than others, so it is very important to register early.
The GRE can be taken on nearly any day except Sundays and major
holidays.
Do
you have to get a master’s degree before a Ph.D.?
No.
Graduate degrees are not like promotions-you don’t need to go through
one to reach the next level. In fact, three out of four Ph.D.s
do not have a master’s degree. Some doctoral candidates (graduate
students working towards a Ph.D.) elect to complete the requirements
for a master’s degree along the way as an “insurance degree” in
case they to not complete the Ph.D. requirements.
I’ve
heard that grad students go to school for free and also get paid.
Is this true?
Master’s
students and part-time doctoral students usually pay tuition and
do not receive a stipend. However, most full-time doctoral students
receive a stipend in the range of $10,000 - $15,000 per year. In
addition, their tuition is paid for by departmental research funds.
In contrast, business, medical, and law schools do not offer students
any salary or stipend. Instead, these students have to fork over
$5,000 - $35,000 per year for tuition and fees.
How
much teaching will I have to do while pursuing my degree?
Master’s
students don’t have to teach, but they may be given the opportunity
in order to offset some of their tuition costs. Full-time
doctoral students often teach half of the academic terms during
their first and second years. After that, it really depends on
the research funds of your advisor. If your “group” is well-funded,
then you may be off the hook because any research grants that your
advisor receives can cover your stipend and tuition. If not, you’ll
probably have to teach throughout your graduate career.
Back
to
Graduate
Schools :
Students
:
Home
|
