Have you just obtained your Bachelor’s Degree? Congratulations! However, if you are planning on attending grad school, unfortunately this is where the hard work really begins. Trying to decide what Grad school you are going to go to can be a stressful process, but there is no need to worry as here we are taking you through our checklist of things that you will want to do before you apply for grad school.
What Is It You Want to Study?
This might seem like an obvious one, but one of the first things that you will need to do is actually decide what it is that you want to study! This is something that many people are usually quite unsure about and it requires a lot of dedicated time to researching the different courses out there and what your job prospects will be in doing it. Not only that, grad school is extremely expensive, and so you will want to make sure that you are 100% sure you are doing the degree that is right for you.
Start Studying Now
When attending grad school, you will normally have to sit additional exams such as the GRE to gain a place on the course and this ultimately means that you will have to start studying now. To give you the best chance at securing a spot on the course, make sure you look into what’s the best gre prep course online and schedule in enough time to study and complete it. This is one of the most important steps as you otherwise may not be accepted into the grad school of your choosing.
Is There a Community?
Another important step that you will want to take before applying for grad school is checking out the community that the school has. If you are already in a national organisation, check to see whether or not the grad schools you are looking at offer this organisation as you can reach out to them and this will ensure a much smoother transition with friendly people already waiting to greet you.
Can You Afford It?
One of the biggest deciding factors when choosing a grad school is, of course, the cost. We would suggest first trying to get some sort of scholarship, fellowship or graduate assistantship that covers the cost of certain aspects such as your tuition, housing or health insurance.
Make Connections
And not just with other students! Once you know where it is that you are going to study, it is a good idea to reach out to current students on the program, current faculty and even alumni. This will allow you to ask important questions and you can find out whether or not this course really is the best fit for you.
Check out the Campus
At grad school, you will be spending a lot of time on the campus and so it is extremely important that you visit the campus before you decide where you want to study. You’ll want to make sure that this is a place that you can call ‘home’ during your grad school years.
