Graduate School

Learn about attending a graduate school

Attending graduate school or earning your doctorate can really enhance your career prospects if you want to enter the professional world or find a job in the realm of academia. Graduate school degrees are available in every field, so you can improve your academic credentials no matter what your interests.

Levels of Graduate Study

There are three levels of study you can pursue at graduate school: you can get a master’s degree, a doctorate degree or continue with post-doctorate studies. If you’re planning to enter the workforce following your studies, a master’s degree will generally suffice. Having a PhD will leave you overqualified for the majority of professional positions, and doctorate degrees are generally only pursued by people who plan to earn professorships.

Post-doctorate studies are usually undertaken by students in highly competitive academic fields. To land a college-level teaching gig, you’ve got to separate yourself from the pack of other qualified PhD holders competing for the same jobs. Networking is key, just like in any other industry – but it’s also important to publish articles in academic journals. Post-doctorate studies help recent PhD graduates finesse and focus their written work to enhance their chances of getting published and landing a job as a professor.

Applying to Graduate School

Whether you’re attending a graduate business school or an online graduate school, you’re going to need to write the GRE. This standardized test is not unlike a college-level version of the SAT; it tests your reasoning, reading, mathematics and critical thinking skills. Most graduate school admissions policies place high value on the applicant’s GRE score, as well as academic transcripts from undergraduate study and, in some cases, letters of recommendations.

You should consult a U.S. graduate school ranking publication if you want to know which universities offer the best programs in your field of study. However, be aware: the higher a given institution’s graduate school ranking, the harder it will be to get in.

Earning an advanced degree from a good graduate school will improve both your mind and your career prospects. If you’re passionate about your field, it’s something you should look into.