gc599 nau.edu/gradcol

1. Finding the Right
Program

2. Finding the Right Program
– Geographical restrictions, where can you live,
not live
– Admission criteria
– Financial support available (assistantships,
waivers, scholarships)
– Degree requirements
– Potential for employment
– Accreditation of program, university
– Talk to your professors re: good program
matches for you
– RESEARCH, READ, START EARLY
– Make appointments to visit programs

3. Graduate School, Family & Culture
• Start preparing your family now about your
plans and get whatever support/approval you
can
– Be aware that getting into the program of
your dreams may mean moving out of the
area or out of state
• Talk with your family about your educational
experience and your dreams/goals, try to
keep connected with your loved ones and
help them to connect with your new
experiences
• Visit home often, even if its difficult or feels
painful

4. Finding the Right Program (con’t)
• www.gradview.com
• www.petersons.com
• www.gradschools.com
• http://www.gradportal.org
• http://www.mba.com/mba/thegmat
• www.gre.com
• http://www.lsat.com/
• http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/

5. Finding the Right Program - Admissions
You should consider the following when investigating your
programs of interest:
• Admission criteria for each program
– GRE, GMAT, or other standardized tests
• Are these tests required for your program?
• What is the score range of previous successful applicants to your program?
– GPA
• What was the GPA range of previous successful applicants to your program?
• Do you look at major GPA, or cumulative GPA, or both?
– Clinicals, Work experience, Internships
• Are previous work experience, clinicals, internships, research, etc included as part of
the admission criteria?
• Do previous successful applicants to the program have any of this experience?
– Recommendations
• How many letters of recommendation are needed, and from whom?
• Start making connections with your previous faculty and let them know you may
need a recommendation.

6. Finding the Right Program – Department Questions
• Degree Requirements (what does it take to finish the degree)
– How many credits/hours is your program?
– Is there a core set of courses? Can I create an emphasis?
– Is the program thesis track or non-thesis track?
– Do you have an opportunity to research, publish, do clinicals, etc.
– When do you take my comprehensive exams and what preparation do you
need?
• Potential for employment
– What are graduates doing with the degree?
– Are graduates employed in the field or outside of the field?
– Are graduates going on to doctoral programs, and where?
• Speak with your professors regarding good program matches
– Utilize your previous faculty to discuss different programs and whether they
would be good matches for your academic and career goals
nau.edu/graduateprograms