Tips for Choosing the Right Grad School!

Choosing a college or university for graduate studies is much more than going with the school with the highest ranking or best word-of-mouth reputation. After all, your time, effort, and money is at stake. Graduate school is a big commitment which is what makes choosing the right school such an important decision.

Keep the below tips in mind while considering which graduate school is right for you:

Do Enough Research: Avoid waiting a few weeks before an application deadline to start conducting your research. Give yourself at least six months in advance to fully review potential university’s websites, create a spreadsheet comparing and contrasting schools and programs of interest, then based on your research, hone in on your choices.

Know Yourself and Your Industry: Remember to find the school that is best fit for you right now. Not what you used to want or what other people have told you. By now, you likely know if you prefer the hustle and bustle of a city or a quaint college town. Pursue a graduate school the meets that criteria. Additionally, get a solid understanding of the industry you are pursing by connecting with professionals in your field. Make sure their realities are something you envision for your future.

Visit Campuses: A campus may seem great in theory, but to really seal the deal you should try and arrange for an in person visit. If the college or university is too far, that visit may be difficult. Check to see if they offer virtual tours instead - so you can take a gander in the comfort of your own home. SJU offers virtual tours of our Queens and Staten Island campuses for interested students.

Talk to Current Students: What better than hearing first hand experiences? Here at St. John’s University we want to help set your mind at ease by providing you with the opportunity to connect directly with a current SJU graduate student. You can ask what you feel is important, and you will receive an honest and timely reply from someone who personally knows what it’s like to pursue graduate studies at St. John’s.

Explore Different Types of Programs: Traditional classroom college experiences aren’t always right for everyone, so consider your options. Look into schools that offer a variety of learning experiences from traditional, to online learning, and even study abroad experiences.

With so many schools and programs available it is important to do your research in order to make an informed decision about where to apply. This way when time comes to enroll, you can look forward to a much richer and confident experience.

The graduate schools at St. John’s University in New York City offer more than 60 graduate degree and professional certificate programs in five acclaimed colleges, a School of Law, and institute dedicated solely to the growing field of biotechnology. Our highly competitive advanced degree programs will challenge you to become the very best you can possibly be!