The best graduate schools are very competitive. Their acceptance rates are quite low; some of these graduate schools only accept a small percentage of the applicants. However, students are still aiming to get into these highly reputable institutions to get the best possible education in their chosen field. They believe that the competitive nature of these institutions are the best training grounds for their profession. Education Graduate school is often directed toward a specific academic discipline. So, it is no wonder that education degree holders are keen to go for advanced degrees. P ...

A graduate degree is an investment because it enhances your existing potentials and it requires time, effort, and money on your part. For example, a bachelor's degree may have already prepared you for a job, but a graduate degree ups your opportunities, performance, and knowledge. Career advancement Proceeding with the previous thought, a graduate degree can provide you with more career opportunities. Because of your advanced learning and better qualifications, you may get more job offers. You may also be promoted if you have an existing job. A teaching assistant, for example, can become ...

The graduate thesis is possibly the most important part of graduate work. So, thesis preparation must be done with care, and, of course, with the proper application of knowledge at each stage of the thesis generation. After all, you are assigned a graduate thesis not just because it is a requirement but also for you to demonstrate what you have learned in graduate school. If you have learned well, you must be able to pose intelligent questions within your field and answer them through your graduate thesis. Topic approval If you are able to formulate intelligent questions, you can list po ...

Becoming a professor's research assistant is helpful to, and sometimes convenient for, a graduate student. This is because an advanced degree may mean more expenses for you after your college life. However, a full-time job that can finance your graduate studies may not be practical at all. Part-time jobs may be more feasible in the long run, but getting a job outside campus can be very stressful on you, because the commute will add to the stress brought about by completing requirements in graduate school. This is why many graduate students opt for research assistantship. Assessing compatibi ...

While there are valid reasons for enrolling into graduate school, the wrong reasons for taking up a graduate degree are plentiful. Some may actually sound noble and genuine. However, without involving the feeling of engagement or the need to meet your career goals, they may just be questionable motivations. Job discontent Find out what is wrong with your present career before jumping into the graduate school wagon. You may end up caught in a cycle if you do not study your options carefully. Remember that graduate school requires a lot of work to be sustained for years. If you make a rush ...

When things get tough in graduate school, a well-formed study group is a big help. The operative word is "well formed." A badly organized study group will have little or no effect at all in your academic performance and the success of your group. Why are study groups so important, anyway? The promise of sharing and combining energies will provide a better way to learn. The teamwork will prepare you for future jobs, and the support group system gets you through graduate school. Downsizing As much as sharing and networking are important, chaos is the result of over-sized study groups. So, ...

Though a graduate school admission interview is not the main basis for the final decision for being accepted, conducting yourself properly during the interview is still important. Some universities do not even conduct graduate admissions interviews. However, you can decide to request one if you want to get to know the school better. Whatever the purpose, you must present yourself well to what may be your second home in the next two or three years of your life. Your interview may be a confirmation of your claims in your graduate admission essay. Before the interview * If you have not been ...

Honor societies are not formed to establish social status, but they are formed to celebrate the achievements and enrich the academic lives of its members. Though such societies may have Greek names, they are not equivalent to a fraternity or a sorority. An honor society's goals go beyond partying and other social activities. Here are a few privileges enjoyed by members of honor societies. Sense of accomplishment Being merely invited to an honor society confirms your status as an achiever. So, you feel a sense of accomplishment when you are confirmed as an honor society member. It is a re ...

Though the academe is not as tough as the corporate environment, it still suffers from office politics. Because the need for promotion exists in any average working place, power struggles among co-workers and colleagues can still occur; power struggles are also evident even in school. There will be alliances and even pure non-job related antagonism between two or more people. Sometimes, this happens when people are constantly working closely. These rifts, however, can be prevented. Here are a few things to keep in mind to stay away from office politics in the academe. Being transparent O ...

Popular American universities prove their reputation by ranking high in the graduate divisions of humanities and literature. Humanities and literature programs from three Ivy league schools have made it to the top five. Berkeley tops the humanities list in 2008, while Harvard comes in second. However, in the general English department, Harvard is on top while Berkeley is second. The three other universities in the top five have also reshuffled their rankings. So, the following list is in no particular order: Harvard University Harvard offers unique humanities programs, including a specif ...