Stress is part of life; so people should be capable of coping with stress brought about by the demands of school, work, and personal matters. After all, graduate students are generally high achievers. If you are in graduate school, you probably have a love and deep appreciation for learning. However, even if you do love learning and had straight As through college, graduate school may be tougher. It also becomes tougher if you have a very high expectation of what you can do or should do.
Employ time management strategies
Stress can truly pull you down if you do not know how to manage your time. You have probably noticed that most pieces of advice related to stress deal with time and managing it properly. Here are some of them:
* Do not procrastinate – If it takes you too long to do coursework, you will end up with less time in your hands.
* Set priorities – You have to prioritize work with impending deadlines, rather than those that can wait for longer. Set a timetable so that you will not neglect anything.
* No cramming, please – If you cram, you will end up stressed and unable to do quality work.
* Say NO – If you put in too many things to do in your calendar, you may suffer a burnout.
Exercise
While doing exercise may seem like a time-consuming task, it is actually a very effective stress-reducer. It makes your body fitter to withstand different stress-causing factors. So, take some time off, at least for an hour three times a week, to exercise.
Do not make all-nighters habitual
Though staying up all night does provide you with more time to study, you may end up becoming unproductive and unfocused during your classes because your body and mind feel tired. You need your sleep to think and function better.
Do not skip meals
Going to graduate school does not mean you have to forgo healthy eating habits because you no longer have the time to prepare healthy dishes. Remember that eating nutritious foods will keep you going. Skipping a meal never does anyone good, even if that person is on a diet. Skipping meals actually slows down your metabolism, making you store fat more quickly. As a graduate student, you need food to keep your body health and strong.
Self-analyze
Keep a journal where you can record how you are doing in graduate school so far. You may find something that will need attention or improvement.
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The best social sciences programs in the United States are offered by top-ranked universities. These universities include some that belong to the Ivy League, such as Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. The top five universities per specific social sciences vary, but some are fairly consistent with all their programs. These universities are the ones that made the list of universities offering the five best social sciences programs.
University of California – Berkeley
UC-Berkeley’s social sciences programs have proven themselves to be competitive. The university is able to reach the top five for each program, creating for itself a strong overall social sciences department. Even the institution’s other graduate programs have consistently made it to the top ten of best lists. It prides itself for its community of culturally diverse students.
Yale University
Yale offers doctoral degrees for its social sciences programs. The graduate division of this Ivy League school provides more-than-adequate information to its prospective students regarding its graduate academic programs, the faculty, and specializations. This is to show these interested individuals about what life is really like when pursuing higher education, especially at Yale.
Stanford University
Stanford University has six social sciences departments. These are anthropology, communication, economics, political science, psychology, and sociology. The social sciences department belongs to the largest Stanford school, the school of Humanities and Sciences. This school includes both social and natural sciences. Stanford University has one of the best social sciences graduate programs in the country. Its faculty members come up with significant research in various academic journals.
Harvard University
Harvard’s social sciences department belongs to a large school, the School of Arts and Sciences. Like Stanford, the school includes humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Harvard offers non-degree status to graduate students. This includes the Visiting Fellow status for students who only need to finish their dissertation at Harvard because they have finished their course work at other universities.
Princeton University
Princeton offers a great environment for graduate studies, plus it promotes a healthy professor-student relationship for better learning. The Ivy League school also provides financial support for deserving students who cannot afford the tuition. Princeton offers interdepartmental and joint degrees for students who have many interests.
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Believe it or not, you can still excel in graduate school even if you have a job on the side. Of course, you need to practice proper time management to be able to finish everything at its right time. First off, you need to know if you really want to go through graduate school. Then, take a part-time course only if it is absolute necessary, such as in cases when nobody else will pay for your tuition other than yourself.
Get organized
If both your priorities and your time are in order, life in graduate school for a part-time employee like you will go much more smoothly. For your stuff, make sure that you do not have a messy study area where you still have to hunt for a handout or a textbook. For time, you need to keep an updated calendar or date book, where you can write all your schedules. Make sure that you have properly marked the things to do and things that have already been done. Also, it would help if you identify the things that need to be prioritized so that you do them first.
Do not procrastinate
If you wait for the last minute to do your work, you will end up swamped with things to do. So, better perform on schedule. The time you have wasted in doing nothing substantial further removes time from your already cramped schedule.
Be flexible
If schedule changes cannot be helped, do not panic. Anticipate possible emergencies, distractions, and even illness. So, it is really important to avoid procrastination; you never know what may happen tomorrow, so do what you can today. If you work part-time, you may want to put in extra hours in your job so that you’ll have fewer working hours on those critical school days.
Know your limitations
Even though time management helps, work overload can make you sick or so stressed out that you can no longer function. So, learn how to refuse activities that will not really benefit your studies or your job. Though those activities may sound fun, or maybe even noble, you have to think about your health as well. Refusing some of these activities allows you to have valuable free time for rest and recreation.
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Any student who wants to pursue graduate studies must be able to do so. Graduate school should not be limited to those who can immediately afford paying for the tuition. The good thing is that students who are eager to aim for higher education now have options to consider in funding their studies. Together with the financial aspect, however, you must make sure that you have a competitive application: complete with excellent recommendation letters and a readable graduate admission essay.
Paying for it yourself
The first thing you must always do, when trying to pay for something, is look at your own accounts. If you have enough money to pay tuition and expenses, that would be great. However, if you are a little low on funds, getting a job is a good option. You not only earn money, but you also gain working experience in your field. If you are planning to study full-time, take a year or two off after college to work full-time and save money. Or if you are able to find a part-time course, you can also work part-time. A teaching assistant job is excellent, done either part-time or full-time.
Looking for funds
If salary is not enough or you have not been able to find a job, you can apply for a scholarship or grant. Your university of choice may have programs offering scholarships to deserving and interested students. This way, you can focus on your studies without having to worry about your finances. You can also find other organizations and foundations outside the university that provide financial aid to students.
Getting a loan
If you are thinking of applying for a loan, consider your ability to pay for it after your graduate studies. Loans for graduate school can be very costly and must be handled with care and responsibility. You can apply for loans from banks. Look for banks that can offer you lower interest rates so that you won’t end up with rapidly ballooning debt.
No matter what option you choose, make sure that you have a plan to pay during or after graduate study. Foreign exchange students will have to look for more funding because of higher fees.
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You may be telling the truth, but having a good back-up is always advantageous especially in your plans to enter graduate school. Even if you have submitted the most impressive graduate admission essay and transcript, somebody else has to vouch for your capability and also for your personality.
Why are recommendation letters a must?
The admissions committee does not really know what methods you were using when you got those grades. These numbers do not reflect your attitude and your interpersonal skills (how you deal with your classmates, study group members, and teachers). For example, maybe you were ruthlessly aiming for excellent grades so that you were never interested in anything else such as helping out a classmate. A good reference will be able to show the admissions committee that not only were you a good student, but you were also a good classmate or a good worker – a great person inside and out. If you’ve already written about it in your graduate admission essay, then the recommendation letter validates what you’ve stated.
People to approach
Not everyone can write your recommendation letter. When you are choosing among the professors and instructors in college, put distinguished people who know your work well on top of your list. College instructors or organization advisers will make great references. Make sure that you have a good grade with the particular college instructor you have chosen, and that you have displayed a great attitude with the adviser of your choice.
Narrowing down your list
You cannot choose every college instructor or adviser who has given you a high grade. Again, you have to choose someone who has seen you at your very best – as a realiable leader or member of a research group, as a consistent worker, and as a generally well-rounded student. Make sure that the reference knows you well enough to answer questions graduate schools may pose. The reference must also be known for being articulate – you do not want any mixed messages coming through. He or she must know your goals and must understand your motivations.
The element of trust
It is important that you know your reference, and he or she also knows you well, preferably on a first-name basis. The reference must know you enough to write about you positively but honestly. You must in turn know your reference well for you to anticipate what sort of recommendation he or she will write, without you having to unfairly influence him or her. You must then be able to trust your references enough to submit their sealed letters as part of your application, partnered of course by an excellent graduate admission essay.
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Quality graduate school education doesn’t come cheap. Especially for students whose families earn a meager income, applying for graduate school can take extensive financial planning just to accommodate the anticipated expenses. The good news is, there are financial aid institutions and organizations that grant loans and scholarships to get you through graduate school.
FAFSA
An option that a lot of students go for is to apply for government-funded financial aid through FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Just make sure that the graduate school you’re planning to go to is a participant of federal student aid programs, and that you meet the standard requirements set by FAFSA before you start filling in the application form.
In-house financial aid programs
Most graduate schools have in-house financial aid and scholarship programs which you can avail of, depending on the major or program you enrolled in. The FAFSA is used by universities to gauge and determine a student’s financial situation and aid eligibility. This however, only applies to schools and universities that are participating members of the federal student aid.
For private schools and institutions, additional application documents may be required from students to be eligible for institutional financial aid. These documents usually include the graduate admission essay, in which students can explain their economic and financial status. Some grad schools don’t have in-house financial aid and scholarship programs. Instead, they establish tie-ups with funding organizations to help their students cope with the financial demands of graduate studies. Below are examples of these external funding organizations for various fields of study:
Gates Millennium Scholars
The Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) was initially an offshoot of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Gates Millennium Scholars has been providing scholarships since 1999 and have paid for the education of more than 12,000 students. The goal of GMS is to help students of racial minorities have access to quality education by reducing their financial woes. The GMS also aims to increase the representation of such target groups in various academic disciplines such as engineering, mathematics, health sciences, etc.
American Association for University Women
American Association for University Women (AAUW) – The AAUW Educational Foundation provides fellowships and graduate study grants to women, regardless of race, religion, and socio-economic background.
The Ford Foundation
Ford Foundation offers fellowship grants and aid for graduate students from different races and background planning to earn doctorate degrees. The foundation however, only offers these grants for specific majors and academic disciplines including Engineering, Computer Science, History, Earth Sciences, etc.
The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation
Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation – provides financial aid of up to $30,000 for graduate studies, fellowships, and leadership trainings for students who wish to take advanced degrees in public service disciplines.
NASA Aeronautics Scholarship Program
NASA Aeronautics Scholarship Program awards scholarships to students who plan to pursue graduate studies in the fields of Aeronautics, Aeronautical Engineering, Computer Science, Mechanical and Electric Engineering, and other related fields. The NASA ASP awards grants of up to $11,000 per school year plus an annual stipend of $35,000.
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Rankings of business schools and graduate school programs can be quite controversial and trifling. To date, there is no single authoritative body that ranks graduate school programs in the US. Different organizations and institutions employ different methodologies in gathering and analyzing their data, which consequently yield varying results. The methodologies used are often based on certain criteria, like tuition amount or fees and number of enrollees.
Another factor that makes ranking compilations problematic is that the ranking results published by magazines and organizations are often disaggregated into different fields of study. The university that offers the best computer and engineering graduate school programs may rank quite low in their business and medical programs. So to make things easier, here is a compilation that lists five oft-cited top graduate school programs in the US (in no particular order) according to different academic disciplines.
Top five graduate school programs: Computer and Engineering
1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
2. University of California – Berkeley
3. Schulich School of Engineering of Stanford University
4. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC or U of I)
5. California Institute of Technology (CalTech)
Top five graduate school programs: Business and Administration
1. The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management
3. Harvard University – Harvard Business School (HBS)
4. Kellogg School of Management – Northwestern University
5. Stanford University Graduate School of Business
Top five graduate school programs: Law
1. Yale University Law School
2. Harvard University Law School
3. New York University School of Law
4. Stanford University Law School
5. Columbia University Law School
Top five graduate school programs: Medicine
1. Harvard University Medical School
2. The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
3. Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
4. University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
5. University of California – San Francisco School of Medicine
The medical school rankings results published by US News and World Report were arrived at by combining two criteria; the research and primary care facilities and programs of medical schools. As for business school rankings, results are often disaggregated into varying types of MBA programs: full-time, executive, dual, part-time, online, etc.
As you will see on the lists above, Harvard University and Stanford University are among the top universities that offer prestigious programs in various fields. Their excellence in diverse disciplines is one of the reasons why they remain as two of the most exclusive Ivy League schools in the US. Harvard and Stanford are known for their highly selective admission procedures and criteria, and have alumni rosters that boast of Nobel Prize winners, politicians, CEOs, Pulitzer Prize winners, and personalities who are recognized in their respective industries.
Whether you will be applying for graduate studies in law school, medical school, MBA, engineering or other programs, you need to write a graduate admission essay. If your records in college are not that outstanding, coming up with a well-written graduate admission essay can help you get into the graduate school of your choice.
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As an essential requirement to get into graduate school, it’s expected that you devote ample time in writing your graduate admission essay. As compared to the other documents required in graduate school applications such as transcripts and test scores, your graduate admission essay can be interpreted subjectively. Awkward phrases, ambiguous statements, and misspelled words can be enough to show that you didn’t pour much effort in writing your essay. This is why you’ll find countless articles and books dedicated to providing writing tips and how-to’s.
As mentioned, much has been written on how to write and how not to write a graduate admission essay. Most of the pointers you’ll read emphasize writing your graduate admission essay with conciseness, sincerity, and structure. An example on how to write your graduate admission essay with sincerity and specificity is this: instead of writing about how the program the institution offers is one of the best out there, write in detail about how that program is the best one for YOU – given your specific personal background and experiences.
Familiarize yourself with common graduate admission essay questions.
What do you consider your greatest achievement? What are your long-term career goals? How can you contribute to the school’s community? How will an advanced degree from this graduate school help you attain your goals? Why should the graduate school choose you among all the other applicants? What’s in it for the graduate school if they choose to get you?
These are just some of the graduate admission essay questions commonly asked by admissions committees of graduate schools. If you find such questions overwhelming, try and focus on a specific aspect of the answers that come to your mind. For example, focus on your long-term career goals that are directly connected to the degree or program you’re applying for. Explain in detail your concrete plans of how you will use the degree from the institution to realize those goals.
Keep your graduate admission essay personal and sincere.
A common tendency among applicants is to go on and on about their academic and professional achievements without relating it to their reasons for applying into graduate school. By doing this, they’re merely putting into words the information that their transcripts, resumes, and test scores already provide. What admissions committees want to see on your graduate admission essay is a simplified story of your life – the trials and adversities you’ve faced, your inspirations and how they influence your actions, your dreams and what you are doing to realize them, and your short-term and long-term goals. Your graduate admission essay should reflect who you are as an individual and as a student.
As consultants and committee members will tell you, what they’re looking for in your essay is a glimpse of who you are, the facets of your being, that no figures, GPAs, and records will ever provide.
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College graduation can mean a lot of things to different people; it can mark a student’s entry into the workforce rat race, or the beginning of a quest for higher learning and knowledge. It’s not uncommon for college students to feel at a loss as to what to do next after graduation; this is why most graduates take some time off to travel or think, before they go into their next venture – whether it be scouring the job market, or applying for graduate school.
There are various reasons people go into graduate school; some do it because they’re not sure what their next move is, but they have to keep moving, while some enroll under graduate programs with the aim of getting higher salaries when the time comes for them to enter the globally competitive job market. Here are more of the common reasons a lot of people pursue an advanced degree.
An MA or PhD further hones your research skills.
Research is a fundamental aspect of study regardless of which industry you belong to. In college, you were probably taught all the theories that you need to arm yourself with when conducting research. There were, however, not many opportunities for you to apply the “book knowledge” you gained.
In graduate school, you will be able to further enhance your research skills by providing opportunities for you to apply your theoretical knowledge. A lot of graduate schools employ the experiential learning method, which combines classroom lectures and a significant amount of field work. Through experiential learning, students are taught how to respond and deal with real-world situations in their respective fields.
A graduate degree adds depth and breadth to the knowledge you gained in college.
A lot of college graduates sometimes feel like their knowledge is much too broad and needs focus for them to zero in on the specific field they wish to excel in. Graduate school can provide you with this focus and specialization. Unlike college, graduate school programs don’t require its students to sit through “general education” classes. Grad school students are allowed to choose their classes and tailor their curriculum according to their needs.
An advanced degree provides more employment opportunities and options.
Having an advanced degree in your resume can also open up myriad employment opportunities for you; opportunities that would’ve been inaccessible if you didn’t have that MA or PhD. There are employers who favor applicants who invested in educating themselves over applicants whose resumes boast of relevant work experience. This may be true especially in specialized work industries like computer and technology, psychology, and even in the academe.
With all these benefits of having an advanced degree, you will have to prepare certain documents such as your records in college and letters of recommendations from your former professors. You will also have to study for the Graduate Record Examination or other standardized tests, as these are also required. One requirement that many people take for granted is the graduate admission essay. Often, the quality of the graduate admission essay spells the difference between getting accepted or not into your chosen graduate school. A well-written graduate admission essay creates a significant impact especially if you have less-than-stellar grades in college.
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An economic recession is defined as a period when a nation’s overall gross domestic product (GDP) falls for at least two consecutive quarters, and there is a significant rise in unemployment rates and prices of commodities. During such periods, unemployment rates rise because most companies lay off their employees to lessen expenses. This is one of the reasons recessions are a good time for individuals to evaluate their current career paths, progress, and long-term professional goals.
According to a study conducted by the University of Washington, pursuing graduate studies during economic recessions is a growing trend. During the recession between 2001 and 2003, they found a significant rise in the number of grad school applications. During this time, there was also a nine percent increase in the number of individuals who took the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), as preparation for applying to grad schools.
For college graduates, an economic recession often translates to the postponement of job hunting endeavors because of the unstable state of the job market. It would also be harder to earn a steady income during a recession, so paying off student loans will also become a problem for those who received financial aid for their college education. Instead of doing nothing while waiting for the economy to bounce back, a good option for professionals and college graduates is to pursue an advanced degree in graduate schools.
Graduate studies will help you plan career shifts.
As mentioned, recessions are a good time for professionals to do some introspection and evaluate their current career paths. If you’re not happy with your current job, you can try shifting careers and going into an industry that you feel is more suitable for you or one that is more adaptable to the changing business and economic climate. Graduate studies will help orient and train you on the industry you plan on entering when you shift careers. By the time you graduate, you’ll already have that MA or PhD which can translate into a higher income for you.
Invest in yourself so employers will invest on you.
Economic recessions often don’t last very long, and it may only take two to three years for an economy to bounce back and fully recover from the fall. When this happens, companies will again need employees to fill the posts that were vacated during the recession. If, by this time, you’re well on your way to earning that master’s degree or PhD, you’ll already have an edge over the other applicants you’ll be competing with in the rat race. See, getting into grad school is a way of investing in yourself to improve your marketability when the time comes that employers are ready to invest in their people again.
Getting into graduate school means that you have to prepare several documents such as your records during college (transcripts). You also have to keep in touch with your college professors so that they can write letters of recommendation for you. You also have to take the needed preparations for the GRE or other standardized tests, which usually comprise three areas – verbal section, quantitative section, and analytical writing section. Also, you should write an excellent graduate admission essay. Coming up with a well-written graduate admission essay is important especially if some of your grades in college are quite low.
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