Use a variety of resources to evaluate graduate programs. The reputation of the department/program is far more important than the overall reputation of the school. Faculty in your proposed area of study is one of your most valuable resources.

Evaluate Program Content to see if it meets your educational needs and interests.

• Are there faculty members who are doing research in areas that are of interest to you and do they have a good reputation? How many students to they supervise? Is funding available to support you?
• Contact the program coordinator for information on the “profile” of their current graduate students to see if you are competitive. Find out about the average GPA, GRE or other professional exam scores, average age and gender, and number of applicants vs. number accepted into the program.
• Make a campus visit and ask questions of students and faculty alike

Admissions Requirements

• Which entrance exams are required? If it’s the GRE do they require the “subject” exam as well?
• Do you have all the undergraduate prerequisites for admission to the program?

Cost

• Are assistantships, grants, scholarships or fellowships offered?
• Does the program/department have a good track record of students obtaining internal and external fellowships and grants?
• If funding is available through teaching, what are the teaching opportunities, what is the average teaching load, what assistance is available to help develop you as a teacher?
• Is there funding available to help you attend professional conferences?

Job Placement Rates/Job Search Assistance

• Where are students going after graduation? Are they finding employment in areas where you would like to work? What are their position titles? What is their starting salary?
• Are Career Services available to you?

Program/Faculty Reputation/Certification of Program

• Verify that the program is accredited by the appropriate organization
• How accessible are faculty and what is the graduate student/faculty ratio?
• What is the national reputation of the program and faculty members within the field?

Program Culture

• Is the program’s graduate culture friendly and inviting?
• Is there good and affordable health insurance for graduate students?
• Is the location someplace where you can live for the next 2-6 years?