Applying for

Graduate School
Kyle Bishop
Baxter Colburn
Michael Cyr II
Courtney Giovinazzo

Is Grad School a Good Option?

Difficulties with Grad School
Competitive
Stressful
No guarantee of a better salary
Expensive

Grad School: Now or Later?

Reasons to go now
Discipline
Best to simply get it done
In the mode of education
Tests
Generation gap

Grad School: Now or Later?

Reasons to wait

Discipline

Employer may reimburse/pay

Need opportunity to settle first

Experience

Opportunity to grow, re-evaluate

Save up/pay back debt

What to do: Going Now

Start looking at schools early
Talk to faculty and staff
Pick out several schools

Take the test for your discipline early

Summer before senior year is a good idea
See if GRE supplement test is necessary

Be aware of deadlines

What to do: Going Later

Major test scores last up to five years, consider taking early
See if employer will reimburse/pay
Remember: harder to get into education (do not wait too
long)
See if you really need grad school for your position

The Process
Slow Down, Calm Down, Dont
Worry, Dont Hurry, Trust the
Process Alexandria Stoddard

The Process/Specific
Questions?
Look for programs:
Narrow your search to a specific area of study.
Find out that program's application deadlines.

Ask specific questions:

Do you have rolling admission?

Is there a GPA requirement?

Undergraduate Cumulative

GPA for classes

How do you want to receive my Transcripts?

Online?

Paper?

Specific Questions
Is this school accredited?
Do you require an entrance exam?
Do I need to submit any essays?
Statement of purpose?
Writing sample?
How organized is this applicant, what makes
him/her stick out, how well do they plan
ahead?

Specific Questions?
Are there any application fees?
How much does the program cost?
Flat rate?
Pay by the credit/credit hour?
Is there tuition remission?

Specific Questions?
Where are classes offered?
Multiple campuses?
Online?

Do you require letters of recommendation?

Do you require a resume?
Are there any prerequisite courses?
Do you require an interview?
Slow Down, Calm Down, Dont Worry, Dont Hurry, Trust
the Process Alexandria Shoddard

Nationally Recognized
Tests
GRE
Graduate Record Examinations
LSAT
Law School Admission Test
GMAT
Graduate Management Admissions Test
MCAT
Medical College Admission Test

GRE
(Graduate Record Examinations)
http://www.ets.org/gre: GRE website
Graduate and business school applicants
Two forms of the GRE
Computer-based
Paper-based

GRE
(Graduate Record Examinations)
Focus of questions
Verbal Reasoning
Quantitative Reasoning
Analytical Writing
Standard fees for test and tools
7 GRE Subject Tests
Fees

LSAT
(Law School Admission Test)
http://www.lsac.org/jd/lsat/test-dates-deadlines
Test format: Multiple Choice
Length: Five-35 minute sections
Focus of the Questions
Reading Comprehension
Analytical
Logical Reasoning Questions

Cannot take test more than 3 times in a 2 year period

LSAT
(Law School Admission Test)
LSAT website does offer sample questions for help
Cost: $165 for the test & $160 Credential Assembly Service
Alternate test days for Sabbath Observers
Official handbooks: $12-24

GMAT
(Graduate Management
Admission Test)
http://www.mba.com/us
Used for business disciplines: especially the MBA
5,800 programs around the world use the GMAT
Length: 3 hour 30 min
Writing, Reasoning, Quantitative, Verbal
Study materials in WLC library and major bookstores

GMAT
(Graduate Management
Admission Test)
https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat/
Cost
$275 registration fee
$65 reschedule fee
$135 cancellation refund

Length
5 hours 30 mins

Focus
Physical Sciences
Biological Sciences
Verbal Reasoning
Writing Section

GMAT
(Graduate Management
Admission Test)
Type of training preparation available for the test
MCAT self-assessment package $104
7 practice tests for $35. Practice test 3 is free.
Download outlines for each focus of the test.

Physical sciences (9) pages

Biological sciences (17) pages

Verbal Reasoning (1) page

Scores
2-3 years
Takes 30-35 days for scores to be released.

MCAT
Medical College Admission Test

Cost

$275 Registration Fee

$65 Reschedule fee

$135 Cancelation refund

Length

5-1/2 Hours

Areas of study

Physical Sciences

Biological Sciences

Verbal Reasoning

Writing Section

MCAT

Type of training preparation available for the test

MCAT Self-assessment Package $104

7 practice tests for $35. Practice test 3 is free.

Download outlines:

Physical sciences (9)pages

Biological sciences (17)pages

Verbal Reasoning (1)page

Scores

2-3years

Takes 30-35days for scores to be released.

Colleges
Small Colleges
Large Universities
Ivy League Universities
Online Universities

AGS- Adult Graduate Studies

Wisconsin Lutheran College
Rolling Admission
Transcripts A form is filled out, then sent to
the school. (No Cost)
Letters of Recommendation Two are required
(Employer/Professor)
National Tests None are required
Essays Required A statement of
purpose/writing sample

AGS- Adult Graduate Studies

Wisconsin Lutheran College
Application fee None
Cost $525 per credit ($18,900)
Tuition Remission $7,500 for the program and
get 2/3 off tuition
AGS has the highest state accreditation
Prerequisite classes Only a bachelor's degree is
required.

University of WisconsinMadison Graduate Program

Many programs

Qualifications

MBA, M.S., M.A., Ph.D

140 masters degree programs and 100 doctoral
level programs
Minimum undergraduate GPA- 3.0

Application Fee
Tuition and Fees

http://registrar.wisc.edu/tuition_&_fees.htm

University of WisconsinMadison Graduate Program

Online Status Check Page

Research Centers

Yale Graduate Program

Personal Statement: 500-1,000 words
3 Letters of Recommendation
Transcripts
$100 Application Fee
GRE, TOEFL (non-native English speakers), IELTS (Sub for
TOEFL) GMAT: Test Scores
Financial statement is required for all MS/MA applications, but
not if you already have a Ph.D.
Cost: $36,500 a year

Harvard Graduate Program

Must have BA or equivalent

Distinguished undergrad record
Research papers are helpful
Only 9% who apply get in, 640 total are accepted
GRE or GMAT Test scores required
Dean of Grad School has final say on entry
Cost: $64,000 (Year 1-2), $44,000 (Year 3) and $31,000
(Year 4)

Online Graduate Programs:

Pros and Cons
Pros
Easily accessible & flexible
Cost
Masters of Education: Lamar University ($6,450 in-state)
Masters of Business Administration: SE Missouri State ($9,669 instate)

Cons
Validity
Communication
Courses

Online Graduate Programs:

Kaplan University
90% of students take courses online
Most seeking degrees are adult learners with families
63% of the 45,000+ enrolled are over age 30
76% are women

Campus students take 54% of their classes online

83% would recommend Kaplan University to others

Online Graduate Programs:

Kaplan University
Offers certificates through doctorate degrees
63 total degrees offered in various areas of studies
Cost
MBA
$441/credit hr.
$33,516 for the 76 credit program
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
$700/credit hr.
$35,000 for the 50 credit program

Paying for
Graduate School
How Schools Help You Fund
How Businesses Help You Fund

How Schools Help You Fund

Teaching Assistants

Project Assistants

Research Assistants

Part or fully covered tuition

Stipend for additional pay

Teaching Assistants

$6,000-$20,000 stipend

Free Tuition

Responsibilities

6 benefits according to
http://guidetogradschoolsurvival.wordpress.com

How Businesses Help You

Fund
Businesses that help with tuition
Chase Bank Offers tuition assistance to high
performing employees for furthering education in work
related professional development.
Lockheed Offers University Matching Gift Program.
Raytheon Offers tuition reimbursement
Home Depot Offers $2500 a year to full time
employees who have worked 40 hours a week for 1
year.

How Businesses Help You

Fund
Other Notable Businesses
UPS- Packaging and Shipping
Starbucks- Coffee
Apple- Technology
McAfee- Computer Security
BP- Gas
AT&T- Phone
Wells Fargo- Bank
Baxter- Medical Supplies
Nike- Sporting Goods

Main Point Recap

Going to graduate school right away vs. waiting
Process of applying for graduate school
Nationally recognized exams
College programs
Paying for graduate school

Slow Down, Calm Down,

Dont Worry, Dont Hurry,
Trust the Process
Alexandria Stoddard