If you're considering graduate study as your next step, our career coaches can help you think through this important decision and create an action plan. Whether you are interested in obtaining an advanced research degree in the arts and sciences or attending a professional school, we have resources for every step of the application process.
Should You Go to Graduate School?
Graduate school is an enriching experience. You advance your learning, gain expertise, and receive specialized training. Before you apply to graduate school, however, you need to examine your reasons. Graduate school is a massive investment of your time and money, and the decision to apply should not be taken lightly.
The first step in determining whether or not to go to graduate school is to be honest with yourself. Consider these questions:
- Does your intended career path require advanced study?
- Does the idea of carrying out independent research excite you?
- Are you prepared to spend the next two to seven years studying while living on a meager budget, accruing loan debt, or both?
- Have you thoroughly researched graduate school costs?
- Can a narrow range of topics sustain your interests for two to seven years?
- Are you a viable candidate for graduate school? Do you meet the minimum requirements for the programs that interest you?
- Do you have the career-related work experience that might help you get into graduate school?
Research Graduate Programs
To help you determine if graduate school is right for you, consider taking the following steps to research degree programs to find the best fit for your interests and goals.
- Work with faculty to identify programs and faculty at other institutions whose research syncs with your interests.
- Consult professional associations to learn more about best practices, degree programs, and career outcomes for graduate students in your field of interest.
- Connect with graduate schools’ admissions offices to learn about student life, unique opportunities, financial aid, and more.
- Network with alumni who’ve pursued graduate degrees of interest to learn about their paths and experience. You can connect with alumni on Eagle Exchange.
- Join a career cluster. Review the web pages to see if graduate school is required for your field of interest.
- Meet with a career coach in your field of interest to chart your course and review your next steps.
Term | Definition |
Thesis | Original work of research completed after coursework for master’s degree; the length varies to as many as 75 pages, and in some cases more. |
Dissertation | Extensive, book-length (depending on discipline) work of original research completed after coursework for a doctorate; usually more in-depth than a thesis and may exceed a hundred pages in length. |
Non-Thesis/“Taught” Degrees | General master’s degree program in which additional coursework is pursued in lieu of a thesis. |
ABD | All-but-dissertation; term used to designate a doctoral student who has completed all degree requirements save for the dissertation. |
Comprehensive/Qualifying Exams | Oral and/or written exams administered at the completion of coursework in most doctoral and some master’s programs. Oral exams are generally administered by an assigned or student-selected committee of faculty. |
Thesis/Dissertation Committee | Faculty members who direct and evaluate your thesis or dissertation and who hear your defense. Generally consists of your mentor/advisor, several internal faculty members, and potentially scholars from other institutions. |
Cohort | A group of students that generally enter a graduate program at the same time and who work through the course of study together. |
Mentor/Advisor | The faculty member who most closely guides your research, coursework, and in many cases your professional development in your discipline. |
Professional Graduate Degree | Can be earned at the masters, specialist, and doctoral levels; designed to prepare individuals for specific professions like law, medicine, higher education, primary and secondary education, and others. |
Research Graduate Degree | Can be earned at the masters, specialist, and doctoral levels; designed to contribute original research to a discipline in the liberal arts and sciences, engineering, communication, and others. |
GA | Graduate Assistant |
TA | Teaching Assistant |
RA | Research Assistant |
PI | Principal Investigator |
Failing Grade | Most graduate programs classify any grade below the A or B range as failing. |
Reading List | Texts—monographs, articles, chapters, etc.--read and studied in preparation for comprehensive exams |
GSA | Graduate Student Association |
Research Programs
Research degree programs are designed to contribute original research and advance knowledge in a particular discipline. Graduate research degrees can oftentimes lead to careers in academy, scientific research, and more.
- Master’s: Most academic fields award master’s degrees, with the most common being the Master of Arts (M.A.) and Master of Science (M.S.). Research master’s degrees, particularly in the liberal arts and sciences, usually take two years to complete and provide further specialization in particular disciplines. They often culminate in an original thesis, and oftentimes serve as a prerequisite for doctoral studies.
- Doctorate: Doctorates are terminal degrees. The most common research doctorate is the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), which can be pursued in all the liberal arts and sciences and beyond. Ph.D. programs can last anywhere from 3 to 7 years, or more, and involve training that results in original research in the form of a book-length dissertation. The Ph.D. is the primary credential to teach and conduct research at the university level.
Professional Programs
Professional degree programs are designed to prepare students to enter a specific profession, including law, medicine, higher education, primary and secondary education, accounting, and business. In many cases these degrees are the essential prerequisite for gaining entry-level positions in these fields.
- Law: A Juris Doctor (J.D.) is required to practice law and enter the Bar as an attorney in the United States. J.D. candidates must attend law school for a prescribed amount of time--usually three years--before graduating and, if they intend to practice law as an attorney, take the Bar exam.
- Medicine: A Doctorate of Medicine (M.D.) is required to practice medicine. M.D. candidates generally take a pre-med course in college before attending medical school for a prescribed amount of time--generally four years--before graduating and embarking on internships.
- Education: Master’s and doctoral degrees in education prepare students for careers in education, from the primary to the university level. In many cases, master’s degrees in education (M.Ed.) or teaching (M.A.T.) are required to either receive teacher certification qualification in various states, or to gain additional specialization in instructional areas, including counseling, special education, and administration. Education doctorates (Ed.D.) are often required for executive positions in educational institutions.
- Business: The Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) is a terminal professional degree that gives students broad training in all aspects of business and management. MBAs are key degrees to progression into management roles, and many programs often require incoming students to have several years professional experience.
- Other Professional Master’s: A professional master’s degree usually indicates that the degree holder has developed a specific skill set needed to practice a profession or has an enhanced skillset to enable upward mobility in an existing career. Examples include Master of Public Policy (MPP), Master of Social Work (MSW), Master of Library Science (MLS), and Master of Public Health (MPH) degrees.
Graduate Programs at Boston College:
- Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences Graduate Programs
- Carroll School of Management Graduate Programs
- Lynch School of Education and Human Development Graduate Programs
- Connell School of Nursing Graduate Programs
- Woods College of Advancing Studies Graduate Programs
- School of Theology and Ministry
- School of Social Work
- Law School
Discover Graduate Programs Beyond Boston College:
Accreditation
There are two main types of accreditation, institutional and program specific. You need to determine the properly accredited degree programs in your field. While accreditation is not necessarily the key indicator of quality, you could face negative consequences if the program that confers your degree is not accredited. NOTE: A school that is not properly accredited may not volunteer this information, so dig deep.
Admission Standards
Most schools publish this kind of information, so look for the number of applicants compared with the number of acceptances and the base requirements for admission, which usually include undergraduate grade-point average and scores on standardized tests.
Multicultural/Diversity Opportunities
Better programs tend to be diverse because diversity of all types often can signal a broader worldview. Examine the composition of both the faculty and the students in the program. You need to determine a mix where you’ll feel both comfortable and appropriately challenged.
Reputation/Ranking
Lots of different organizations rank graduate programs, so while rankings are an important measure of quality, you also need to investigate the source of the rankings.
Size
There are two aspects of size you should evaluate—size of the program and size of its home university. Just as with your undergraduate school, you need to find a size that feels right for you. Examine the resources available to the program, as well as the faculty–student ratios.
Faculty
Are the program’s faculty members well published? Do they publish in well-regarded peer reviewed journals? What are they currently researching? Does this research match your interests? Are they available or do they travel frequently?
Finance
What is the tuition for the program? What kind of financial assistance is available? Do they have a variety of assistantships, fellowships, grants, and loans? Make sure you examine all associated costs, including tuition, books and supplies, housing, and miscellaneous fees and expenses.
"Fit" With Career Interests
If you have a specialized career interest—like environmental law, for example—you need to know whether the graduate program offers specialized courses and experiential opportunities in that area and whether it has faculty members with research interests that will allow you to develop the necessary knowledge, skills, and contacts to start your professional career successfully.
Graduation Requirements and The Future
Does the program require an exit project, such as a thesis, dissertation, or comprehensive test? Does the program assist with the job search after you receive your degree? Are there career center services designed for graduate students? Where do the graduates end up working? What opportunities for internships, research, and jobs are available while you are in the program?
Information adapted from the University of Tennessee Knoxville Graduate School Guide
Similar to applying to graduate school in the United States, the first step in exploring graduate school abroad is doing your research. In addition to the steps in the Exploring Graduate School tab, you also need to consider:
- What steps do I need to take to get a student visa? The steps, and timeline, vary by country.
- Will the degree be recognized in the U.S. or considered equal to graduate degrees obtained at a U.S. institution?
- What options exist for funding international graduate study? Are there unique admissions requirements?
- What language are classes taught in?
- What do I need to learn about living in a different country? How will I find housing?
Student Visas
Visa requirements vary by country, and in some countries can take many months to obtain. You can usually find the requirements for student visas on the country’s government website, such as Gov.UK (United Kingdom) or Gouv.Fr (France). Will your international degree be recognized in the U.S.?If you plan to return to the U.S. after receiving your degree and if this degree is a necessary credential for your chosen career path, check with faculty and industry contacts in your field to make sure your degree abroad will be recognized and beneficial to your long-term goals.
Paying for Graduate School Abroad
Some international schools accept the FAFSA, which may qualify you for subsidized federal student loans. Learn more and explore the list of eligible schools on the Federal Student Aid website. There are also many fellowships available for graduate study abroad. The Fulbright Program is one of the best known, but there are many other fellowships which can be found here.
While the cost of a graduate degree may be lower abroad than in the U.S., it’s also important to factor in the cost of living (e.g. average rent, food, other expenses) in your desired location. Interstride’s Country Insights resource can be helpful in this research.
Admissions
Most graduate school websites have an admissions page where you can learn about their requirements for admission. Some countries utilize different standardized tests than the U.S, and some require a language proficiency test. Look for resources specific for international students on their websites, and if you have any questions, reach out! It’s likely they have had many students apply from the U.S. before and may be able to answer your questions about student visas, funding opportunities, and the specific requirements for international students.
Additional Considerations for Graduate School Abroad
It will be critical to know what language classes are taught in. Consider whether you have a strong enough level of proficiency to succeed in courses in that language or how you will improve your proficiency in order to succeed.
You will also want to gather information about living in the country within which you wish to go to graduate school, including everything from cultural norms to how to find housing. To gather this information, you may connect via Eagle Exchange with alums who live or have lived in your desired country or use Interstride’s Country Insights resource to help with this research.
Additional Resources
Eagle Exchange: Connect with alumni who studied abroad or who live in your country of interest
Across the Pond: Resources for studying in the United Kingdom
Masters Portal: Search for masters program by discipline and location
GoAbroad: Resource for researching graduate programs and funding
Finance Your Education
Graduate school is a major investment in your future. Generally, graduate students fund their educations in several ways:
- Grants, Scholarships, and Fellowships: Research grants, fellowships, and scholarships can cover all or parts of the cost of attendance and can be awarded by the graduate institution or external organizations and benefactors.
- Assistantships: These awards can come in the form of stipends and tuition remission, and are often coupled with an on-campus employment experience.
- Federal Loans: The most common federal loan for graduate school is the PLUS Loan. Federal loans offer much lower interest rates and tend to have more options for repayment. Loans must be paid back after graduating.
- Private Loans: Do your research before applying for private loans, as they often have higher interest rates and inflexible repayment options.
- Personal/Family Savings
- Employment
Resources
How the Career Center Can Help
Graduate school is an important step in your career journey. We're here to partner with you throughout the application process. Our office can help you:
- Determine if graduate school is the best option for you
- Connect with alumni to discuss their career paths
- Explore graduate programs
- Prepare your application materials
- Evaluate offers
To get started, schedule an appointment to meet with one of our career coaches. Our career exploration coaches can help you narrow down your options if you're exploring multiple paths. Our industry specialists can help you with applying to programs related to a specific discipline.
If you're thinking about law school, our pre-law advisor is available to assist you throughout the law school application process. Our law school page contains resources to help you get started.
The Government, Law, and Public Policy career cluster has specialized resources to assist you with exploring a career in law. Join the cluster to receive bi-weekly emails and important reminders.
If you're thinking about medical, dental, or vetrinary careers, the pre-health office is available to assist you throughout the application process. Visit their office for help with getting started.
The Healthcare and Nursing career cluster has specialized resources to assist you with exploring careers in medicine and nursing. Join the cluster to receive bi-weekly emails and important reminders.
If you're thinking about business school, our BCF Graduate School Toolkit will help you explore and prepare for a business-related graduate degree.
In addition, the Business, Consulting, and Finance career cluster has specialized resources to assist you with exploring careers in business. Join the cluster to recieve bi-weekly emails and important reminders