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Graduate School: Most Popular Articles

These articles are the most popular over the last month.
GPA and Graduate School
What role does your grade point average (GPA) play in admission to graduate school?
Top GRE Test Prep Books
Some of the best - and most popular - GRE prep books.
Master's vs. PhD
What is the difference between a Master's degree and a doctoral degree?
Recommendation Letter Employer
Sample letter of recommendation written by an employer for an employee who is applying to graduate school.
Med School Tuition
What the average medical degree costs.
Sample Thank You Note
Thanking those who write letters of recommendation on your behalf is not just good manners, it's solid professional advice. Here's a sample letter to illustrate this simple but very effective note.
Sample Recommendation Letter
Writing a letter of recommendation and don't know where to start? Check out this sample recommendation letter written by a professor for a student that is planning on attending graduate school.
What is a Master’s Degree?
What is a master’s degree and what does it entail? Many of your college professors may only mention doctoral degrees when they advise you about graduate school.
PhD in Psych or PsyD?
If you want to earn a doctorate in clinical or counseling psychology so that you can practice as a psychologist, you have two choices of degrees: the PhD or the PsyD
Low GPA and Graduate School
Should you apply to graduate school when you have a low GPA? A journalism student asks the question, but the answer is relevant to all applicants.
Recommendation Letter Samples
Some examples of recommendation letters to review as you begin to write a letter of recommendation for your student.
Weighing a Teaching Career
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a career as a teacher?
Graduate School Admissions 101
Applying to graduate school? Don't miss this overview of the essential elements of the graduate school application.
Allopathic vs. Osteopathic Med
How do these fields of medicine differ?
Graduate Record Exam (GRE) FAQs
Like it or not, if you're applying to grad school the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is on your to-do list.
Social Work Careers
What does a career in social work entail?
Timeline for Applying to G...
You can't wait to graduate and move on to graduate school. First you need to deal with those pesky graduate school applications. Here's how to go about it -- and when to go about it, with this timetable for graduate school admissions.
About Recommendation Letters
All about recommendation letters for graduate school: What they are and how to get them.
What is a PhD?
The PhD, defined.
Med School Timeline
Timing is everything when it comes to successfully applying to medical school.
Sample Acceptance Letter
Sample letter accepting an offer of admission to a graduate program.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Becoming a Doctor
Don't know if you should become a doctor? Consider the pros and cons of becoming a doctor before making a decision.
Requesting Recommendation Letters
How you request a recommendation letter influences its quality. Here's what to do and not do.
How do I Get Certified to Teach?
How do I get certified to teach?
Interview Questions
Congratulations! Now you need to ace that interview. Prepare beforehand by considering what questions you'll be asked. Check out this list of common questions.
Medical School Interview
Getting ready for your interview for medical school? What should you expect? Prepare with these medical school interview questions.
What Do Graduate Schools Want?
It might seem like a mystery, but graduate school admissions committees look for specific qualities in applicants. So what does an admissions committee want in an ideal graduate school applicant?
Professor's Recommendation Letter: Example
A sample letter written by a professor for a student who is applying to graduate school.
Sample Graduate School Recommendation by Professor
This effective recommendation letter, written by a faculty member, explains how the student is known and provides examples to illustrate the student's competencies.
Graduate School Admissions Tes
Standardized tests like the GRE, MCAT, and GMAT help admissions officials rank and make comparisons among applicants.
Writing the Admissions Essay
Students often wonder how to approach writing the graduate admissions essay, also known as a personal statement. What do you include? What don't you mention? Is first person ok?
Seven CV Tips
Improve your curriculum vitae with these seven suggestions.
Law School Timeline
Plan to apply to law school? Follow this timeline to make the application process smoother.
Types of Financial Aid
Trying to figure out how to pay for grad school? Learn about the different types of financial aid offered to graduate students.
What Not to Include On Your CV
You may know what goes into an effective CV, but do you know what to leave out?
What's a Good Letter?
Writing a letter of recommendation isn't easy. What makes for a good letter? Effective letters of recommendation have these 8 characteristics in common.
Classes for Law School
Do you have to be a prelaw major? No.
Law Specializations
Considering a career in law but don't know what type of law you may be interested in? Consider the following sample of law specializations.
Should You Go to Med School?
Should you apply to medical school? Is a career as a doctor for you?
Top MSW Programs
Wondering which MSW programs are the best of the best? Here are programs that are consistently rated among the top social work programs in the US.
Best MCAT Prep Books
If you’re taking the MCAT plan to put your study time in. Use your time and resources wisely by consulting guides.
Recommendation Letter Don'ts
Sure, there are lots of things that you can do to improve your chances of getting a good letter of recommendation from a faculty member. But, what shouldn't you do? Even students with the best intentions make mistakes. Don't be one of them.
Get a Letter of Recommendation
The letter of recommendation is the part of the graduate school application that students stress most over. How do you get a great letter of recommendation that will win you a spot in graduate school?
Letters for Returning Students
You've been out of school for several years and want to go to grad school. What do you about getting letters of recommendation?
What Is a Doctoral Candidate?
What is a doctoral candidate? What does it mean to be ABD?
Interview Questions to Ask
The admissions committee is interviewing you, but you are also interviewing them.
Switching Fields for Graduate Study
Is it possible for a student pursue an undergraduate degree in one field and then a graduate degree in another? Are you limited by your college major?
What Is a Social Worker?
Social worker, defined.
Getting into Medical School
Completing these common requirements during your undergraduate years can ease your way into medical school.
Pre-Med Courses
If you think medical school may be in your future, start preparing now by taking the undergraduate courses that are required by all medical schools (vet and dental too!).
Is Grad School for You?
Is graduate school right for you?
How to Organize Your Graduate Admissions Essay
Organize your admissions essay to get your point across - and get into grad school.
Admissions Interview: Dos and Don'ts
What to do (and not to do) on your graduate school admissions interview.
Prepare Your Curriculum Vitae
It's never too early to write a curriculum vitae. A CV is an academic resume that highlights your scholarly accomplishments. Find out what goes into a CV.
Sample Recommendation
Whether a letter is good or simply adequate depends not just on it's content but on how well it fits the program to which you’re applying. In this case the context is an online graduate program.
Tips for Writing an Employee's Grad School Recommendation Letter
What do you do if an employee requests a letter of recommendation for graduate study? It might seem as if you're not the right person for the job, but that isn't true.
Feel the Graduation Blues?
You've been looking forward to graduation since you first started college or graduate school. It's finally here! Why aren't you happier?
AMCAS Work/Activities Section
What information goes into the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) Work/Activities section?
Med School Courses
Basic coursework that you can expect at any medical school in the US.
Interviewing for Graduate School Admissions
Getting ready for an interview for admissions to graduate study?
Is Grad School Worth It?
Graduate school presents opportunities to learn, improve your job prospects, and increase your income. But are these benefits really worth the cost of attending graduate school?
7 Common Admissions Essay Mistakes
Common errors that can stop your graduate school application in its tracks.
Recommendation Letter
Letter of recommendation for graduate school - brief definition.
Medical School Overview
What you need to know to gain admission to medical school.
Writing Recommendation Letters
Tips for faculty who write letters of recommendation for students who seek admittance to graduate school
LSAT: About the Law School Admission Test
What is the LSAT and how do you take it? If you're planning on law school, you can't avoid taking the LSAT.
What Major for Med School
Must you major in premed to apply to medical school? Not necessarily.
Choosing Referees
By now you know that letters of recommendation are critical to your success in gaining entry to graduate school. But how do you choose people to approach for recommendation letters?
What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Graduate Education
Before you consider online education and apply to an online graduate school, consider the pros and cons of earning an online degree.
What is the MSW?
Definition of MSW
Academic Job Interview
Got an academic job interview? Here's what to ask to determine if that faculty position is for you
About Comprehensive Exams
As an entering graduate student I remember the more senior students mentioning taking comps and nodding
Start Your Admissions Essay
Don't know how to begin your graduate admissions essay? Here are some ideas to break through writer's block.
Get Research Experience
Graduate programs, especially PhD programs, highly value research experience. Here's how to get it.
Sample Letter Declining Offer
Decided to decline an offer of admission to graduate study but don't know how? Use this model letter declining offer of admission to graduate study as a guide.
How to Take Notes from Your Reading
Graduate study entails a tremendous amount of reading. Without taking notes it's unlikely that you'll get much out of your reading assignments. Here's how to take effective notes fast. How to Take Notes from Your Reading
How Grad School Is Different
New graduate students quickly discover that grad school is entirely different than college. Grad school is a whole different beast.
What is Law School Like?
What can you expect during the first year of law school>
Reading Strategies: SQ3R Me...
How do you keep up with that mountain of graduate school reading? Try the SQ3R Method, designed to help you read faster and retain more.
What is a Dissertation?
What is a doctoral dissertation?
Graduate School: Now or Later?
You've planned on attending graduate school, but you prepare your applications, you wonder whether you're ready for another three to eight years of graduate education. Should you take time off before graduate study?
Grad School Guide
Your complete guide to applying to graduate school
Low GPA
Should you explain a low GPA or a few poor grades in your graduate school admissions essay?
Selecting a Graduate Program
It's time to choose. How do you figure out which graduate program is for you?
Overview of the Graduate Admissions Essay
Writing a statement that tells a graduate admissions committee all about you and can potentially make or break your application is stressful.
Should You Give Your Professor a Gift?
You're grateful for your professor's help. You think your prof is awesome. Should you give your professor a gift to show your appreciation?
What Is the FAFSA?
It's the first step to getting any kind of financial aid for your graduate studies.
Reasons to Go to Law School
Law school isn’t for everyone, is it for you? Here are reasons you should consider applying to law school.
Abilities to Be a Teacher
What characteristics do you need to become a successful (and happy) teacher?
Lecturing Tips for College Instructors
A good college lecture is not simply a list of facts or a rereading of the textbook. An effective lecture is the result of planning and making a series of choices. Here are some tips for graduate student instructors.
Acceptance to Graduate Study
The waiting is finally over.... you're accepted to one or more graduate programs. What happens next?
Personal Statement Questions
Having trouble writing your admissions essay? Consider these questions to prepare your personal statement. Your answers to these questions can help you choose a topic for your essay and organize your statement accordingly.
Essay Dos and Don'ts
Writing an effective graduate admissions essay is about following rules. Here are the rules, the dos and don'ts, of writing admissions essays or personal statements
Where do Lawyers Work?
Where do you find lawyers?
10 Gifts for Graduate Students
Wondering what to get the graduate student on your list? Try these sure to please gifts for graduate students.
Should I Get a Master's or Doctoral Degree to be a Therapist?
What education do I need to be a counselor? Master's or doctoral degree?
How to Prepare for the GRE
The Graduate Record Exam evokes fear in the hearts of most graduate students. This overview will help you overcome your fear and prepare well.
Social Work or Counseling? Which Degree Should I Choose?
Trying to decide whether to pursue a MSW or Masters in Counseling?
Your Transcript: Your Grad School Application Goes Nowhere Without It!
Applicants to graduate school sometimes become so concerned about the more challenging aspects of the application that they forget the easy stuff, like transcripts.
Reading: Improve Your Compr...
Have you ever read an article and not recall much about it? Scholarly reading is very different from reading for pleasure. In graduate school, you need better strategies for reading that mountain of assignments.
Get Ready to Apply to Law School
Plan ahead if you'd like to apply to law school because it takes time to amass experiences needed for a stellar application.
Admissions Essay Topics
What are common topics for graduate school admissions essays?
Poor Letter Sample
Take care in requesting your recommendation letter because not all letters are helpful. Here's an example of a poor letter.
Avoid an Overly Personal Graduate Admissions Essay
Many applicants share too much in their personal statements.
What Do Teachers Do?
What Do Teachers Do?
Residency and Medical School
Medical training doesn't end with graduation from medical school. The next step is residency.
You Missed Class: What to Do?
Everybody misses a class once in a while. It's unavoidable in college and graduate school. Most professors care about missed classes, but you can redeem yourself, at least a little. Learn how.
Graduate Study and Work
Does graduate school and work mix? Whether graduate students should seek employment is debatable and varies by student and by graduate program.
What is an Assistantship?
Assistantship, defined.
Medical School FAQ
Thinking about becoming a doctor but have questions? Check out these FAQ's on becoming a doctor.
Complete Your Dissertation
Don't let the dissertation get you down. Learn how to stop procrastinating and finish it now!
Admissions Essay Checklist
If you're writing an admissions essay as part of your application to graduate school, you should take care to ensure that you've written an essay that highlights your strengths -- and minimized weaknesses. Avoid common admissions essay gaffes by running through this checklist.
When Your Article is Rejected
You wrote an article, submitted it to a peer review journal, and waited. And waited. And waited. You final receive that long-awaited letter – and it’s a rejection! What next?
GRE Verbal Test Tips
What does the GRE Verbal Section entail? How do you prepare?
Is Returning Recommendation Letters in Signed, Sealed Envelopes Too Much to Ask?
Recently a reader asked me whether it's an imposition to ask faculty to not only write letters of recommendation but to return them to the student, each in a separate signed and sealed envelope. Is it too much to ask? Is organizing all that paperwork unreasonable?
What is Graduate School Like?
You've won admission to graduate school. What can you expect? What is graduate school really like?
Why Seek Help?
How do you approach a professor for help? At some point in college or grad school you'll have to ask for help. How do you ask a professor for help?
Master Your Use of Time
Learn how to manage your time and increase your graduate student efficiency.
Change Fields for Grad Study
Is it common for students to pursue an undergraduate degree in one field and then a graduate degree in another?
What You Need to Know About a Graduate Program Before You Apply
Before you begin that graduate school application, ensure that you know these 12 things about the grad program.
Assistant Professor
What is an assistant professor?
Writing Your Admissions Essay
An effective personal statement for graduate admissions explains your strengths, goals, and objectives. Conduct a thorough self-exploration and write your admissions essay with these tips.
What does it mean to be "On Call?"
What does it mean when doctors say that they are on call?
About the GRE Analytical Writing Section
Most students dread the GRE Analytical Writing Section, but if you know what to expect and prepare, there's nothing to fear.
Medical School
What can you expect in medical school?
Organization Tips
Graduate students, especially new students, often find themselves overwhelmed. Good time management skills are essential, but succeeding in graduate school requires the ability to organize more than your time.
I'm Wait Listed, Now What?
I'm wait-listed for admission to graduate school. Now what?
Too Late for Grad School?
Is it ever too late for a career in science? Is midlife too late to go to graduate school?
Teaching Assistantship
A teaching assistantship can help you pay your way through grad school.
Writing Your Statement of T...
What is your teaching philosophy? If you're applying for a faculty position, be prepared to send a statement of teaching philosophy to discuss how you approach teaching because professors' roles as teachers are increasingly important in academia.
Apply to Graduate School with Less than Stellar Credentials?
What if your grades and GRE scores are just ok? What if you have no out-of-class experience? Should you still apply to graduate school?
Bad Recommendation Letter
Some letters of recommendation are bad - they don't help students. Here are 7 things you should not do when writing a letter of recommendation.
Beat Writer's Block to Complete Your Graduate Admissions Essay
Everyone suffers from writer's block at one time or another, but it is especially disconcerting while writing your graduate admissions essay.
Graduate Students Need More Advanced Study Skills
Graduate school is very different from college. It requires a different skill set.
Experiences for Good Letters
What are the experiences that will help you to earn excellent letters of recommendation from faculty?
Getting Started with Writing Letters of Recommendation
A student approaches you for a letter of recommendation. What do you do?
What to Ask on Your Med School Interview
Your med school interview relies not just on your interview answers but on what you ask.
GMAT: Introduction to the Graduate Management Admission Test
The GMAT is the first step towards getting into business school.
Should I Apply to Graduate School at the Same University Where I Earned My BA?
I want to apply to a school that is part of the same university I got my B.A. from. Is that a good idea?
Should I Guess on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE)?
If I don't know the answer, should I guess?
Thanking Your Letter Writers
Thanking those who write letters of recommendation on your behalf is not just good manners, it's solid professional advice.
Types of Education Loans
Graduate school is expensive. What are the different kinds of loans that you can receive?
Interview for Faculty Job
Be prepared for your academic job interview with answers to these questions.
Dealing with Rejection
You followed all the directions for applying to graduate school. You prepared for the GRE, obtained excellent recommendations and still received a graduate school rejection letter. What gives? It's difficult to learn that you're not among a graduate program's top choices, but rejection is common among graduate school applicants.
MSW vs PhD for a Career in Social Work
How do I become a social worker? Is an MSW or DSW needed for a career in social work?
What Is an Admissions Essay?
The admissions essay is often dreaded by grad school applicants. What is an admissions essay?
Should You Write Your Own Recommendation Letter?
What should you do if your professor asks you to write your own recommendation letter?
How to Choose Between Two Graduate Programs
What should you do it you are faced with the unexpected (but delightful) decision of choosing among two or more graduate programs?
Accepted to Grad School: What to Do
Accepted to graduate school? Congratulations! Here's what to do next.

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