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How to Prepare for Grad School: An Informative Guide

News Image When you received your high school diploma, you probably had a natural next step: proceed straight into a career or head off to college. But for adults looking to continue their education, the path to a master’s or other graduate degree isn’t nearly as straightforward.

By: Dr. Emanuela Kucik and Dr. Giancarlo Cuadra, Co-Directors, Graduate School Preparatory Program, Muhlenberg College  Tuesday, April 25, 2023 01:50 PM

Some people transition to grad school immediately after earning their undergraduate degree, and others spend years in the workforce before they decide to further their education.  But choosing a grad school doesn’t have to be as overwhelming as it might initially seem. This detailed guide can help you select the right institution and prepare for a fulfilling educational experience. 

Know your professional goals. 
Before researching graduate schools, you should know what you want from your educational experience. Are you looking to enhance your knowledge in your current field of study? Do you want to advance within your current company? Is a graduate degree a requirement for a job or role to which you aspire? Or do you want to explore a new field of study? 

Once you know the answers to these critical questions, you can start matching your goals to potential schools.

Determine where you want to live, work and learn. 
For many adults, location is one of the biggest drivers of choosing the right graduate school. If you’re currently working, are happy in your job, and plan to keep your job while you study, you’ll want to choose a graduate school in the same geographic area as your job. This will help you reduce your travel and stress levels. It’s also wise to study at a school in your current region if you have a robust support system around you.  If you’re going to focus 100% on graduate studies—or if you love the idea of exploring, earning and working in a different town or city—it will open the door geographically to more schools that may be the right fit for you. But be sure to weigh out-of-area schools carefully. Consider: Will a new city bring you fulfillment? Do you have family or other people you know in that area whom you can rely on while studying there? Is the cost of living in a new locale the same or different from where you currently live?

If you’re juggling multiple responsibilities, including work and family, you should research schools offering remote or hybrid learning options.

Talk with other graduate students. 
Students already in graduate school—or those currently going through the process—can be your best source of advice.  At Muhlenberg College, we set up formal networking events where undergraduate students can learn peer-to-peer from first-year grad school students. We find that the most robust discussions start with open-ended questions such as: 

  • How did you choose the right grad school?
  • How did you get financial support to attend grad school?
  • How did you find programs that met your educational needs?
  • What did you wish you had known about grad school as an undergraduate that you know now?
  • How did you maintain your mental health in grad school?

Getting this type of real-world guidance from students who have been through the grad school experience can reduce your stress levels and help you zero in on the right program for you.

Know the requirements for admission.  
As you narrow down your school choices, look at the documents you must prepare to apply for admission. For example, the majority of schools will ask you to author an essay with a personal statement that explains how education has shaped your life and why you’re the right candidate for that school. Alongside the personal statement, some institutions will also ask for a research statement that explains your research interests and approaches.  We recommend starting your application documents as early as possible. If you’re unsure what documents you’ll need, ask an academic advisor at your school. 

Review the curriculum. 
Do a deep dive into the graduate programs that your chosen school offers. First, review the school’s website and see how much you can learn about the courses you’ll be taking. You may not be able to find complete course materials, but you should be able to find a list of required courses you need to complete, along with any elective courses you can take. Muhlenberg College, for example, offers comprehensive information about its graduate programs online.

Research your professors.
As part of your online research, learn more about the instructors you’ll interact with during your graduate school journey. Look up their bios on the school’s website. Find them on LinkedIn. Learn about their work experience. Review any articles they’ve published. This type of research will give you more confidence in your choice of schools and learning capabilities. Meet the full-time and adjunct faculty at Muhlenberg College. 

Explore all resources available to you. 
We strongly encourage all students to look at potential graduate schools holistically. Review all the resources you’ll have at your disposal during your educational journey. Then, once you start your graduate studies, take advantage of all the services available. A few must-haves to look for include:
  • Academic advising
  • Formal and informal mentoring programs
  • Resources to help you with career development

How Muhlenberg College Graduate School Preparatory Program (GSPP) can help. 
The path to grad school can be more difficult for people from underrepresented communities or first-generation college students due to histories of systemic disenfranchisement. The co-founding co-directors of the GSPP, Dr. Kucik and Dr. Cuadra, navigated predominantly white institutions as graduate students from underrepresented backgrounds, and their experiences inspired them to help other people from underrepresented backgrounds successfully apply to, complete and thrive in graduate education programs. Muhlenberg College Graduate School Preparatory Program (GSSP) aims to do just that. Our definition of underrepresented is purposefully broad. It includes:

  • First-generation students
  • Students of color (Black, Latinx, Indigenous, Asian, multi-racial and other self-identified students of color)
  • Students from low-income backgrounds
  • Students with disabilities
  • Students from immigrant backgrounds
  • LGBTQIA+ students
  • Students in Continuing Studies
  • Students at the intersections of these and other identities
  • A broad array of other groups
We offer our services to current undergraduate students and recent alumni interested in attending our graduate programs. We offer:
  • Workshops to help students draft application documents and excel in grad school interviews. 
  • In-person and virtual sessions designed to help students maintain strong mental health through graduate school, such as events focused on coping with imposter syndrome.
  • Personal mentoring from a faculty, staff, or administrator with a shared aspect of identity.
  • Personal advising from a faculty, staff, or administrator who has a graduate degree in the student’s area of intended study.
  • Networking opportunities that allow undergraduate students to receive advice from Muhlenberg alumni who are currently in graduate school. 
Our goal is to nurture students and provide in-person and virtual events that provide them with both academic and mental health support at every step of their educational journeys. 
Are you interested in learning more about the Muhlenberg College Division of Graduate and Continuing Education? Set up an appointment with an advisor.