9/15 class notes Choosing a Grad School Program – Key Points
Matching Your Degree to Your Career Goals
The big question: after grad school, what do you want to do? The answer determines the kind of degree you need and the program you should pursue.
Degrees are credentials for different careers: a PhD is typically for academia; a master's (e.g., MA, MS, MPH, MSW, MBA) fits many professional tracks; for some careers, internships or certificates can suffice.
If you’re already working, talk with leaders in your organization about what degrees and programs they’d recommend.
If you’reStill an undergraduate, identify career role models (professors, directors, etc.). Research where they studied, what degrees they earned, and their career paths to gauge what degree might fit your goals.
Use triangulation: find other people in similar roles and compare their trajectories to determine what degree and pathway are likely necessary.
Once you know the degree you’ll need, find a program that offers that degree (or nondegree option) to meet your goals.
Distinguishing Degrees and Programs
After identifying the degree, narrow options by cost and value: is the degree worth the price?
Funding and time-to-degree vary widely by program, discipline, and university.
For careers in academia or research, you’ll likely pursue a doctoral degree; for many policy, industry, or applied roles, a master’s may suffice.
Considering Your Options
Grad school options: Nondegree programs, master’s programs, doctoral programs.
Primary decision factor: what you want to achieve career-wise by going to grad school; also consider time and cost.
Nondegree Programs
Certificates, badges, and microcredentials can supplement skills but coverage and impact vary.
Examples include industry-specific certificates or short courses (e.g., business publishing, clinical research).
High-quality nondegree options can increase accessibility and flexibility, often online or in nontraditional formats.
Caveat: there are many programs that are not well aligned with career outcomes; proceed with caution and favor public/nonprofit providers over for-profit schools.
This book emphasizes master’s and doctoral degrees; nondegree options may be viable but require careful evaluation.
Master’s Degrees
Typically involve 1–2 additional years beyond a bachelor’s degree; can move you from entry-level to higher roles or into doctoral programs.
Common flavors: MA in social sciences/humanities; MS in lab sciences/tech fields; specialized master’s (MPH, MFA, MSW,
MBA).
4+1 Programs: programs allow earning a master’s in an extra year while/after undergrad.
Terminal Master’s: master’s degree earned with no immediate plan to pursue a doctorate.
Nonterminal Master’s: a stepping stone toward a doctoral degree; sometimes a stand-alone option, sometimes part of a combined path.
Nonterminal Master’s (path to PhD) vs Terminal Master’s (career-focused or entry into top doctoral programs).
Time-to-degree and coursework can influence your decision depending on field (see below).
Time-to-Degree by Discipline
Lab sciences, life sciences, engineering, math: shorter time-to-degree on average; often around years.
Social sciences: around years.
Arts and humanities: around years.
Differences arise from coursework load and whether the dissertation is a product of separate, earlier research vs. work integrated with advisor projects.
Doctoral Degrees
Common Doctoral degree: PhD; other professional doctorates: EdD, JD, DoS, etc.
Time-to-degree varies by discipline: lab/life/earth sciences, engineering, math often shorter; arts/humanities longest due to coursework and dissertation development.
Not all PhD recipients end up in academia; many pursue industry or policy roles.
Structure can differ: some programs require substantial coursework and a dissertation; others emphasize research that aligns with advisor projects.
Funding for doctoral students is common but varies widely (see Funding Considerations).
Funding Considerations
Terminal master’s programs often are unfunded; you typically pay tuition, fees, and living costs yourself.
Example costs: a private university master’s program can be very expensive (e.g., a one-year MA program costing over before living expenses).
Public universities and online master’s programs can be more affordable, especially for in-state students; e.g., MSW at a large public university can range from about in-state to out-of-state.
Scholarships for master’s students are relatively rare and may not cover full costs; many terminal master’s programs rely on student self-funding.
Doctoral funding often includes tuition coverage and a stipend for living expenses; this is common because PhD programs are designed to train future professors.
Funding duration and level vary by program and field; some require work (teaching/research) to maintain funding; others offer guaranteed funding for several years.
Work requirements and eligibility: some funding requires service (teaching/research), some years are non-service; international students may have work restrictions.
Fully funded programs do not guarantee adequate living support for everyone; some students need additional side work or external funding.
Grants, fellowships, and external funding sources expand options; many programs have track records of helping students obtain additional support.
Grants and Fellowship Programs
Funding sources include government agencies, foundations, and university-specific programs.
Notable examples: NSF, NIH, Fulbright, Rhodes, Marshall, NAEd/Spencer, William T. Grant, RWJF, AAUW, Ford Foundation, Sloan Foundation, Javits Fellowship, etc.
Types of funding: full cost covers tuition, fees, and living stipend; some cover only specific research costs (equipment, travel, etc.).
External funding can supplement or substitute for departmental funding and may be targeted toward underrepresented groups.
When evaluating programs, check the track record of current students in securing fellowships and grants.
Status Considerations
Money matters, but status also influences opportunities: elite programs often have better funding and publish/placement outcomes.
Rankings (e.g., US News & World Report) are influential, though subjective; they relate to perceived academic quality and can affect funding and job prospects.
In a tight academic job market, elite pedigree can affect hiring decisions, including preference for candidates from well-known programs.
Meeting Your Personal Needs
After degree fit, assess personal fit: high-quality training plus a high quality of life.
People matter: potential advisors, other professors, staff, and fellow graduate students.
Advisors: active in teaching and research; align with your interests; unlikely to leave; good advisors invest in your career.
Choose multiple mentors: aim for a team of four to five faculty to cover different aspects of your development.
Grad students as peers: cohorts provide support but can create competition; look for a collaborative culture.
Program culture: assess graduate student distribution, awards, publications, and collaboration patterns.
Location
Geography can affect job prospects post-graduation and access to opportunities; you may need to relocate for a job.
Costs of living, travel, and housing influence total cost of attendance and quality of life.
Consider personal constraints (spouse/partner, children, medical needs) and how location affects them.
Weigh trade-offs: living in a cheaper area vs. proximity to networks, field sites, or a partner’s job.
Example: choosing Penn for cost savings and location convenience; commuting can affect time, social life, and fieldwork.
Questions to ask about location: will I have to move after graduation? can I afford to live there during the program? how will distance affect my well-being and support network?
Work/Life Balance
Grad school is not inherently a work-at-all-costs environment; look for programs that support intellectual growth and personal well-being.
Watch for work-is-life culture; ask about typical hours, take-up of hobbies, family time, and department events.
Balancing work and life can improve productivity and resilience; establish routines that support your health and relationships.
Adjusting from non-academic jobs to grad school can be financially and emotionally challenging; plan budgets and savings accordingly.
Selectivity
Programs are selective; you should plan a diverse application strategy.
Suggested mix: 'long-shot' programs, 'decent chance' programs, and 'very good chance' programs.
How to gauge program difficulty: US News rankings can provide a rough sense of admitted profiles; check program websites for admitted student data, GRE/GPAs, and prior training.
Do due diligence: review recent admitted students’ CVs, degrees, honors, and work experiences.
Reach out to undergrad professors for insights and connections across institutions to strengthen your network and application prospects.
Additional Considerations: Environment and Well-Being
Grad programs vary in inclusivity and culture; evaluate the climate for marginalized groups and look for microaggressions or toxic environments.
Seek programs with strong mentorship, community, and resources to support resilience and well-being.
Before committing, talk to current students about their experiences, support networks, and pathways to finishing.