Graduate School

Reflection questions to help you determine if graduate school is right for you:

• What career path does this open for me?

• Why am I interested in graduate school?

  • Strong answers: My career goals require a graduate degree. I have the time, money, energy, and grades to be successful in the graduate program.

  • Weak answers: I want to explore a new career path or find a career direction. I don’t know what else to do and my family said I should go to graduate school.

• When is the right time to go?

  • Reasons to go: The degree might be necessary to get the job you want, or it could help speed career advancement. You already meet the requirements for admission (ie the program doesn’t require extensive experience and your GPA/test scores fit application criteria.

  • Reasons to wait: You need more time to be sure of your career goals. You can save money by waiting, or you may find an employer that would help pay for the program. The experience you gain doing something else might help strengthen your application. 

Sophomore/Junior Year

• Get to know your faculty. The better they know you, the more effectively they can write letters of recommendation. Faculty may also suggest graduate programs to consider and research.

• Think about what you want from graduate study – it is more intense and focused than undergraduate study. 

• Begin to research programs online and request information. Consider tracking information in the Grad School Tracking Spreadsheet.

• Gain the experience needed to set you apart from other applicants, such as patient contact hours, shadowing, internships, research, etc. Use the Experiential Planner as a guide!

• Consider taking the required graduate exams (every school and program will likely have different requirements).

Senior Year

The following activities will need to be completed before entering graduate school; exact timing is dependent on the application deadlines for your schools of choice.

• Double check admission and application deadlines.

• Ensure you take necessary admission exams on time.

• Request letters of recommendation from faculty/employers; allow at least one month when giving deadlines. In your request, include specific experiences/skills you’d like them to address and attach your resume.

• Submit official transcripts. Make Hamline requests here.

• Upload completed applications.

• Verify admission materials are received if you haven’t gotten electronic confirmation.

• Utilize the Interviewing & Interview Questions handout and the Application Tools and Process page to prepare for interviews.

Begin your search with one of these sources:

• LinkedIn's Alum Search Feature to find out where Hamline alums have studied

• Petersons.com

• https://www.gradschools.com/

Other resources:

• Hamline faculty

• Program/Department website

• Alumni of the program(s) you’re considering. Utilize LinkedIn's alum search feature to view that institution's/program's current students/alums.

• Campus visits

Consider the following questions in light of your own personal needs, educational values, and goals:

• What specializations exist within the field of study?

• What areas of research have program faculty focused on?

• Does the program offer research or experiential opportunities you want?

• How long does it take to complete the program?

• Where is the school located? Will the location be a fit for you?

• What are the total costs and what financial aid is available?

Each graduate entrance exam is different in approach and purpose; various academic disciplines are trying to test certain skills. Graduate exams also have different deadlines to register, administration dates, etc. Please check each exam’s website for specific deadlines and requirements.

Consider financial aid, scholarships, fellowships, graduate assistantships, etc. One way to help fund graduate school is to find employment with a corporation that offers tuition assistance as part of its benefits package. These programs allow employees to take courses and earn master’s degrees at nearby universities as part of advancing their careers.

Grant/Fellowship Website Resources

• Association for International Educators

• Fast Web – online database of more than 180,000 private sector scholarships, fellowships, grants and loans for graduate and postdoctoral students.      

• FinAid

• Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowships for Minorities

• National Endowment for the Arts

• National Science Foundation

Always research individual deadlines for schools. Applying to multiple schools is advised depending on the competitiveness of individual programs:

Application Resources:

• Resume

• Personal Statement

• Letters of Recommendation

• Interviewing