Graduate School
Graduate School
Learn about what graduate school is, how to determine if and when
you pursue a graduate degree, how to plan for it, and how to apply!
Embedded Files
Introduction to Graduate School
Introduction to Graduate School
Wellesley College is an undergraduate institution, meaning that the highest degree you can achieve in your time here is a Bachelor's degree. There are degrees beyond a Bachelor's that you may need for some careers or industries; for example, medical doctors need (you guessed it) a medical doctorate, and you may see job posts that specify "Master's degree preferred." Graduate school can also enable you to continue research or other academic/intellectual work that is meaningful to you.
Especially in a university-rich and research-focused area like Boston, it can be easy to feel like you have to go to grad school. (Fun/potentially stressful fact: Massachusetts has the most colleges and universities per capita in the country!) But pursuing grad work is a big decision, and no matter the degree or program, grad school requires a lot of time, dedication, and resources. This resource is designed to help you:
Define what graduate school is
Understand the types of degrees are out there
Determine if you need an advanced degree, when you might go, how to find the right program, and apply
Feel free to jump into this information wherever makes the most sense, depending on where you are in the process. Remember: no one comes into the world automatically knowing everything there is to know about finding and pursuing an advanced degree through graduate or professional study. That's why we're here to help!
This resource contains four modules; feel free to hop around
and jump in wherever makes sense for where you are in the process.
After this introduction page, there are sections dedicated to:
Define
So, what exactly is graduate school?
Graduate school is:
A division of a university offering advanced programs beyond the bachelor’s degree, like a Master’s degree or a Doctorate (these are “advanced degrees").
An opportunity to gain the qualifications/further degree you need to pursue the work you want to do in the world.
A chance to examine a field of your choice with more specificity and direction.
A catch-all term that often encompasses a lot of postgraduate education, including professional school and different types of advanced degrees.
Types of Graduate Programs
First graduate level degree in the American educational system, generally takes 1 – 3 years.
Examples:
MA (Master of Arts)
MS (Master of Science)
MBA (Master of Business Administration)
MFA (Master of Fine Arts)
Second graduate level degree, focuses on specific content/competencies to prepare you to enter a profession or continue as an advanced practitioner. Often tied to licensure; can take 2 – 5 years
or more.
Examples:
MD (Medical Doctor)
DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine)
Designed with the intention to pursue research in a given field. Instead of taking a license exam, you complete comprehensive exams (“comps”) and pursue
and defend an independent research project (a dissertation). Prepares you to pursue academic or research-based career. Takes
4 – 7 years.
Example:
PhD (Doctor of Philosophy—this does not mean your degree will be in philosophy necessarily; it’s simply a title)
Very broadly defined, dual degree programs simply mean you’re enrolled in two graduate programs, usually concurrently. These can be great if your industry/area of interest covers multiple disciplines.
Example:
JD-MPP (Juris Doctor + Master of Public Policy)
Non-degree Postgrad Programs
Study towards a specific certification but not degree granting.
Can refer to any educational program you complete after undergrad; non-degree granting, but helpful to complete pre-reqs if you’re changing careers.
Other Considerations
Part-time Grad Work
Part-time Grad Work
While some grad programs required that you attend as a full-time student, many allow students the flexibility to attend part-time, with some even designed specifically for working professionals to be completed on a part-time basis. There are benefits and drawbacks to part-time work that will be specific to your degree and your own personal/professional situation.
Grad School Abroad
Grad School Abroad
You can also pursue graduate work outside of the US; many graduate programs internationally have programs taught/conducted in English. Pre-requisites vary by country, university, and program. Often degree programs abroad are shorter in duration than in the US (for example, a 1-year Master’s). Stay tuned for our resource on Graduate School Abroad for more information!
Big Picture: Goals and Tools
Graduate school is not the goal.
Graduate school is not the goal.
We know: this might be really weird to hear, but it's true! Graduate/professional school is, in and of itself, not the goal. It can be a goal, but grad school is in many ways a means to an end: it is one possible way (of potentially many) to gain the qualifications and expertise you need to do what you want to do in the world.
Consider it from a design-thinking perspective: it's better to have a sense of what you want to build before you pick out and invest in tools. Grad school is the tool, not the thing you're trying to build.
In the next section, you'll find some questions and exercises to help you clarify some of your goals and next steps.
First Destination Data
While deciding to go to graduate or professional school is a very individualized process, we know that it can also help to see some of the data and trends for the last few cycles. Here, you'll find the percentage of each class listed below that went on to graduate or professional school within six months of graduating.
22.47% of the graduating class of 2024 went onto grad/prof school within 6 months of graduating.
23.40% of the graduating class of 2023 went onto grad/prof school within 6 months of graduating.
19.92% of the graduating class of 2022 went onto grad/prof school within 6 months of graduating.
23.47% of the graduating class of 2021 went onto grad/prof school within 6 months of graduating.
Up Next...
Is grad school right for me right now? Things to consider as you consider.
Do your research, lay out your timelines, and start preparing your materials.
Personal statements, references, and CVs... oh my! Application components galore.
Still feeling a little lost? Come find us! Book an appointment with Career Ed to touch base no matter where you are in the process.
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