How to choose a program/school

Like any important decision, selecting a graduate program is often complex. To do it well you must consider what factors are important to you. These may include:

Why you are pursuing the graduate degree.
Your qualifications and the requirements of the programs you are considering.
Your personal situation.
Funding.

Whatever the relevant factors, START EARLY! Your junior year is not too soon to begin.

Phase I—The initial identification of possible programs

1.	Identify programs in your chosen field. There are a variety of resources available to help, including many that are available in the FSU Career Center.
	A.	Reference books, such as: Peterson's Guides to Graduate Study (several volumes), The Chronicle Four-Year College Databook The Official GRE/CGS Directory of Graduate Programs Edition XII Worldwide Directories of Postgraduate Studies
	B.	Computer-assisted guidance programs such as Choices, SIGI Plus, Discover.
	C.	The internet. Sites you may want to explore include: www.petersons.com/graduate www.gradschools.com www.graduateguide.com
	D.	Your department or advisor.

2.	Gather information about the programs that interest you.
	A.	Get copies of the university bulletins/catalogs
	B.	Contact the departments directly for materials that describe the department, programs, and courses in more detail.
	C.	Check out the institutional and departmental web pages.

3.	How do the programs "rate"?
	A.	Do some reading in your field. What are the current issues and who is writing about them? Are the programs you are considering active in these areas?
	B.	Ask your professors and advisors what they know about the programs you are considering.
	C.	Consult resources that review/evaluate programs. In considering these, make sure you check the criteria used for the evaluation and see if it is relevant to your decision. Many of these resources are available in both print and electronic formats. Some you might want to consult are:
			The Gourman Reports (several volumes that review programs in different graduate areas) National Research Council Research-Doctorate Program Rankings U.S. News and World Report Graduate School Rankings

Phase II—To which programs will you apply?

Your initial search should help you identify a manageable number of programs that you want to consider further. It is now time to identify the programs to which intend to apply. Your satisfaction depends on the compatibility of the department and program with your goals and purposes. The kind of information you will need to determine this may or may not be in print. Often a visit to the program is the only way to acquire the information you will need. Consider the following:

1.	What is the culture of the program? Is it research or application centered? Are the faculty members active in their field and do they involve students in their professional endeavors (research or application)? How do faculty, staff and students get along with one another? The best way to ascertain answers to questions like these is to visit the program, speak with both faculty and students, sit in on classes, and observe.
2.	What is the quality of the program? Much of this information will have been gathered from your initial research. Additional information might include: whether the department is accredited by an appropriate entity, are faculty publishing in your area of interest, are any of the faculty recognized as members of distinction in their field (members of NSA, winners of prestigious awards), and how recent graduates are employed.
3.	How do your qualifications compare with those who are usually admitted? In other words, what are your chances of being admitted?
4.	Cost of the degree? How much will the degree cost and what forms of assistance are available? Is the institution private of public? If public, would you qualify for in-state fees? Is the program year-round? How do students at your level usually fund their degrees? Are there assistantships, fellowships, or other forms of institutional awards available that would help meet your expenses?
5.	Licensure and certification. If you are seeking to enter a field where licensure or certification is required or desirable, will completion of the program meet the necessary educational requirements? Licensure is awarded by a state; requirements may vary by state. Certification is awarded by an organization and indicates that a minimal standard of training/competence has been met.
6.	Other features of the program that may be important. This will depend a lot on your situation, but may include: length of the program, time classes are offered, size of the entering class, actual class size, and if the program requires a comprehensive examination or thesis/dissertation.