How to Plan for Grad School
Is Grad School Right for Me?
Maybe you’ve been thinking about graduate school of years, or maybe it’s a brand new idea. Either way, before you invest the time, energy, and money involved (both in applying and in completing the degree), it’s important to reflect: Is graduate school right for me?
Types of Programs
Generally there are two types of graduate school programs. One type is professional in focus and gives you the skills and qualifications necessary to succeed in a profession (examples include an MBA program, medical, or law schools). These programs are usually very structured and career-focused. Another type are programs that are more academically focuses (generally ending in Ph.Ds.) and aim to prepare future professors and researchers. These tend to be less structured and built around your own academic interests.
The Essential Questions
Start with the main question: Why am I interested in grad school?
Weak answers:
- I want to tale a break from a tough job market.
- I want to figure out a new career path or find career direction.
- I don’t know what else to do.
- I don’t think there’s anything else I can do with my major.
Stronger answers:
- I’m genuinely interested in my field and passionate about pursuing new knowledge/expertise in a very specific area.
- My career goals require a graduate degree.
- I have the resources I need (time, academic record, energy, etc.) to be successful in a graduate program.
If you decided that you’d like to grad school, the next question is, When is the right time? You could plan to go right away, or you could wait.
Reasons you might choose to go right away:
- You have the momentum and desire to continue being a student.
- You may have more flexibility, with fewer family, work, or financial committements.
- The degree may be necessary to help you get the job you want, or it could help speed career advancement in your chosen field
- You currently meet the requirements for admission (i.e.: the program doesn’t require extensive work experience before you apply, and your GPA/test scores fit within the program’s criteria).
- You are willing and able to make the financial investment now.
Reasons you might choose to wait:
- You need more time to be sure of your goals.
- You currently do not meet the requirements for admission (i.e.: the program you’re targeting requires more work experience than you have, or a higher GPA/test scores than you have).
- You don’t have the financial resources to invent in another degree at this time.
- You can save money by waiting, or you may find an employer that would help you pay for your program.
- You find value in taking a gap year(s) to gain experience that may help strengthen your graduate school application.
- A break might boost your motivation for further study.

The Ideal Timeline
We know everyone’s journey is at different stages and grad school planning takes a lot of time. Ideally, you should begin researching possible options for grad school two years before you want to start. There are many time-bound things – GRE exam, application windows, program start dates – that influence this process. We’ll break down each part of the process for you and tell you want you should be focusing on for each section.
1. Decide on Degree Plan
Working with your program advisor, career coaches, and trusted mentors, choose a degree program that will prepare you to meet your career goals. Remember that graduate school is not the end of your journey; it opens up next steps and to help you be successful beyond earning your degree.
Steps to take:
- Find out whether you need a terminal degree (the highest degree available in your field) for your career plans
- The terminal degree is often, but not always, a doctorate (PhD, EdD, JD, etc)
- Many careers may only require a master’s degree (MA, MS, MEd, MSW, MFA, etc)
- Talk to people who have the job you want in the future to find out what degree they sought and whether it was the right one
- Answer the question: what do I hope to learn during my degree?
- Consider whether research is an important part of your educational and/or career goals.
2. Research Programs
Seek feedback and advice from faculty in your undergraduate program about what programs they know well and whether those programs meet your needs. Remember that even highly regarded programs might not serve you well if they don’t specialize in the area you want to gain mastery in. Research or reach out to faculty in programs that interest you and read publications in the field to narrow down what you would like to do. Remember that it is important to get along well with your potential advisor and be able to trust them to complete paperwork on time.
Things to consider when researching schools:
- Program offerings
- Degrees granted (doctorate and/or master’s)
- Current curriculum and course offerings
- Faculty research and research assistantships availability
- Teaching opportunities
- Faculty
- Academic advisor
- Research advisor (if applicable)
- Clinical supervisor (if applicable)
- Administrative support
- Applicant profile
- GPA
- Many schools will have a minimum GPA of 3.0 but not all. Some school will also vary based on program.
- Grades after first-year of college or in major courses are often considered more heavily
- GRE Scores/Other test scores
- Some schools will post an average score of accepted students
- High test scores can make up for a low GPA in some cases and vice versa
- Previous experience
- GPA
- Funding
- Fellowships/Grants/Scholarships
- These funding sources provide funding for tuition, stipend, research materials, and/or study-related travel
- There is no requirement to work outside of the graduate degree program, but individual fellowships may come with other requirements (attending events, doing a presentation on research, etc.)
- Assistantships
- Can be for research, teaching, and/or administration
- Work under the supervision of a member of faculty, usually from your department
- Generally part time (around 20 hours/week) but some schools allow heavier loads
- Pays tuition and stipend, often comes with other benefits such as health insurance
- Usually intended to cover basic living expenses during graduate career
- State Grants/Resident Tuition
- Loans
- Fellowships/Grants/Scholarships
- Location
- Access to institutions, clinical placements, materials, etc.
- Proximity to family/community
- Town size, climate, access to hobbies
For examples of questions to ask when talking with Admission, faculty, or current students, view our graduate school questions document.
2.5. Track your research
You may find yourself overwhelmed with information or websites while doing grad school research. You may think you’ll remember a certain detail and suddenly find you can’t. We strongly recommend tracking your research, whether it be in an Excel doc, Google sheets, Word document, notebook – put it somewhere you can easily find and sift through. We have our own template for pre-health careers you can adapt and will have a more general one on the way soon.
3. Prepare for Graduate School
To make sure you’re ready for your degree plan:
- Seek experience in your field
- Review pre-requisite materials and take any necessary courses
- Read professional publications in the field
- Network
- Prepare for any tests such as the GRE
- Consider funding opportunities (depending on degree type)
Prior to Enrollment (~1 year before)
GRE
Plan to take this test the October before you application deadline if needed for your program. Visit URGO’s GRE Information and Resource page for more information about this exam.
Prepare Applications
In August/September prior to your application deadline:
- Identify your schools of interest (try to narrow down to 5-7 depending on the field)
- Contact faculty in the programs to which you will apply
- Find out what your application requirements are
- Contact the graduate admissions office at each school to confirm the materials required if online resources are unclear
- Identify references and contact to update with your plans
- For research fields: identify your research interests and possibly a project proposal depending on the program requirements
In October/November prior to your application deadline:
- Work on Statement of Purpose/Personal Statement, other required essays, and CV/resume
- Follow-up with references about deadlines
- Ensure all required materials have been proof-read and uploaded before hitting submit and completing the application
For more information about this process, view our grad school application resource.
Adapted from resource on Augsburg’s Undergraduate Research and Graduate Opportunity page (URGO) and from UMN’s CLA career guide