Applying to Graduate Studies and Professional Schools
Is it right for you?
Deciding on whether grad school is right for you can be a difficult decision to make on your own. Before you go to your favorite advisor or family member for advice, think about answering these questions first:
- Why do I want to go to grad school? Is it for the right reasons?
- What are my career goals? Will grad school assist me in meeting these goals?
- What will I specialize in? What are my interests?
- Am I willing to work much harder than I did during my undergraduate degree?
- Do I have the motivation for another two to seven years of school?
- Can I afford grad school?
- Do I have the academic and personal qualities to succeed?
- Am I doing this because I don't know what else to do?
After thinking about your answers, use the resources you feel will help you make the appropriate decision. Whether that be by speaking with a professor, advisor, family member or friends, or by using sites like petersons.com or quintessential careers.
The next steps
The process of applying to graduate studies or professional schools can be
daunting, especially when you do not know where to start. CaPS offers many
tools to assist you along the way, including our recommended podcasts.
- How to Apply to Grad School
- Graduate Career Week 2009: Concrete Steps to Great Public Speaking Skills
- DVDs of Thinking About Grad School? Info Sessions for all undergraduates are available for your viewing in the CaPS Resource Centre. Each session includes a seminar portion as well as testimonials from current grad students and cover the following topics: Is Graduate School Right for You?; Making your Graduate School Application; Sneak Peek into Graduate School
Admission Information and Statistics
Please visit the Graduate and
Postdoctoral Studies website for additional information on the
grad school application process, including:
- Connecting with a supervisor
- How to choose between two schools
- Grad school funding
- Outlining your fellowship timeline
