ATTENDING GRADUATE SCHOOL

Attending graduate or professional school may be an option you are seriously considering. If so, your decision should be based on careful reflection and clarification of your work/life goals. The decision to attend graduate school is a very personal one, and the reasons to enroll may vary from individual to individual. This handout will outline some important considerations you may contemplate as you make your decision, along with information on researching and evaluating graduate schools/programs and completing the application process.

Considerations

Since you need an advanced degree to practice law, medicine, and teach at the college level you may wish to attend graduate school right away. Another common reason to go directly to graduate school is a strong interest in a particular discipline. You may find yourself simply wanting to learn more about your field of interest. If this is true, you are likely to find graduate training a satisfying and rewarding experience.

It is not uncommon for recent college graduates to lack a clear career of career options; however, going to graduate school to find your focus is not recommended. Graduate schools will expect you to have clearly defined interests leading to an area of specialization. Pursuing graduate school can also be a time-consuming and costly endeavor. If you are unsure about your career options and interests, you may want to first evaluate your skills, goals, and values. There are many ways you can complete this assessment, including meeting with a career counselor, reading career development books, and/or utilizing computerized assessments. This self-evaluation is critical to a successful graduate program search and for your happiness.

Some employers, including those in management, social work, and elementary/secondary education, recommend gaining practical work experience before pursuing a graduate degree. They believe you will be better qualified with a couple of years of work experience under your belt before starting graduate school. Thorough research into your area of interest should provide you with the information necessary to make a wise choice. Work experience before graduate school will also help you gain a different perspective than your undergraduate educational experiences and may help you better understand the theoretical concepts taught in graduate programs. Work experience will also help to make your application to graduate schools stronger, especially if you have a low/mediocre undergraduate GPA or graduate entrance examination score.

Some recent college graduates need a break from intensive studies, but are afraid if they don't go directly to graduate school, they may never return. If you feel certain that you need a break, don't let this fear prevent you from following your instincts. Many people successfully complete graduate programs after taking time off from study. Many individuals also work while taking graduate courses as their schedule and finances permit. If you do not go right to graduate school you might still want to take the GRE, LSAT or other appropriate test during your senior year. The scores remain valid for five years.

The decision to attend graduate school can be a difficult choice. Make certain your choice is based on a thorough assessment of your work/life goals and an appraisal of the advantages and shortcomings of following the graduate school path. Once you have made the decision to pursue graduate/professional school, the next step is to research programs and then apply to your final choices.

Researching/Evaluating

Choosing the graduate school and program which best fits your needs is an important process. With so many options this may seem overwhelming. Graduate programs vary greatly and it will be worth your time to thoroughly research your options. Following are general guidelines to help you identify your needs and narrow your choices for final applications.

Consider values, interests, skills, and goals. Ask questions such as: What do I want to do with my liberal arts degree? What do I want to do with additional education? Do I want to go to graduate school immediately after graduation or should I wait a few years? Am I willing to commit the time, effort, and personal and financial resources that pursuing a graduate degree requires?

Think about what is important to you in a graduate program/institution and make a list of your top criteria: field of study, school size, geographic location, financial assistance, faculty (current research and publications), and degrees offered.

You may find it helpful in your self-assessment to write out answers to the following list of questions and then talk about them with friends, an adviser, and/or a counselor.(2)

• What are my long-term goals? What would I like to be doing in five or ten years? Will a graduate degree help me achieve my long-term goals?
• Do I enjoy this field of study so much that I can picture myself spending most of my time on it for years to come?
• Should I go to graduate school straight from college or work for a few years first?
• Do I have an aptitude for the type of work I will be doing in graduate school?
• Do I have the academic and professional qualifications that will enable me to make up for my lack of qualifications?
• Do I have the motivation, self-discipline, self-confidence, interpersonal skills, and persistence required to earn a graduate degree?

Research areas of interest, institutions, and programs.

A visit with your faculty adviser is highly recommended. Your adviser may know popular programs among Luther graduates and make suggestions based on your needs. Some departments have graduate school program guides specific to your discipline. You may also want to contact alumni, current professionals working in the field, and others around the Luther community who can offer insight and information about graduate programs and schools. The Career Center has a complete set of Peterson's Guides, which includes information on graduate programs and degrees offered at more then 1,500 institutions. The Peterson's Guides offer information on entrance and degree requirements, expenses, financial aid, and faculty research specialties. Consulting professional journals will also help you identify the faculty who are leaders in their field. This could be an important factor in your decision about which graduate program would be best for you. There are also many good resources online to help in your search. GradSchools.com is a quick locator for finding graduate schools by field of study and by geographic region. Boston College offers a law school locator that helps you find schools where your LSAT and GRE scores will be competitive.

Other sources of information include the bulletin board outside the Career Center and department bulletin boards. Posters from specific graduate programs are often displayed with a form to send for more information. The Career Center also maintains a selection of general graduate school bulletins as well as select catalogs in law, medicine, seminary, and MBA programs. Finally, as part of your research you might want to consult the various graduate program ratings that appear in The Gourman Report as well as annually in magazine publications like U.S. News and World Report.

Based upon your research, make a list of schools that match your list of criteria.

This list may include approximately 10-20 graduate programs. If you would like more detailed information about these programs, write to the graduate schools and request their graduate bulletin and other information of interest to you. When you have the information needed, rank the schools, first according to interest and then according to difficulty. It might be helpful to create three categories of difficulty: 1.) schools that would be competitive for you to get into; 2.) schools that you would have a good chance of getting into; and 3.) schools that you would have a very good chance of getting into. You might consider applying to some schools from each category. In the end, you may want to shorten your list of programs to six. If this is difficult for you, talk with advisers or counselors to help narrow your choices for application. You may also want to contact the department chairpersons of graduate programs you would like to learn more about. You can ask about current research by professors and learn more about the focus of their graduate or professional program. A visit to their graduate school may also be appropriate at this point.

The following items can be useful in judging the educational quality of graduate programs:(3)

Faculty

• Academic training
• Research activity
• Research productivity
• Teaching effectiveness
• Concern for student development
• Involvement in program affairs
• Group morale and esprit de corps

Students

• Academic ability at entrance
• Achievements, knowledge, skills at time of degree completion
• Professional accomplishments of graduates
• Judgments on program quality
• Satisfaction with various aspects of program
• Group morale or esprit de corps

Resources

• Library
• Financial support
• Laboratory equipment and facilities
• Computer facilities

Operations

• Purpose of the program
• Course and program offerings
• Admission policies
• Faculty welfare
• Evaluation of student progress
• Program leadership and decision-making
• Job placement of graduates
• Advisement of students
• Student-faculty interaction
• Internships, assistantships, and other opportunities for relevant student experiences

APPLICATION PROCESS

Requesting Application Materials

Call, write, or e-mail the graduate school admission department for each school you are considering and request an application form, bulletin, and financial aid information. There is no need to include information about yourself at this point. A neatly typed or handwritten postcard or brief phone call or e-mail is sufficient. Once you receive the application information, read it through carefully to determine exactly what you need to provide for the admissions committee and what the deadlines are. If there is a range of dates for submitting the application it is sometimes beneficial to submit as early as possible (the majority of the applications arrive near the final deadline).

More and more schools are offering the opportunity for students to apply online. If you apply online you will still need to send the fees and official transcripts by mail. Whether you choose to mail in your application or submit it online, be sure to send in all the materials as close to the same time as possible. Try to avoid sending it in piecemeal. For some professional schools there are services that help coordinate applications for their member schools. You send your personal, educational, and employment data to the service and they forward it, along with your test scores, to each school you apply to. These services have been established mostly for programs in law, medicine, osteopathic medicine, podiatric medicine, and dentistry. They all allow you to type your application information once and then send that information to multiple schools.

Testing

The Career Center has GRE, LSAT, MCAT, MAT, and GMAT application booklets available. You can also access this information online. Testing requirements vary between programs and institutions so read all application materials carefully. You should also be aware of testing dates and deadlines. Missing any testing deadlines may affect your graduate school application.

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

General Test

This is the most common graduate admission test and is used by many graduate programs. Check with the program/school for requirements. The GRE general test is now only available in the Computer-Based Format. This format is different from the old paper-based format in two basic ways: a.) when you answer a question correctly the next question is at a higher level of difficulty, and when you answer a question incorrectly the next question is at a lower level of difficulty; and b.) it scores each answer as you go so you cannot go back and change an answer. It is highly recommended that you complete some practice tests using the computer-based format. Go to the GRE website (see Page X for web address) for both free and paid test preparation materials. The GRE general test is offered year-round at test centers throughout the U.S. Tests are usually offered every day of the week but spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis. When making a reservation, be sure that you are able to make it on that date. The Educational Testing Service has significant financial penalties for changing or canceling test reservations. Check the GRE website to locate a testing center closest to you and to learn about the details concerning the cancellation policy.

Once you have completed the computer-based test you have the option to see your unofficial scores immediately. Official scores are sent to your designated recipients within 10-15 days.

Subject Tests

You may need to take the advanced test in your subject area as well as the general test. The GRE subject tests are still offered only in the paper format. These paper-based tests are offered much less frequently than the computer-based general test. Application must be made four to six weeks in advance. It takes approximately six weeks for your scores to be available. The subject test may be taken as late as December. Check to make sure that taking the exam in December doesn't interfere with application deadlines.

You can select up to three schools to receive your scores for both the general and the subject tests at the time you take them. There is an additional fee to have scores sent at a later date. Your scores remain valid and available for five years.

There are several other admission tests that may be required for graduate or professional school:

• Miller Analogies Test (MAT): sometimes used instead of the GRE as a basic aptitude assessment tool.
• Law School Admission Test (LSAT): the only test score used for application to law schools.
• Medical College Admission Test (MCAT): the medical school admission test used by all medical schools.
• Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT): used by almost all business and management schools.

Again, check to see what is required for entry into your field/school. Check deadlines!

Transcripts

Official transcripts sent directly from your school's registrar's office are required by most admissions committees. Photocopies are rarely, if ever, accepted. Transcripts usually do not take long to order but you should plan ahead, especially at times of the year when the registrar is most busy.

Letters of Recommendation

Ask faculty/employers to write letters of recommendation to support your application to graduate programs. Work on securing your recommendations as the first step in completing your application materials since you have the least control over this process. In approaching faculty/employers, ask if they can write you a strong recommendation. Pick those who know you best and will write an articulate statement about you. At least one of the letter writers should be the head of your major department or a full professor. It is a good idea to solicit one more recommendation than is required just in case one of the letters does not arrive on time. Once you know who your recommenders are, be sure to give them a copy of your transcript, your personal statement, examples of your work, and a resume or curriculum vita. (A curriculum vita is an academic resume that goes into specific detail about one's educational background.) Provide addressed, stamped envelopes for them to use and any forms necessary. Advise your writers of any deadlines - and check back in two to four weeks to see if recommendations have been sent. The main idea is to make it as easy as possible for them by providing them with everything they need. Be sure to thank them!!!

Credential File

Students who do not plan to go directly to graduate school after graduation might want to consider establishing a credential file. A credential file contains references and, for student teachers, teaching evaluations. Copies of these documents are mailed, at the credential holder's request, to potential graduate schools or employers. A credential file does not contain grade transcripts or resumes. The only drawback of a credential file is that the letters are more generic and not tailored specifically to the program you are applying to.

Personal Statements

Of all the tasks you must complete when applying to graduate or professional school, writing the personal statement (sometimes called an application essay) is often the most difficult. Nevertheless, this is an important opportunity to express yourself beyond your GPA and GRE scores. The personal statement usually addresses your motivation and interests for following your particular career path and why you are interested in a particular program/institution. Each graduate program will likely ask different questions and may require a different format. Questions may be very specific and give little latitude for content or they may be quite general giving you greater freedom in your writing. Whatever type of application you are writing a personal statement for, make sure you carefully read the questions and instructions.

Be prepared to spend time on each personal statement. If you are feeling frustrated and stuck, RELAX. This is normal. The first draft won't be perfect. Remember the word "personal" when you begin writing. Your personal statement should portray you as unique and show that you have gone through a thorough self-examination. Try not to sound canned or generic and don't just write what you think the graduate program wants to hear. These are common mistakes by writers. Overall, your personal statement should help persuade the admission committee that you are a good match for their program. You must provide the most compelling reasons, in the format they request, for acceptance into their program. Your adviser and/or someone from the Career Center can help critique your draft. The Career Center has books in its library to help you get started with this process.

You might find the following questions helpful as you initially approach writing your personal statement:(4)

• "What's special, unique, distinctive, or impressive about you or your life story?"
• "When did you originally become interested in this field and what have you since learned about it?"
• "How have you learned about this field?"
• "What are your career goals?"
• "Have you had to overcome any unusual obstacles or hardships in your life?"
• "What personal characteristics do you possess?"
• "What skills do you possess?"
• "What are the most compelling reasons you can give for the admissions committee to be interested in you?"

The following is one possible structure for your personal statement:

• opening paragraph
• paragraph about academic experiences, influences, theories, etc.
• paragraph about related research, fieldwork, internships, work, etc.
• paragraph about why graduate/professional school? why this school?
• paragraph about how graduate/professional school fits with life or career goals
• closing

Below are some of the factors admission committees use to evaluate personal statements:

• motivation and commitment to field of study
• expectations with regards to the program and career opportunities
• writing ability
• major areas of interest
• research and/or work experience
• educational background
• immediate and long-term goals
• reasons for deciding to pursue graduate education in a particular field and at a particular institution
• maturity
• personal uniqueness - what you would add to the diversity of the entering class
• innovation and creativity

Some final suggestions:

• make sure you answer the question(s) asked
• maintain a positive tone
• follow the stated word limits
• type (unless otherwise stated) and meticulously proofread your material
• avoid obvious clichés (e.g., "I'm good with people"); be specific when necessary
• be sure to proofread; have someone else proofread also

PERSONAL STATEMENT SAMPLES

English

Law

Medicine

Interviews, Portfolios, and Auditions

If you are applying to medical school, business school, and selected other professional programs you will most likely have to participate in an interview. As with the personal statement, this is an opportunity for you to give the admissions committee a more personal sense of who you are. Be well prepared, and try to relax and just be yourself.

Students applying to art, journalism and other similar fields may have to submit a portfolio of your work. "The function of the portfolio is to show your skills and ability to do further work in a particular field, and it should reflect the scope of your cumulative training and experience."(6)

An audition is usually part of the admissions process for students applying to graduate programs in music, theater, and dance. Be sure to have a clear understanding of what the admissions committee expects for the audition since details will vary from program to program.

Resume or Curriculum Vita (CV)

Complete a resume or a curriculum vita (CV). A resume presents your education, work and/or volunteer experience, work skills, activities, and honors that relate to your job objective. A CV is an academic resume which highlights your degree(s), research experience, teaching experiences, publications, professional associations, and scholarly lectures or presentations. Consult with your adviser or with someone in the Career Center if you have questions. A resume or CV may not be required, but better to be prepared!

FINANCIAL AID

Paying for graduate school may seem like an impossible task; however, do not write off going to graduate school because it is too expensive. Conduct your research and apply to as many sources as possible. Just as each graduate school's application procedures differ, so will the systems for awarding financial aid. You will need to communicate with each school and in some cases directly with the academic department concerning teaching/research assistantships. Basically, there are three ways to finance graduate education - grants, loans, and work. There are several sources of graduate support including federal and state government, educational institutions, foundations, corporations and other private organizations. The Career Center library has two books that, combined, list over 4000 scholarships and grants: The Graduate Student's Complete Scholarship Book and The Financial Aid Book. Two other popular sources, which we do not have in the Career Center library, are Peterson's Grants for Graduate and Post-Doctoral Study and Peterson's Scholarships, Grants, and Prizes 2001. There are also many online resources for searching for financial support.

No matter what your financial situation, you should spend adequate time preparing a financial plan for graduate school. The authors of the Peterson's Guide to Graduate and Professional Programs: An Overview 2000 have come up with three guiding principles in formulating your financial plan (see pp. 7-8 of the above publication for more detailed information about these guiding principles):

Think Ahead

This step consists of setting realistic goals as to whether you will attend graduate school part-time or full-time, and whether or not you will work during your time in school; taking inventory of your assets and liabilities; calculating your need for the duration of your graduate program; creating an action plan for how you will meet your financial needs; and, finally, reviewing your plan regularly.

Live Within Your Means

Know how much money you are able to live on and be prepared for the strong possibility of having to live on less during your years of graduate study.

Keep Your Head Above Water

Manage the amount of debt you take on by having as clear an idea of your costs as well as resources for the time you are in graduate school. You may be able to minimize your amount of debt by receiving some financial help from family members, by pushing hard with your studies so as to graduate early, or by working more and attending school part-time.

Types of Financial Aid(7)

Fellowships and Scholarships

These are cash awards given by a department, the university, or an outside organization. They are given primarily according to financial need or academic merit. Some are specifically designated for minority or women applicants, or according to guidelines determined by a particular philanthropist. This kind of award does not need to be paid back and they can range from a few hundred to $10,000 or more. Students interested in fellowships and scholarships beyond the departmental level will usually have to take the initiative and apply for them.

Assistantships

The most common assistantships are Teaching Assistantships, Research Assistantships, and Administrative Assistantships. This form of financial aid is provided by the department or university and requires that a graduate student work in exchange for a stipend or for a tuition waiver. Teaching Assistants either teach or assist a faculty member with instruction for introductory courses, Research Assistants help faculty members with their research, and Administrative Assistants work in administrative or student support offices.

Federal Work-Study Program

This program works on the graduate level in the same way as on the undergraduate level. Not all universities participate in this program, but if they do then you may be able to find work in your field of interest.

Internships and Cooperative Education

Paid internships provide an employment opportunity in the community beyond the university that allows a student to both earn money and work in their field of interest. Cooperative education experiences are similar to internships, except the student alternates periods of work with periods of study.

Government Loans

Stafford Loans

Through this program, the government provides low-interest loans to graduate students. The loans are administered through banks, credit unions, savings and loan institutions, and the universities themselves. Students may borrow up to $18,500 per year up to a maximum of $138,500 (this total includes whatever undergraduate loans you have). There are two kinds of Stafford Loans. Subsidized Stafford Loans are awarded according to financial need. As long as a student is enrolled at least half-time then the government pays any interest that accrues until six-months after graduation or withdrawal. Unsubsidized Stafford Loans are available to students who do not qualify according to financial need. With this loan, students must pay the interest that accrues while they are in school.

Perkins Loans

These loans are provided for students who show exceptional financial need. The individual university is responsible for administering these loans and in some cases will limit this type of loan to undergraduates. Students may borrow up to $6,000 per year, up to a maximum of $40,000, which includes undergraduate loans.

Other Loans

There are numerous programs that award private loans to graduate students. These loans are based on a student's credit rating rather than on financial need. There are specific loan programs available for students pursuing graduate studies in general fields as well as specific fields such as business, law, and medicine.

International Students

Student financial assistance from the U.S. government is reserved for U.S. citizens. International students must count on funding from their home country as well as from departmental and university funds from the schools to which they are applying. They must also utilize outside funding sources such as foundations and other philanthropic organizations.

Basic Tips for Financial Aid Application

Application for financial aid is not automatic. You will need to fill out and submit required aid applications before deadlines. Aid application instructions and deadlines are usually clearly stated in each school's application materials. Some schools require you to apply for aid when applying for admission. Other schools require that you be admitted before applying for financial aid.

Be prepared to submit copies of your federal income tax forms and federal aid transcripts from Luther College. You may want to check the status of your aid application if you receive no response within a reasonable time period. Keep copies of all forms.

1 Much of the material in this guide is based on the information in Peterson's Graduate and Professional Programs: An Overview, published by Peterson's, Princeton, NJ.
2 These questions are taken from Game Plan for Getting into Graduate School, by Marion Castellucci.
3 The following list is quoted with permission from Cornell University Office of Career Services.
4 The following questions were taken from Robert Stelzer, How to Write a Winning Personal Statement.
5 The following questions were taken from Robert Steltzer, How to Write a Winning Personal Statement.
6 Peterson's Graduate and Professional Programs: An Overview 2000. Peterson: Princeton, NJ, p.5.
7 The following section is based on information presented in Game Plan for Getting into Graduate School, by Marion Castellucci.

GRADUATE SCHOOL WEBLINKS

General

Assoc. of American Medical Colleges (www.aamc.org). Information on education, research, and health care.
Boston Colleges' Online Law School Locater (www.bc.edu/bc_org/svp/carct/matrix.html). Helps you find schools where your LSAT and GRE scores will be competitive.
Colleges & Career Center: USNews (www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/eduhome.htm). Information on college, grad school, financial aid, and careers.
Graduate Management Admission Council (www.gmac.com). Tools to get ready for an MBA.
Kaplan (www.kaptest.com). Information to advance your education and career.
Law School Admission Council (www.lsac.org/default2.asp). Advice on the LSAT and choosing and applying to law school.

MBAalliance www.mbaalliance.com is a free information website with useful data on MBA degrees and careers, as well as a very comprehensive directory of accredited MBA schools.
Medical School Interview Feedback (www.interviewfeedback.com). Database of questionnaires containing information about medical school applicants' interviews at U.S., Canadian, Puerto Rican, and other medical schools and schools of osteopathy.
Peterson's (www.petersons.com/gradchannel). Extensive website for researching all aspects of higher education.
Princeton Review (www.review.com). Information on schools, tests, and more.

Financial Aid

Business School (www.finaid.org/otheraid/business.phtml). Financial aid information and links for students considering business school.
FAFSA on the Web (www.fafsa.ed.gov). A website for filling out or renewing your FAFSA.
Finaid.org (www.finaid.org). A complete website for issues of financial aid.
Graduate School (www.finaid.org/otheraid/grad.phtml). Financial aid information and links for students considering graduate school.
Law School (www.finaid.org/otheraid/law.phtml). Financial aid information and links for students considering law school.
Medical School (www.finaid.org/otheraid/medical.phtml). Financial aid information and links for students considering medical school.

Grants and Fellowships

FastWeb (www.fastweb.com). A database that allows you to get information on over 600,000 grants and fellowships.
Grants & Fellowships (www.sas.upenn.edu/African_Studies/Grants/menu_Grants.html). Links to information on grants and fellowships.
Jacob Javits Fellowship (www.ed.gov/offices/OPE/HEP/iegps/javits.html). For students in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. The award goes with the student to whichever program they attend.
Mellon Fellowships (www.woodrow.org/mellon). The Mellon Fellowships are designed to help exceptionally promising students prepare for careers of teaching and scholarship in humanistic disciplines.
The National Academies (www.nas.edu/subjectindex/fel.html). Information about and links to a variety of fellowships in the sciences and engineering.
National Science Foundation (www.nsf.gov./home/students). For students interested in studying in the sciences.

Personal Statements

Accepted.com (www.accepted.com). Personal statement and application essay editing and consulting.
DOs & DON'Ts About Personal Statements (www.tcnj.edu/~ball/prelaw/personals.html). Personal statement tips.
Graduate School Applications: Personal Statements (www.hope.edu/academic/psychology/geninfo/perstate.html). Advice on personal statements.
Personal Statements & Application Letters (www.indiana.edu/~wts/wts/perstate.html). Advice on personal statements.
Personal Statements: Pre-med (www.ahsc.arizona.edu/pre-med/pstatements/pstatements.html). Sample statements from Arizona Pre-Med Information Online (APIO).

Tests

Educational Testing Service (www.ets.org). Information on a variety of entrance exams.
Foreign Service Written Exam Contents (www.state.gov/www/careers/rexamcontents.html). Information on the Foreign Service Exam.
GMAT (www.gmac.com). Graduate Management Admission Test information.
GRE (www.gre.org). Graduate Record Examinations test information.
LSAT (www.lsac.org). Law School Admission Council advice on the LSAT and choosing and applying to law school.
Prepmaster Review: LSAT Preparation (www.prepmaster.com). Developed by graduates of the University of Texas School of Law.
Test.Com Inc. (www.test.com). Practice for the SAT, GRE, TOEFL, and many more academic entrance exams online.
TOEFL (www.toefl.org). Test of English as a foreign language programs and services.

GRADUATE SCHOOL RESOURCES IN THE CAREER CENTER

Books - General

• America's Best Graduate Schools, US News and World Report
• Curriculum Vitae Handbook, Rebecca Anthony and Gerald Roe
• Game Plan for Getting Into Graduate School (Person's), Marion B. Castellucci
• The Grad School Handbook: Whether to Go, Where to Go, What to Study, How to Apply, How to Pay for It, How to Succeed at It, Richard Jerrard and Margot Jerrard
• Graduate and Professional Programs: An Overview, 2004 Peterson's Guide
• Graduate Programs in: 2004 Peterson's Guide
  • The Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
  • The Biological Sciences
  • The Physical Sciences, Mathematics, Agricultural Sciences, the Environment and Natural Resources
  • Engineering and Applied Sciences
  • Business, Education, Health, Information Studies, Law and Social Work
• Guide to Undergraduate and Graduate Education in Urban and Regional Planning, Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning
• Jumping Through Hoops: A Survival Guide to Graduate School, Mark Marki, C.P.A. and Don Merki, Ph.D
• Law Schools: A Comprehensive Guide to All 181 Accredited U.S. Law Schools, Peterson's
• Peterson's Culinary Schools - 2000

Books - Financing Graduate School

• The Financial Aid Book: The Insider's Guide to Private Scholarships, Grants, and Fellowships, Internships, Competitions, and Loans, Student Financial Services, Perpetual Press
• The Graduate Students Complete Scholarship Book, Student Services L.L.C.

Books - Personal Statements

• Graduate Admissions Essays - Write Your Way Into the Graduate School of Your Choice, Donald Asher
• How to Write a Winning Personal Statement, Richard J. Stelzer

Books - Testing

• Careers 2000, published by Kaplan and Newsweek Magazine. Contains graduate school guide and sample tests, (1999)
• MCAT, James Flowers M.D. and Theodore Silver, MD

Videos

• The Pre-Law Orientation and Preparation Seminar