Petersons (Firm : 2006- ) - Petersons graduate schools in the U.S. 2011

Copyright 2010 by Petersons, a Nelnet company All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Petersons a Nelnet Company 2000 Lenox Drive, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 Visit our website at www.petersons.com First eBook Edition: July 2010 ISBN: 978-0-7689-2992-8 I f you are a student seeking to continue your education beyond college, Petersons Graduate Schools in the U.S. is just what you need to discover an array of possibilities in a wide variety of academic disciplines available at more than950 graduate schools across the United States. Inside youll find advice on graduate education, including topics such as admission tests, financial aid, and accreditation.The Graduate Adviser includes two essays and information about accreditation. The first essay, The Admissions Process, discusses general admissionrequirements, admission tests, factors to consider when selecting a graduate school or program, when and how to apply, andhow admission decisions are made.

Special information for international students and tips for minority students are also included.The second essay, Financial Support, is an overview of the broad range of support available at the graduate level. Fellowships,scholarships, and grants; assistantships and internships; federal and private loan programs, as well as Federal Work-Study;and the GI bill are detailed. This essay concludes with advice on applying for need-based financial aid. Accreditation andAccrediting Agencies gives information on accreditation and its purpose and lists first institutional accrediting agenciesand then specialized accrediting agencies relevant to specific fields of study. If you know the field of study that interests you, turn to the Directory of Graduate and Professional Programs by Field. You will find, at a glance, all institutions that offer that field of study. For geographical or financial reasons, you may already have a specific institution in mind.

Turn to the Profiles of Institutions Offering Graduate and Professional Work, which contain information on more than 950 graduate schools. Profiles detail information from student enrollment and the number of full-time faculty members to tuition and application contactsand are followed by a list of graduate units and the specific programs of study they offer. Petersons Web site provides a wealth of information and services involving all aspects of the grad school search and graduateadmissions process. To access these resources, go to www.petersons.com/gradchannel. Petersons publishes a full line of resources to help guide you through the graduate admissions process. Petersons Graduate Schools in the U.S. is also available to purchase as an e-book. Petersons Graduate Schools in the U.S. is also available to purchase as an e-book.

Continue to check www.petersons.com for more information about our e-book program. We welcome any comments or suggestions you may have about this publication and invite you to complete our online survey atwww.petersons.com/booksurvey. Or you can fill out the survey at the back of this book, tear it out, and mail it to us at: Publishing Department Petersons, a Nelnet company 2000 Lenox Drive Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 Your feedback will help us make your educational dreams possible. Colleges and universities will be pleased to know that Petersons helped you in your selection. Admissions staff members aremore than happy to answer questions, address specific problems, and help in any way they can. The editors at Petersons wishyou great success in your graduate school search!

G eneralizations about graduate admissions practices are not always helpful because each institution has its own set of guidelines and procedures.

Nevertheless, some broad statements can be made about the admissions process that may help you plan your strategy.

Selecting a graduate school and a specific program of study is a complex matter. Quality of the faculty; program and course offerings; the nature, size, and location of the institution; admission requirements; cost; and the availability of financial assistance are among the many factors that affect ones choice of institution. Other considerations are job placement and achievements of the programs graduates and the institutions resources, such as libraries, laboratories, and computer facilities. If you are to make the best possible choice, you need to learn as much as you can about the schools and programs you are considering before you apply. The following steps may help you narrow your choices.

Talk to alumni of the programs or institutions you are considering to get their impressions of how well they were prepared for work in their fields of study. Remember that graduate school requirements change, so be sure to get the most up-to-date information possible. Talk to department faculty members and the graduate adviser at your undergraduate institution. They often have information about programs of study at other institutions. Visit the Web sites of the graduate schools in which you are interested to request a graduate catalog. Contact the department chair in your chosen field of study for additional information about the department and the field.

Visit as many campuses as possible. Call ahead for an appointment with the graduate adviser in your field of interest and be sure to check out the facilities and talk to students.

Graduate schools and departments have requirements that applicants for admission must meet. Typically, these requirements include undergraduate transcripts (which provide information about undergraduate grade point average and course work applied toward a major), admission test scores, and letters of recommendation. Most graduate programs also ask for an essay or personal statement that describes your personal reasons for seeking graduate study. In some fields, such as art and music, portfolios or auditions may be required in addition to other evidence of talent.

Some institutions require that the applicant have an undergraduate degree in the same subject as the intended graduate major. Most institutions evaluate each applicant on the basis of the applicants total record, and the weight accorded any given factor varies widely from institution to institution and from program to program.

You should begin the application process at least one year before you expect to begin your graduate study. Find out the application deadline for each institution (many are provided in the Profile section of this guide). Go to the institutions Web site and find out if you can apply online. If not, request a paper application form.

Fill out this form thoroughly and neatly. Assume that the school needs all the information it is requesting and that the admissions officer will be sensitive to the neatness and overall quality of what you submit. Do not supply more information than the school requires. The institution may ask at least one question that will require a three- or four-paragraph answer. Compose your response on the assumption that the admissions officer is interested in both what you think and how you express yourself. Keep your statement brief and to the point, but, at the same time, include all pertinent information about your past experiences and your educational goals.