Master's or Ph.D.: Which Is Right For You?

Just as there are many reasons people choose to go to graduate school, there are many options from which they may choose. If you have selected a field of study, you may be wondering whether you should get a master's degree or a doctoral degree. Here are some things to consider.

TIME
A graduate degree requires a significant investment of time.

Master's degrees require less time than doctoral degrees. Typically a full time student can acquire a master's degree in about two years. A Ph.D. usually requires at least five to six years and many people take seven to nine years.

MONEY
The old adage 'time = money' was never so true as with graduate school.

Since a Ph.D. takes longer to complete, it also requires more money. (Not that a master's degree is cheap either!) The flip side to this is that a Ph.D. may yield a higher salary upon completion and is therefore worth the increased cost long term.

With both degrees, school costs money (tuition, fees, books, etc.). In addition, however, there is also a significant loss of money if the student is not working or is earning low wages through assistantships or part time employment. Many people find they must either live a Spartan lifestyle for many years, or they find themselves strapped with huge loans when they graduate.

COMMITMENT
Graduate school takes work.

Most people are not going to argue with this. However, many students who drifted through college are surprised to find that graduate school requires a much larger commitment in terms of work and intellectual energy. Graduate schools are frequently very competitive. Students who are taking a full course load as well as teaching often find themselves overwhelmed. And of course, the many years of school required for a Ph.D. require perseverance on a scale above and beyond what undergraduates must contemplate. The difference between college and graduate school lies in the ability of the student to focus on their field and the subjects and areas that most interest them. While graduate school requires more work, most students find the work enjoyable since it involves an area in which they are very interested.

PROS AND CONS
So we know that graduate school requires time, money and commitment for both a master's and a Ph.D. So which should you choose?

If all you want is a raise, a Ph.D. is probably not the road to choose. If you love learning in and of itself, and you want to pursue a career as a professor then the work required for a Ph.D. may be worthwhile. Master's degrees tend to be more career-oriented while Ph.D.'s tend to be more research oriented since they are preparing people for research-oriented careers.

A master's degree has some definite benefits in that it requires less time and money than a doctoral degree, but will still set you apart from the crowd who only have a bachelor's. The master's degree can allow specialization within a field. The degree works especially well for those who have been working in a particular career for some time and hope to advance or gain new knowledge that will qualify them for a different position within their field.

A master's degree can also be an excellent method of changing careers. For those who have been in the workforce and found that their career or undergraduate education are not leading them in the direction they would like to go, a master's degree can allow them to start in a different direction by gaining new knowledge and skills.

However, there are things that a master's degree simply cannot do. For those who want to become professors, a Ph.D. is practically mandatory. Even for those few who can find teaching positions with only a master's, most schools want to see progress toward a Ph.D.

A Ph.D. can also be helpful outside the world of academia in today's increasingly competitive job market. Businesses are searching for extremely qualified people who have demonstrated intelligence, perseverance and the ability to learn. A Ph.D. can open doors.

One of the less tangible, though very important, aspects of getting a Ph.D. consists in the ideal of creating knowledge. Ph.D. work requires original research that contributes new information to the field of study. People interested in pursuing a Ph.D. should love their studies and be excited by the prospect of meaningful contribution.

Still not sure what to do?
To summarize, a Ph.D. may be worth it if you truly love your field, enjoy your studies, and want the benefits and prestige associated with the doctoral degree. If you are simply looking to change fields or gain a promotion or do not think you could maintain interest through at least five to six years of school, then a master's is probably a better choice.

However, it is worth noting that you may be able to get more financial aid for a Ph.D. Since it takes longer, schools recognize that those trying to acquire their Ph.D.'s need more assistance than those who only want a master's degree. This adds an interesting dimension to the application process for two reasons.

First, if you think you may want a Ph.D. but still are not sure, it is probably better to apply to the doctoral program. There is no penalty for changing your mind later and deciding to leave with a master's degree, and it increases you chances of getting financial aid.

The second consideration is that the Ph.D. program can be more competitive, and applying to it rather than the master's degree program might decrease your chances of admission. If you are denied entrance to the Ph.D. program, you could ask them to then consider you for the master's degree program, but that may not be allowed.

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Which Way to Go: How to Find a Graduate Program That's Right For You

The decision to attend graduate school is only the first step in what may seem to be a long, and at times frustrating, journey. In fact, some would argue the truly difficult decisions are yet to come. With over 400 English programs and 300 Chemistry programs, just to name a few, it can be rather difficult to narrow the field. So how do you identify the graduate program that is right for you?

Specialization:
Of course, the area of specialization will ultimately depend on your own interests, but you may also want to take into account the job market. Some specialties will experience growth in the future, whereas those that are currently growing may be expected to become stagnant. For example, if you're interested in getting a Ph.D. in Microbiology, the job market in academia is projected to be relatively stable, whereas the job market in biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry tends to be brighter. You might be better prepared to choose an area of Microbiology that is more marketable to the biotechnology industry.

Ranking:
For some students, a program's ranking is important. They feel that the rank of a program is an indication of the quality of education they will receive and the level of resources that will be available to them, and, in most cases, this is probably true. However, students should be aware of what qualities are used to establish a program's ranking and how those qualities are evaluated. For example, a highly-ranked program may indeed have greater resources available, but may also have a higher cost which may make it more difficult to attend, or a higher student-to-faculty ratio which may actually detract from the educational experience.

Location:
One criterion that may play an important role in the decision of which graduate program is right for you may simply come down to geography; is the program located in an area of the state or country in which you want to live. Be aware that you will be living in this area for an average of 2-6 years or more, depending on if you are seeking a Master's degree or Ph.D. You should be comfortable with the location. Some students may, for personal reasons, want to be relatively near their family. Others have a spouse who is more likely to be employed in certain areas of the country. Some students may have allergies, asthma or other health issues which may become aggravated in some areas of the country. A good way to get an idea of what the location of a university is like is to take a look at the web site of the city or community in which the university is located. The city web site will often have links to lo cal weather reports, employment opportunities, community businesses, health care facilities, etc.

The People:
Recently, I was speaking with a noted professor in the Department of Biology at Texas A&M University, and he made a comment that is especially applicable here: "You may get your degree from a university, but you get your education from your adviser." When you earn your graduate degree, you will be entering a professional community that is influenced by tradition and reputation. Your major professor will be your means of entry into this community, and his or her reputation will influence yours. Also, it is important to remember that, as with the location of the program, you will be working very closely with your major professor for an average of 2-6 years or more. It is important that your personalities and professional ideas are compatible. The best way to get an idea of the students and faculty you will be working with is to talk to people. Talk to faculty at your current college or university to find out the reputation of the professor who will be your advisor. If at all possible, contact some of his or her current graduate students and ask them what he or she is really like to work for. Most importantly, talk to your potential advisor to get an idea of their personality and professional ideas.

The Cost:
The level of financial support you receive often depends on the degree you are seeking. There tends to be less financial support for a Master's degree than for a Ph.D. At the doctoral level, it is not uncommon for a university to waive tuition requirements (referred to in the business as tuition remission). In addition to not paying tuition, many doctoral students receive some form of grant, stipend or assistantship. Whether a university is public or private, if tuition remission is available, the likelihood of assistantships (either teaching or research), etc. are all issues to be considered when examining the cost of attending a particular program.

The Quality of Life:
Graduate school will be a way of life for the next 2-6 years. If you are married, however, your decisions will also affect your spouse and/or children. Some of the things to consider include the availability of child care, employment opportunities for spouses, health insurance, the local cost of living and the weather, culture, and local forms of recreation (is this a place where you can have some fun?). If possible, try to visit the area and spend some time in the community. Talk to some of the "locals" and find out what's going on in the area. Talk to some of the business owners to find out what the job market is like for the area, to get an idea of the local cost of living and housing and to find out what people do for fun. When you apply to a university or program, quite often they will be more than happy to send you information from the local Chamber of Commerce concerning health care, child care, cost of living expenses and recreation opportunities.

This is in no way an exhaustive list of things to consider, and students will give a higher priority to those issues that are important to them. However, these are a few of the things to consider that may help narrow the field of choices. The decision is never easy; you will be investing 2-6 years or more of your life and you do not want to make a mistake. By beginning your search early in your undergraduate career, you will have time to objectively evaluate each program, closely examine the details of each and ultimately reach a decision that is best for you.

Ref: Steve R. Simcik, Ph.D., Coordinator of Graduate School Programs
Texas A&M University, Office of Professional School Advising

Thinking about going back to school?

Some things to consider from a student loan provider

So you're thinking about going back to school to get an advanced degree. You may be wondering if this is a good idea. Answering a few questions can help you determine if now is the right time for you to go back to school.

* Why do you want an advanced degree?
* What will you have to give up to go back to school?
* What will it cost to obtain the degree?

Why do you want an advanced degree?

Now may be a very good time to go back to school. Obtaining a graduate or professional degree can be an important investment in yourself and in your future. Whether you're going back to school because you want a new career or you want to increase your skills in your current field, or you can't find a job that matches your current skills or interests, you should identify the reasons why you want to do it and to write them down. Then you can evaluate the benefits and costs of furthering your education.

Be certain that the benefits of returning to school outweigh the costs. If after reviewing both the benefits and costs you're not certain that you'll be better off, then it may be wise to re-evaluate if going back to school is the best choice right now. At that point, it might be good to talk to people in the program of study you want to pursue at the school(s) you're thinking of attending. Whether they're students, faculty, admissions staff, or other professionals at the school, they may be able to help you clarify what is best for you.

You also should explore the status of current employment opportunities in your desired field. Even if the job market is strong now, there are no guarantees that it will provide good job prospects when you're ready to enter that market, but it certainly can help you evaluate the merits of pursuing your educational objectives if they're job-related. On the other hand, if current prospects are limited, you may want to talk with career planning staff in that field in order to better assess future employment opportunities. Also, check out the Web sites of any professional organizations affiliated with your planned career/profession and other employment/salary sites.

What will you have to give up to go back to school?

Whether you're thinking about obtaining an advanced degree or certificate, or you just want to complete some additional coursework, you'll be making an investment of both time and money. If you're currently working, will you continue working and earning the same salary while you're in school? Or, will you have to reduce your hours or quit your job altogether in order to pursue your educational goals? If you do, you'll be giving up at least a portion of your current income. However, what you're giving up may be worthwhile to you if the education you're pursuing will provide for greater earnings and/or a more personally rewarding career.

What will it cost?

The cost of your education is all about choice and how you pay for those choices. Tuition expenses depend on the degree program you choose to pursue and the school you choose to attend, as well as how long it takes you to complete your program of study. It also depends on your lifestyle choices as a student, such as housing, food, clothing, transportation, entertainment, etc.

Financing options influence what you'll pay, as well. There are three general financing options available if you or your family can't pay the full cost: (1) grants/scholarships, (2) loans, and (3) work study. The sources of these funding options include federal and state governments; the school you attend; banks and other lending organizations; and private foundations, civic organizations, and other associations. In addition, assistantships and fellowships may be available from the school you attend, particularly if you're pursuing a Master of Arts (M.A.), Master of Science (M.S.), or Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree.

Student loans are the most common and abundant source of funding available for many students. Remember, however, the resulting interest charges on loans will add to the overall cost of your education.

You must satisfy all of the following criteria to participate in the federal student loan and work study programs:

• Enrolled at least half-time at an eligible institution pursuing a degree or certificate.
  
• U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen (e.g., permanent resident) with a valid U.S. Social Security number.
  
• Not currently be in default on any prior federal student loans, nor owe a refund on a federal grant program.
  
• Registered for Selective Service (males only).

Private student loan programs typically require that you satisfy the above federal eligibility criteria. They usually also require that you don't have credit problems. Consequently, it's a good idea that you review copies of your credit report from each of the three national credit reporting agencies well before you apply for any private student loans to ensure no errors exist.

It's important that you contact the financial aid office at the school(s) you're considering if you will need financial assistance paying for school. If you're an international student, please note that there currently are no federal financial aid programs available to you, but there may be private student loan programs. Contact the financial aid staff at the school you want to attend for more information.

In making your decision, remember . . .

Your education is an important key to your financial future and to your success. Expanding your education by going back to school can add to that success. Answering the questions posed here should help you make a responsible, well-informed, decision about what is right for you. You should take care that the costs of furthering your education will be exceeded by the benefits you'll receive once you've finished.

Gradschools.com

Writing Your Graduate School Statement

As you gather application materials for graduate school, you will be required to include a written statement as part of the process. These written statements are often called "letters of intent," "personal narratives," "personal statements" or "statements of purpose." While the essays are personal in nature, the school is not looking for your life story. Your statement should focus on your specific interests and goals when it comes to academics.

Many people dread writing an essay of any kind, especially when it is part of an application process. However, you have no need to be concerned as long as you know how to construct the statement and what must be included. Your statement may be in response to questions posed by the graduate program in your application documents, or you might simply be responding to a brief directive to write about the area of study you intend to focus on and why.

Your statement will likely be between 250 and 750 words, depending upon the school and its requirements. You will need to determine your purpose in writing your statement, what it will contain and the style you will use to write it. Before you begin, be sure to research the school and the program to which you are applying. Conducting that research will help you decide how to approach writing your statement.

The Purpose

The statement you write gives you the opportunity to sell yourself to the graduate program of your choice. Your goal and purpose is to persuade the school that you will be a positive addition to its student body. The relevant experiences you have gained through your undergraduate work, as well as through field and employment experiences, are precisely what you want to highlight.

Your purpose should be clear and concise, and you should ensure that you keep your audience in mind as you write your statement. Explain your academic goals, how you developed them and how being a part of that graduate program will help you reach those goals. The tone of your statement should be very direct and you should answer any and all questions posed by the application.

Do your best to express how the graduate program matches your educational goals. Be sure to discuss both short- and long-term goals. While you are introducing yourself to the graduate program, your statement should be as objective as possible. Be as specific as you can and refrain from using too many big "academic" words.

Content

As for content, you will want to include any academic achievements that distinguish you as a student. For instance, if you have had work published, have completed an internship or studied abroad, you should mention those experiences as they relate to your graduate education goals. The area of study that you wish to focus on should be clear, as should your plans to use your education to enrich your future.

If any inconsistencies exist in your records, this is your chance to explain them in a positive way.. If, for example, you had to drop out of school for a year to earn money to finance your education, talk about that, briefly.

If you worked full-time during your undergraduate education, you would certainly want to mention that, in order to put your achievements in perspective.

The school may ask you to write about why you have chosen their program, which will be much easier to answer if you have done your research.

Do not forget to include any special skills you have developed that will make you a better candidate for acceptance into the program. These skills may include computer, laboratory and foreign language skills. If you have research skills, it is important to highlight them as well.

Style

The style of your statement is individual to you as a person. Just be sure that your statement is clear, organized and specific. Try to use good transitions between your paragraphs to enhance the flow of the statement. The use of an active voice is important, so avoid the use of passive verbs. For example, rather than saying that your goal "was achieved," say "I achieved my goal." (Don't shy away from using the "I" first-person pronoun.)

No matter what, be accurate. The last thing you want to do is include anything in your statement that is unsubstantiated or untrue. When you do your final editing, which should be extensive and detailed, check your facts.

When you reach the conclusion of the statement, treat it like the concluding paragraph of a persuasive essay. Your final paragraph should tie everything together and make that last stab at selling yourself to the graduate program. The most important message to get across in your statement is that you will excel in your graduate study and research at the particular program you have chosen.

One last bit of advice: when you've finished your statement: get others to read it and help you revise. Don't hesitate to go to your favorite professor, and ask him or her to read the statement and help you improve it.

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Applying to Graduate School

Planning to apply to grad school?

If so, you're probably wondering what the basic steps are that you'll have to follow and what your timeline should be for your preparations.

Probably the single best piece of advice in this process is to:

Do everything early!

While the graduate school process is a long one and you may feel you have plenty of time to write essays, get recommendations, or take your tests, you will find that the time passes incredibly quickly. You don't want these deadlines sneaking up on you and to be biting your nails as you wait for that last professor to finish a recommendation or as you try to cram last-minute for the GRE.

You basically have to start at least a full year in advance! (This does depend on the program you're applying for and the requirements you will need to fulfill.) Especially if you are looking at graduate school as a way to change careers or are entering a program that is different from your undergraduate background, you may find that there are pre-requisite courses necessary in order to gain admittance to the programs you are considering. You also want plenty of time to gather information on the various programs and to evaluate the relative benefits of different schools before you start applying to them.

NOW would therefore be a good time to start considering your options if you want to start in Fall of 2006. This will give you time to really consider what you want out of your graduate school education, to gather information from various sources on the best programs and schools, and to gather information directly from schools on what they can offer you.

Talk to people and gather information

One of the best ways to gather information is to talk to people. Talk to experts in the field, talk to your professors, talk to people who attended the schools or programs you are considering. The most valuable thing you can do right now is gather all the information you can about different schools and programs as well as the benefits of attaining a graduate school education and how to do so. You need to determine why you want to go to school, what you want to study, what you want from a program, how you're going to accomplish and pay for all of this, and many other things. Gathering information from a variety of sources is therefore your first step to getting the answers you need.

Applications

You can begin contacting schools and getting the applications you need now. Where you apply is based on a variety of factors. The schools you choose to apply to should provide programs that match your interests and can give you the necessary environment to pursue your graduate studies. Other than that, you need to consider things such as location, cost, etc. Apply to enough schools so you will have options depending on which you get accepted to. You generally will want at least one safe school that you are confident you can get into as well as at least one school that presents a real challenge in terms of competitiveness.

Tests

Almost all graduate programs require some type of test whether it be the GRE, LSAT, MCAT, GMAT, etc. Now is a great time to get some test prep materials and start studying for these tests. You may be surprised at how much of your high school mathematics you've forgotten!

Recommendations

While it's a bit early to be asking for recommendations now, it is a great time to be building relationships with your professors if you are still in school. You are much more likely to get a positive recommendation if your professors know you and can speak from personal experience rather than solely reciting a list of your accomplishments. If you have the opportunity to be an assistant to one of your professors during your senior year, capitalize on it. Either way, take the opportunity to talk to your professors about your interest in graduate school. You may be surprised to discover how receptive they will be. They were in your shoes at some point and will typically be more than happy to help you with any advice or assistance they can offer.

Essays

Right now is also a great time to begin drafting the personal statement you will need for your application essays. For some people, writing their personal essay is the most difficult part of the process and starting early helps alleviate the stress when the deadlines are still far away. You can visit http://Info.GradSchools.com for more information on the details of application essay writing.

One benefit of writing your application essays is that you get to think through your reasons for pursuing a graduate education and what qualifies you to do so. Frequently, students will learn something about themselves through this highly introspective process that they say helps them in better defining their graduate school and personal goals. Such clarity can be a great benefit when you are considering where to apply so starting early with your essays is helpful on multiple levels.


GradSchools.com

All Across America

Despite what the media may say, Los Angeles and New York are not the only two places to live in America. Even though the United States is one country, it is not a culturally homogenous entity. The states in its country are comparable to the countries in Europe. Los Angeles could not be more different than New York, and Texas may seem to be its own sovereign republic when compared to, say, the upper Midwest. So how is a foreign student supposed to know in which city he or she should go to college? How is one to choose from among all the many options presented by the United States?

Fortunately, it doesn't have to be as confusing as you may fear. For though America is a sprawling country, composed of a wide variety of people and a vast cross-section of humanity, it is, nonetheless, manageable when it comes to figuring out what will work best for you. Here, then, we offer some help and guidance.

It May Be Big...

...But it's not all that different from many other countries. France, for example, is composed of many distinctly unique regions. The culture of Normandy would be virtually unrecognizable to a resident of Cannes or Nice, and the hustle-and-bustle of Paris is nothing at all like the laid-back, deliberately slower ways of the people of Provence. America, to, is like this only more so because of its size.

So before you decide what schools to apply to, you should consider all the cultural options the United States has to offer. Do you want to live in a big city or a small town? A big city, while potentially more dangerous and certainly faster-paced than a small town, will nonetheless offer you the opportunity to meet and interact with people from all over the world, thereby, perhaps, making you feel a bit less "foreign" in the process. Big cities can also provide you with cultural opportunities that you may not get anywhere else: From world-class symphonies to top-notch rock concerts and from great restaurants to corner cafes teeming with people from all over the world, big cities often act like crucibles of human interaction, which can be perfect for inspiring and stimulating graduate students.

On the other hand, choosing a smaller town means that you'll be able to take your time when it comes to adjusting to your new country. The pace of life will be a bit slower, and the pressure to always be on the run will be far less pronounced, and you'll have the chance to adjust at your own pace. However, the down side is that there may be fewer people in your situation, thereby highlighting your foreignness. And there will be fewer cultural opportunities for you to take advantage of. But all that free time can be put to good use by affording you the opportunity to focus more on your studies, which is ostensibly why you traveled to the United States for grad school in the first place.

Whether Or Not You Like The Weather

Even excluding Alaska and Hawaii, the United States stretches from the chilly reaches of the northern border with Canada to the hot, humid world of southern Florida. In between, this country is comprised of landscapes and environments that are as rich and varied as those of any country in the world. And while it may seem like an obvious issue to consider, the ramifications of choosing one location over another are likely to be more far-reaching than you initially imagine.

If you grew up in, say, southern Spain, and are used to warm, sunny weather, then you may find your transition even more difficult to life in America if you choose to attend graduate school in a place whose weather is completely different from what you're accustomed to. So while a school in Ithaca, New York, for example, may seem like it offers the perfect program for you, you should still consider the weather: It tends to be fairly chilly and so cloudy that some students at one of the schools there actually name the cloud that, they claim, hovers over the town throughout much of the fall and winter. And while this should not necessarily dissuade you from attending school there or anywhere it should nonetheless be one of the factors you consider.

The same goes for the opposite weather situation: If you grew up in a cooler part of the world, then it might seem like a shock to deal with life in a warmer part of the country, especially the desserts of Arizona or Las Vegas. In fact, there are other considerations that are affected by the weather, too. Let's say, for example, that you grew up in a staunchly Muslim country, one in which women wear traditional Islamic dress and observe all the typical strictures of "Muslim female humility." You may be shocked to see what women wear when they live in one of the warmer parts of the United States. And while this may or may not offend you, it will likely add to your feeling of being quite far from home. So it's important to remember that even the weather in the part of the country in which you consider attending graduate school will affect the way in which you make your transition to life in America.

A Plane Ride Is Not Just A Plane Ride

When an American grad-school applicant considers studying in either northern England or the southern part, he does not really have to consider how much further one is from his home back in the United States than the other. In other words, a flight from Philadelphia to London is just about six hours, as is a flight to a city in the north of the country. This is because England is a fairly small country, at least in terms of size (though certainly not in influence). But America is a different story entirely.

It takes almost as long to fly from Philadelphia to Los Angeles as it does to fly from Philadelphia to London. Therefore, where you decide to attend school in America will have a very real impact on the convenience (or inconvenience) of going back home for holidays or emergencies. And while this should not necessarily be a deal-breaker for any school, it should nonetheless be considered as a major factor in your decision.

And even if you don't really plan on going back home all that often, the psychology of being such a long flight away may prove to be an issue. Very few people, after all, like to feel totally isolated from home.

In the end, one of the most appealing parts of attending graduate school in the United States is the astoundingly wide variety of cultures, climates, and overall experiences it offers. And since a graduate school education does not just occur in the classroom, but in the environment in which you live while working your way through the program, you stand to gain a great deal by enrolling in an American grad program. Just make sure you choose wisely, having considered as many of the relevant variables as you can. And as long as you make your decision carefully, you are sure to reap all the rewards of having attended grad school in the United States.


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Graduate School Admissions Tests for International Students

As an international student studying abroad in the United States, you will be required to complete certain examinations before you are accepted into an American graduate school program. The types of examinations you must take will depend upon the program you choose and its requirements. If the American style of the English language is not your native tongue, you will be required to prove your proficiency through taking a test.

The type of test you are likely to encounter is the computer-adaptive test, which is administered on a computer. More and more schools are beginning to use computer- adaptive examinations. Test-takers see one question at a time and cannot jump around the test. Scoring depends on the question's level of difficulty and estimates the test-taker's ability level when moving on to the next question. Essays are typed on a keyboard as opposed to being written out on paper.

English Proficiency and the TOEFL

English proficiency involves the ability to read, write and communicate orally in the English language. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is a test you may have to take in order to demonstrate your proficiency to the grad school of your choice. If you have been educated in English for most of your life, you might receive a TOEFL waiver. On the other hand, you may be required to take courses to improve your mastery of English.

You should complete the TOEFL at least one year before you apply to a grad program, and English language admission standards vary from school-to-school. Some schools require the Test of Spoken English (TSE) in addition to the TOEFL. The TOEFL is an Internet-based, computer-adaptive examination with a limited number of testing centers, so you must preregister. Mail-in registration should be done at least three weeks before the test date, and you will need a credit card in order to register by phone or fax.

The TOEFL is a multiple choice and essay exam with four sections: listening, structure, reading and writing. The reading portion consists of 36-to-70 questions and takes from 60-to-100 minutes to complete, while the listening section consists of 34-to-51 questions and lasts from 60-to-90 minutes. The speaking portion involves six tasks and takes 20 minutes to complete, while the writing portion involves two tasks for which you are given 50 minutes to complete.

The TOEFL is scored by combining the number of right answers with your essay score. Raw scores are converted into scaled scores for each section, and range from 0 to 30. The total score is calculated from the scaled score and ranges from 40 to 300. Acceptable scores depend upon the school, but generally a score between 213 and 250 is adequate.

The GRE and the GMAT

In order to enroll in an American grad school, you will most likely have to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), which is a computer-adaptive test developed by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). The general GRE measures your verbal, quantitative and analytical skills, while the GRE subject tests measure your knowledge in specific subject areas such as biology, biochemistry, English literature, mathematics, psychology or physics.

The GRE consists of three sections: writing, verbal and quantitative. The writing portion has two parts, one in which you analyze an issue and another in which you analyze an argument. You will be given 45 minutes to complete the issue part and 30 minutes to complete the argument part. For the verbal section, you are given 30 questions to complete in 30 minutes, while the quantitative section is made up of 28 questions which you have 45 minutes to complete. Each section of the GRE is scored between 200 and 800.

The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a computer-adaptive test that assesses your qualifications for advanced study in business and management. This test was also developed by the ETS. It is comprised of three sections: the analytical writing assignment, quantitative section and verbal section.

The analytical writing assignment is made up of two parts, just like the GRE. In one part you analyze an issue and in another part you analyze an argument. You are given 30 minutes to complete this section. The quantitative section is comprised of 37 multiple-choice questions, and focuses on data sufficiency and problem-solving. You will have 75 minutes to complete the section.

The verbal section, which you are given 75 minutes to complete, includes 41 multiple-choice questions on reading comprehension, critical thinking and sentence correction. GMAT scores are good for five years. The total scaled score for the test ranges from 200 to 800.

Some Advice

No matter which test or tests you are required to take, you should register as soon as possible. You will want to make sure that your registration fits into your graduate school timeline. No matter which test or tests you are required to take, you should register as soon as possible. You will want to make sure that your registration fits into your graduate school timeline, so find out the deadline applicable to each test. You will also want to determine any costs or fees involved in taking the examinations. To find out what tests you need to complete, contact the graduate school program you wish to attend and work out a timeline with an advisor. Good luck!


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Most Popular Fields of Study

Fields of graduate study vary in popularity by many different socioeconomic and cultural factors, including geography. That popularity also varies by time, with new trends continually emerging. For instance, women now make up 58 percent of graduate students, but by the middle of the last century, they represented only about 20 percent. What women and minorities--another growing group of graduate students--have chosen to study has a huge effect on enrollment percentages. Changes in our economy and society also impact interest in various subjects. For instance, it is not surprising to learn that, in this computer-savvy age, computer science is one of the fastest-growing fields.

According to research by the Council of Graduate Schools, the three most popular graduate degrees are earned in education, business and the social sciences. These were followed closely by health sciences, engineering and the physical sciences. For doctoral degrees more specifically, the life sciences have been the most popular field since the early '90s. Engineering, physical sciences and other areas of study that don't fit a neat category are also becoming more popular for doctoral work.

Master's degrees are the most frequently awarded graduate degrees with close to half a million recipients annually. U.S. institutions awarded more than 44,000 doctorates in 1995. That number, though, has risen considerably, growing by nearly 4 percent annually since the federal government began tracking doctoral education in the late 1950s.

Girls against boys
Gender is a huge concern for educators, who consistently worry that girls are being shortchanged in math and science, while boys are being turned off to reading and creative writing. As students approach graduate school, it appears many of those gender generalizations remain valid. For instance, according to the Council of Graduate Schools, enrollment in business programs are 57 percent male, while women account for 74 percent of education students. The fields of engineering, physical sciences and business enroll the highest percentages of men, while the health sciences, public administration and education attract the highest percentages of women.

Women have made great strides in the pursuit of doctoral degrees. Thirty years ago, they constituted less than a quarter of all doctoral recipients, and were barely represented at all in the physical sciences or engineering. Today, women earn 67 percent of education doctorates, 26 percent of physical science degrees and 18 percent of engineering degrees, according to a federal survey. Women are also the majority of doctoral candidates in the social sciences, humanities, and, for the first time ever, in life sciences.

The color line
For many years, minority students were not welcome at most U.S. academic institutions, and therefore made up a miniscule percentage of graduate students. Today, minorities comprise more than a quarter of all graduate students. In fact, since the mid-1980s, minority enrollment in graduate programs has grown about 5 percent annually while white enrollment has remained virtually unchanged. African Americans account for the largest sub-group followed by Latinos, Asians and American Indians. Women represent more than half of the enrollment of every minority group, and twice as many black women are enrolled as black men.

Grad Study Fields for Minorities
According to the Council of Graduate Schools, education is the most popular graduate field of study for African Americans, with 31 percent of all black grad students studying in that field. Of those, more than 70 percent are women. Business and social sciences were the second and third most popular choices among blacks. Education is also the most popular choice for Latinos and American Indians. On the other hand, Asian-American students are very unlikely to enroll in education programs, but are found in much higher percentages in business, engineering and the physical sciences. White students favor education and business, followed by health sciences.

Doctoral degree enrollment reflects a similar interest in education among minorities. Engineering is another popular field for minority doctoral work, while they have their lowest representations in physical sciences and humanities, according to a survey by the federal government. More than 5,000 Ph.D.s were awarded to minorities in 2005, about 20 percent of the total.

International Students
While international students comprise only 2.5 percent of all bachelor's degree students in the United States, about 10 percent of graduate students and 33 percent of all doctoral students are foreign. While education and business degrees are favored by 36 percent of U.S. students, international students earn approximately one-half of all doctoral degrees in engineering, mathematics and the physical and biological sciences. Just 10 percent of U.S. graduate students are enrolled in engineering and the physical sciences. International students also show a strong interest in business and social sciences, while only 4 and 5 percent of those studying education and public administration respectively are foreign students.

Societal trends
Trends in graduate study often relate directly to changes happening beyond academia. The challenges to racism and sexism in America have altered the graduate map while emerging technologies create new streams of education. Even the values promoted by the institutions themselves dictate how fast a given field will grow.

As women and minorities swell the graduate student ranks, the fields they've chosen have grown rapidly. The health sciences, where more than three-quarters of the students are female, form one of the fastest-growing fields of graduate study, rising at an average annual rate of 4 percent. Meanwhile, engineering and physical science enrollments are on the decline, mainly because the number of international students has decreased. These are the fields with the highest concentration of international students, accounting for more than two-fifths of international graduate enrollment.

It's important to realize that these trends don't necessarily reflect consistency across the world of higher education. For instance, a relatively small number of institutions award a disproportionately large number of doctoral degrees. Of the 416 universities that offer a Ph.D., the top 10 percent of institutions granted nearly half of all doctorates in 2005. The University of California-Berkeley granted the most degrees, followed by the University of Texas-Austin.

Changing priorities also influence enrollment. The fastest-growing field for doctoral study is computer science, hardly hard to fathom with the surge in computer usage and the dominance of the Internet over the past several decades. That change is likely due both to a shift in university offerings as well as student demand. Other changes are more directly attributable to academic policy. Though education is the most popular field of study, social science programs receive the highest number of applications. So what accounts for the seeming disproportion? Since education programs are often part of the service mission of universities, they tend to have higher acceptance rates. At the same time, some relatively large programs have gone from granting research doctorates in education to granting professional doctorates. Public administration follows some similar trends.

And so the cycle of grad school popularity continues. Interests change, trends shift, and what is popular now might not be popular in even a few months. What is good to see, however, is that more and more underrepresented groups are attending graduate school, and that's good for everyone.


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Managing Your Time in Graduate School

Graduate school is known to be much more intensive than undergraduate work, so it is important that students develop good time management skills. In order to avoid feeling overwhelmed, you should keep track of your time and plan it out on a weekly, monthly and yearly basis. You may already feel short on time, but it is worth it to set some aside to plan out the year or two ahead.

Managing your time can be easy once you have received your deadlines and ranked your priorities. A calendar is the most obvious choice for people who are looking to manage their time. You can use a date book, a computer, or in some cases, even your cell phone. Some cell phones have built-in calendars that allow you to set alarms to remind yourself of what you need to accomplish. Most university bookstores offer great academic planners that allow you to plan for the week, month and year.

Getting Started
A good way to begin managing your time is to take a look at any syllabi you may have. Your class syllabus will list all of your assignments for the semester along with the dates each assignment is due. As you read through the syllabus, enter assignments and due dates into your calendar. If you are taking more than one course, be sure to include the class information in your calendar entries so that you do not get your assignments mixed up. Color-coding classes can be helpful, and your calendar entries can be as detailed as you need them to be.

When you are ready to begin prioritizing your assignments and tasks, you should look first at the "big picture" to determine what is due and when. If you need some help, look to your advisor or other professors for assistance. They know what a graduate school course load looks like, and they may have some priceless advice for you on how to handle it. Other, more experienced graduate students could also be a strong source for advice.

In addition to indicating when an assignment is due, you may want to make an entry dictating when you would like to begin working on the assignment. Assignments are not the only things that need to be planned for-any research, laboratory time or grant proposals should also be scheduled into your calendar. A great way of keeping track of your grades is to enter the grade you received for each assignment in the corresponding calendar day.

Break it Down
For yearly planning, be sure to include any application and financial aid deadlines. Don't forget to mark the beginning and ending dates of each semester, as well as any school closings and breaks. Your yearly plans should be broken into months, while your monthly plans should be broken into weeks.

Monthly calendars are ideal for entering paper deadlines, test dates and any appointments. You will definitely have deadlines from your teachers, but you may want to include your own deadlines as well. Weekly calendars can help you keep up with day-to-day assignments and deadlines, as well as study groups. It is useful to carry your weekly calendar with you at all times so that you can refer to it and make any necessary changes.

Daily Planning
To-do lists are a great way to keep yourself focused on a daily basis. Some people prefer to make their to-do lists in the evening for the next day, while others prefer to make them each morning. It is often helpful to list your daily tasks in order of priority. Cross off each task once it has been completed-you may be surprised at how rewarding that can be.

You may want to consider setting aside some time each day to do schoolwork and research. If you are a full-time student, perhaps you will want to designate a few days a week to work on assignments from each class. Blocking out your time this way, so that you are working on just one course's assignments, on a given day, may provide you with stronger focus and continuity in your studies.

However, no matter how detailed your self-scheduling is, you should always remember to remain flexible.

You will find some things that you simply cannot plan for, that may cause you to have to rearrange your calendar a bit. And do not be afraid to say "no" when it comes to taking on additional activities and responsibilities-you're not a superhero!


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Current Perceptions of Full-Time MBA Programs

The Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) has released its eighth annual MBA Graduate Survey of graduate students in their final year of business school. The survey covers the quality of the MBA programs, and employment expectations and selection criteria.

For the survey, 5,641 students from 158 schools from around the world were interviewed. Ninety-six percent of those surveyed were enrolled in MBA programs, while the others were participating in other types of Master's of Business programs.

Most MBA students (61 percent) were enrolled full-time, while the rest were enrolled part-time or in executive programs. Thirty-nine percent of respondents were students from outside of the United States, while 24 percent of those surveyed were students who were enrolled in programs in countries other than the United States.

Graduate Education Value and Quality
The respondents were asked to compare the cost of the graduate program and the quality of their education when gauging the value of an MBA program. The survey reports that more than two-thirds of full-time MBA graduates feel that their degrees are of high value, and as many reported that their instructors were of high quality.

Ninety percent of respondents reported that they would advise other graduate students to enroll in their program. Most of the class of 2007 also indicated that the admissions, curriculum and management of the program they enrolled in was excellent.

Respondents added that the most valuable aspects of the MBA program curriculum were the business policy and strategy, finance, marketing, and management and organizational behavior. Management strategy, and the innovation and knowledge of general business functions, were reported to have improved. During the past few years, the quality of career services at some schools has been in question, but nearly 40 percent of respondents reported that the career services office in their program was extremely helpful.

Employment Expectations
The full-time MBA graduate student respondents indicated that they assumed the programs they were enrolled in would lead to more options in the working world. They also believed that their graduate education would afford them the skills and abilities they need to land long-term employment. Financial security and challenging employment were other benefits named by the respondents.

More than one-third of the students reported that the most important job interview skills included a cultural fit with the company, knowing others in the company and the reputation of the MBA program. Other important interview skills, such as interpersonal skills, the ability to perform and leadership were also named.

Full-time MBA 2007 graduates were found to be more likely to leave school with at least an offer letter for employment than students who graduated in 2006. In fact, more than half of the respondents had already received job offers. Most of the students surveyed expected to enter a mid-level occupation after graduation, while nearly one-quarter expected to begin at the senior level.

MBA Graduate Employment Criteria
According to the survey, the consulting and finance/accounting industries stand to see the most growth as a result of the increasing number of MBA graduates. The consulting industry can expect a 75 percent increase in MBA graduate employees, while the finance/accounting industry may increase 35 percent. The technology and nonprofit government industries stand to lose a percentage of employees after graduation.

The survey respondents listed decentralized decision-making, a cooperative and casual atmosphere, and flexible career paths as attractive features of a potential job. They also included clearly defined responsibilities, formalized procedures and a clear and well-communicated vision as positive attributes of an employer. A focus on company success and individual performance-based rewards also topped the list of criteria.

The full-time MBA graduates indicated that potential for advancement, a fit with the company culture and a positive organizational atmosphere are the most important deciding factors for a job. The MBA class of 2007 can expect to make 54 percent more, through the course of their careers, than they could have realized with their pre-MBA salaries.

As one can see, the outlook for MBA graduates is positive, as is the attitude of the graduates. MBA graduates can look forward to more challenging work, better job placement rates and higher salaries.


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Adjusting to American Grad School

Moving to a new country can be a very stressful experience, and going there to attend graduate school only compounds the process. After all, this is not a vacation you're here for, so on top of all the normal difficulties associated with moving abroad, you will have graduate level schoolwork added to the mix. And if you're not careful, it could become overwhelming.

With the right attitude, however, attending graduate school can actually make adjusting to your new home easier. It's just a matter of attitude, a willingness to open yourself up to new experiences, and your ability to bend to a new culture. So while the following suggestions are certainly not solutions to all the problems you may encounter, they are sure to help. And the philosophy behind them is generally applicable to most of the stresses you will experience as you adjust to life as an American graduate student.

Just remember: it's more than possible, and it's extremely rewarding.

Remember Who You Are, But Stay Open To Everyone Else Who we are is very much a product of where we've been raised and spent most of our lives. A person who was raised in the United States would likely have a very different outlook on the world, and a very different way of doing things, if he were raised in Russia or France or Namibia instead. It is widely accepted that much of who we are is determined not by intrinsic internalities but rather by the accumulated experience of having lived in a specific place at a specific time. In other words, though we are who we are no matter where we're from, the details of how we go about our lives are very much determined by the culture in which we have always lived.

And this is one of the most difficult and complicated parts of living in a foreign country: We remain who we are, but the cultural references that we have always used to order our lives are missing. Which means that, in order to ease the adjustment period, you should do everything you can to accept your new country's way of doing things. Don't forget your ways, of course, and don't ever pretend to be someone or something you're not, but by adapting your normal routines to those that are accepted in your host country, you will ease the transition tremendously.

One of the best ways to start adapting is by trying to eat like the residents of your host country. For students attending graduate school in the United States, the first thing they may realize is the way Americans eat. Indeed, especially for Western Europeans, whose cultures generally consider mealtime to be a somewhat sacred time in the day that should be extended, savored, and lingered over, it can be rather difficult to adjust to the American way of eating. Except for rare occasions, eating in America is a quick affair. The two-hour lunch almost never occurs in America, and it is considered bad form to drink in the middle of the day. This is perhaps a result of our Puritan roots, or due to the constant pressure to perform and to get as much accomplished in as short a period of time as possible. Or it's just because there's something good on TV and we have to hurry up and finish our food so we can fully enjoy it. Whatever the reason, try not to confuse the way Americans eat with a disregard for the small pleasures. It is simply a different way of doing things, and you may even discover somewhere along the line that there is a certain amount of enjoyment to be gained from the American way of eating, regardless of how different it is from what you're used to.

Also, once you've made friends, you may want to invite them over to your residence for a traditional meal from your home country. This will not only allow you to host your new friends, but it will also serve to bridge whatever culture gap may exist. And a little taste of home always helps.

Learn To Love The Language

Most foreign graduate students speak a textbook version of English. There's nothing wrong with this-it's simply how English is taught around the world. In fact, it's how most languages are taught. And while this will certainly prepare you for the more formalized type of discourse employed in graduate studies, it will not prepare you for the many variations of it that are employed in informal interactions. For example, you may have learned that the proper English-language greeting is "Hello. It is a pleasure to meet you." In reality, however, Americans are a distinctly casual people, and you may be surprised to discover that the vast majority simply greet each other with nothing more than, "Hey, how are you?" or even, "What's up?" This is not disrespectful, and it is not an indication that you are being brushed off. Rather, informality like this can and should be seen as a sign of acceptance. And indeed, the proper response-"Good. How are you?" or "Nothing much, you?" -is informal as well. You'll become more comfortable with this as you continually adjust to life in the United States.

One of the best ways to really learn the English language is through popular culture. Chances are you've already spent some time listening to American music or watching American movies. And now that you're here to attend school for an extended period of time, you should take even greater advantage of this opportunity. Remember, the more you can use the language in the same was as Americans do, the easier time you'll have communicating and fitting in. And that will make your time here even easier and more enjoyable.

Don't Get Overwhelmed With Your School Work

Graduate school is stressful in the best of situations. Indeed, working at this high a level in your specific field is both highly rewarding and extremely demanding. On top of all this is the fact that you're living in a new country, and trying to adjust to a new way of life. So it is not uncommon to feel overwhelmed at times. In fact, it would be a bit odd if you didn't feel the strain at some point-it's one of the natural effects of transitioning to life in a new country.

Therefore, it's important to make time for yourself. Remember, it is not possible to study all the time, nor is it advisable to lock yourself in the library 24 hours a day and do nothing but work. You'll burn out, and as a result, you won't get anything accomplished. So while you're here for school, you should still explore this country. Try to make friends. Go to restaurants. Enjoy the city or town in which you're living. Join clubs on campus or in your new community. Whatever you do, make sure you take time out for yourself. In the long term, you'll be glad you did. And your education will not just have occurred in the classroom, but in the larger world, too. And you will be a better, more interesting person for having allowed that to happen. Plus, you're bound to have some fun along the way.


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Applying to school as a foreign student

Applying to graduate school can be a headache even in the best of circumstances. After all, it's not nearly as easy as applying to most undergraduate colleges and universities, which involve taking the SAT's, filling out an application, writing one essay at most, and having your school's guidance counselor send your transcript to the institution to which you're applying. No, applying to graduate school is much more involved than that, and it is a lengthy process even for American students.

As a foreign student, however, the process is even more arduous. After all, you not only have to go through everything your American counterparts do, but you also have to deal with the paperwork required for maintaining legal student status in the country, taking the appropriate and corresponding standardized tests in your own country, and making sure you have all the proper materials filed on time from your home overseas.

Fortunately, there are several things you can do to make the process of applying to an American graduate school easier. And while this is merely a primer, it should certainly help you along.

Look At The Big Picture

Before you start anything, it's important to consider everything you'll have to do-before you do it. This way, there will be no surprises along the way. So once you have narrowed down the list of schools you're considering, make a list of what you have to do to complete the application for each school. Remember, while there are some universals when it comes to applications, every school will have its own little (and sometimes not so little) quirks. So the more you know before you begin, the smoother the process will go once you get started.

Whatever the deadline is for each of the programs, make sure you get all of your materials to the right person in no less than one week before they're due. This way, even if there is some unforeseen event that slows down the process along the way, you will still be able to get everything done on time. The last thing you want is to put all that effort into applying and then to miss the deadline because you weren't adequately prepared.

Finally, give yourself a weekly goal for each of your applications. If you make a schedule in the beginning, and follow it every week, then you won't have the opportunity to fall behind. Really, you should think of the application process as another job. Take it seriously, get your work done, and don't fall behind.

A Smart List Is A Good List

Don't just make a list for each application of everything you have to do and start checking off items at random. There must be a specific order to what you're doing or you could find yourself in a lot of trouble. For example, filling out all the basic information on the application can wait until the last minute, but signing up for the standardized tests-whichever ones you plan on taking-must be done as early as possible. Space constraints are a big problem for American applicants, and they're taking tests that are typical in this country. For foreign students, there may only be one or two tests a year in some countries, so making sure you reserve a spot early will allow you to avoid not getting a spot at all.

Also, many applications include essay sections. There are generally two that are required, but again, this varies depending on the program you choose. The biographical essay-sometimes called the "personal statement"-is the easiest one to write, so you should probably save it for last. If, however, you are required to write a scholarly essay dealing with some issue that is relevant to your field, you should give yourself plenty of time to complete it. Remember, you may need to do research, or read several books, before writing it, and that takes time. So the earlier you start the process, the better off you'll be.

Finally, make sure you give yourself enough time to do any work you simply forgot about along the way. Of course, if you have a good list, and follow it, this shouldn't be an issue. But there are always last-minute items that you realize you didn't put on the list in the first place. Make sure you give yourself enough time to do these. This, after all, is why you built a week or two of buffer time into your list in the first place.

The Waiting Game

While you wait, it's a good idea to begin preparing for all that you'll have to do once you're accepted to a program and you've decided to enroll in it. Don't start any of the paperwork just yet, because there's always the possibility that you may not get into any of the programs to which you have applied this time, but you should be prepared nonetheless. This means scouring the Internet for information on what you'll have to do in order to become a full-time student in the United States, and perhaps even gathering some of the paperwork and documentation you'll need to file with the United States government prior to coming to America. Because this, too, can be an arduous process, and you should be as prepared as possible for all that it involves.

This may seem like a lot of work-and it is-but it will save you a lot of aggravation as you begin the process of applying to graduate school in the United States. However, no matter how difficult or time-consuming it is, the end result will be quite more than worth all the effort. After all, there are very few ways to better spend your time than pursuing a graduate degree. In the end, it will all be worth it.


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Choosing An American School

You've already made the most important choice, and that is to earn your graduate degree in one of the best countries for graduate education. Now comes the hard part: choosing the ideal school. A lot of factors go into this decision, from the location of the school to the size of the class, not to mention the actual fields of study.

Fortunately, there are several strategies you can employ that will not only make your decision easier, but will also make you more likely to come to the most sensible decision. And while an exhaustive accounting of all the issues facing you would be rather longer than the space afforded us here, the following three questions are the most important ones you should ask yourself early on in the decision-making process, and they are sure to help you as you figure out what to do.

Do I Want To Live In A Big City Or A Small Town?

America is a big country, and our graduate schools are spread throughout the land. Therefore, you have a virtually limitless number of options when it comes to choosing where you want to attend graduate school. So while your task is to narrow down the list of potential schools to the ones that offer you the best education in your field at a price you can afford, the next question you should ask yourself is whether you want to study in a big city or in a smaller town.

A big city school may seem overwhelming at first; the hustle-and-bustle of American cities can seem ridiculous to people who are not used to it. And all of the stimuli that come at you from every direction in a city may make you feel insignificant and hopelessly foreign. And it's expensive, too. But it can also force you to adapt much more quickly than you would have otherwise. And attending school in a city like New York or Chicago or Los Angeles will likely help you meet many other people who are in your same situation. That is to say, foreigners who have come to America for an education. Also, big-city life will afford you the opportunity to experience the culture in a way that you cannot otherwise do. From theater to concerts to restaurants to street culture, cities are chock-full of the kinds of things that define and shape American culture.

Attending graduate school in a smaller town will allow you to take your time adjusting to your new surroundings, and to focus a bit more on your studies. It will also afford you the opportunity to explore American culture at a slower pace, to ask more questions along the way, and to get to know more people in your community, each of whom can potentially help to make your transition easier. Plus, it's generally cheaper than living in a big city.

Either way, whether you choose to attend graduate school in a big city or in a small town, you will have a wonderful experience and, eventually, adjust to your new surroundings just fine.

How Many International Students Attend The School?

It may seem obvious, but too many students don't consider this issue when choosing where to attend graduate school. There are, after all, some schools with large populations of international students and other with virtually none. So while you should not base your decision entirely on the answer to this question, you should nonetheless take it into consideration.

There are two advantages to attending graduate schools with large numbers of foreign students. The first is that there will likely be more of an institutional infrastructure to help you adjust to life in the United States. It only stands to reason that the greater the number of foreign students at a school, the better the school's facilities should be in order to take the most advantage of all that diversity.

The second advantage is that you will feel less alone and more a part of a community. For no matter where the majority of foreign students come from, or from how wide a variety of countries, all of you will have one very important thing in common: You will be new to America. The bigger the community of foreign students, the richer and deeper the support structure you can all build for one another as you transition to life in the United States.

Of course, there is nothing terrible about attending a school with no sizeable international population. In fact, there is the very real possibility that, without an overabundance of other people going through all the same trials and tribulations as you are, you will be forced to adjust more quickly than you otherwise would have. That having been noted, however, your transition to life in America, and your support system for getting through the period of culture shock, will likely be better if you attend grad school at an institution with a relatively large number of foreign students.

Is It Expensive?

Unlike many national governments, the one in the United States does not universally supplement the cost of attending graduate school. And while there are certainly scholarships offered at both the state and federal levels, graduate school can be rather more expensive than it is in your own country. So you should ask yourself how you plan to pay for your American education.

One of the first things you should do is research scholarships for which you're eligible. These may come from the American government, your own national or state government, or religious organizations. You will be amazed by how many organizations are out there just waiting to give you money for graduate school. It's simply up to you to find them.

After that, you should also look into work-study options that may be offered by the schools you're considering, By either working on campus or teaching introductory-level classes in your field, you will often be able to offset some or most of the cost of attending graduate school. In fact, many programs offer stipends on top of scholarships, and these can make it much easier to afford to maintain a decent quality of living while you're in school.

Just make sure you research all of these issues before you decide on a specific school. Remember, the more you know about what you're getting into before you decide, the better your decision is likely to be. And that will lead to a better graduate-school experience.


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U.S. Grad Schools Seek More International Applications

The Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) has released its 2007 International Graduate Admissions Survey Phase I: Applications, which explores the changes in the number of international students applying to American graduate schools. Since the events of September 11, 2001, the number of international students enrolling in masters and doctoral programs in the United States has significantly decreased.

The Council of Graduate Schools surveyed 468 American colleges and universities and tracked enrollment by country of origin and field of study. The survey also examined application numbers in relation to the size of schools' international student population.

In the past few years, applications have picked up at a slow rate, and while that is a step in the right direction, it is not enough. Between 2006 and 2007, international student applications to U.S. institutions saw a 12 percent increase, compared with the five percent decline in 2005. However, international applications have not increased enough to reach pre-September 11 numbers.

Seventy percent of American graduate institutions have fewer international graduate applicants than they did in 2003. The number of applicants fell 27 percent during that four-year span. Applications for student visas, which serve as early indicators of international student applications, have also declined.

The two most important reasons for the decline in international applications are (1) a more globally competitive graduate education system and (2) tougher U.S. restrictions on international student visas post-September 11. More foreign countries have strengthened their graduate programs, attracting students away from the United States. The global competition for international students is at an all-time high. Graduate programs in other countries have been producing leading research.

Since the terror attacks of September 11, the United States has implemented stricter security and entrance policies that make it difficult for international students to gain access to U.S. graduate schools. Some students are also forced to get a visa each time they go home to visit their families. As a result, international students studying in the United States are likely to feel they are being watched by the government.

The annual number of academic study visas provided by the U.S. State Department to current and prospective international students decreased by 10 percent between 2001 and 2005. Five years prior to September 11, 2001, these visas increased annually by 11 percent.

Between 2006 and 2007, 53 percent of all international graduate students who attend American institutions are natives of China, India and Korea. Applicants from India rose only 6 percent, while applicants from Korea decreased 2 percent. The number of Chinese applicants to U.S. schools remained nearly the same, and applications from the Middle East were up by nine percent.

The fields of business, engineering, social sciences, physical sciences and life sciences have attracted the most international students for years. In 2007 these fields accounted for 73 percent of international graduate applications to American institutions. Engineering applications grew 8 percent.

International graduate applications for business programs increased by seven percent in 2007, while they had increased by 16 percent the year before. Applications for physical and earth science graduate programs rose by eight percent. No growth was reported for the field of social sciences.

The study fields with smaller international graduate application numbers were the ones to see significant growth between 2006 and 2007. Education applications were up by eight percent. Arts and humanities applications rose 12 percent, while applications for life sciences and agriculture graduate programs increased by 13 percent.

American colleges and universities with the largest international student enrollment saw the biggest increases in international graduate applications. The 10 institutions with the largest international student populations experienced a 13 percent increase in applications in 2007. The 50 institutions with the largest international graduate student populations enjoyed an increase of 10 percent in applications for 2007. Institutions with smaller international student populations saw increases in applications of just five percent.

Applications from Indian students increased 22 percent at the 10 institutions with the largest international graduate student populations, while decreasing by eight percent at the other, smaller institutions. Business and education program applications increased by 21 percent at the 10 institutions with the largest international graduate student populations. The applications for these programs fell by 8 percent at the smaller institutions.

The CGS survey reports that the small increases of 2007 could point to a temporary lag in international graduate applications. The recent increases are not enough to get back to where the levels were before September 11, 2001. Depending on your particular opinion on this subject, this could seriously impact the future of our country.

Gradschools.com