Graduate schools do much more than simply allow students to earn degrees; they also provide an atmosphere in which to hone thinking skills such as logic, reasoning, and strategic thinking.
These skills are useful not only in one's career, but also in the world at large.
Therefore, deciding on which graduate school to attend can be one of the most important steps in your academic career path and, ultimately, your personal well being.
It is crucial to avoid the attitude that applications should be sent out in mass, and that any letter of acceptance is a reason to attend a graduate school.
Attending graduate school is a serious commitment that carries costs - and they are not just financial.
One's experience in a graduate school can have a serious impact on your personal happiness, because it essentially decides what career can be obtained post graduation; the types of friends and connections that you will make; and how much you are willing to spend - and potentially take out in loans - to fund a graduate education.
The most important step to take when beginning to choose a graduate school is to do meticulous research on the school's program to make sure it's the right fit for you.
Name recognition and reputation tend to have an unnecessarily strong influence on a student's decision to apply to certain schools, which can cause students to block out other schools whose programs more closely match their academic goals.
Therefore, instead of only researching the schools' programs online, it is important to speak with current students and alumni of your school of choice to gain a firsthand account of their experience at that institution.
In order to decide on a degree that is right for you, it is important to ask yourself several questions.
First, how long do you intend to be in graduate school? With certain prerequisites, required exams, a thesis, and the need to do a residency, one's enrollment at a graduate school can vary tremendously in length and, therefore cost.
Look up the average length of time that students generally take to receive their master's degree at the school you are researching.
Similarly, take a look at course offerings and the professors who teach them.
How often does the institution offer courses in your department? Are there certain classes you would only take if they are taught by a specific professor? If so, look up whether those professors teach consistently at the school, or whether it appears that they regularly take time off.
Don't be afraid to contact the department of the school you are researching, but make sure you have done a heavy amount of research first to avoid asking a question that could have been answered on your own.
Furthermore, if you decide to contact a professor at the school, you should truly make sure that your questions or comments are neither superfluous nor overly complimentary.
Keep in mind that it is very unlikely that reaching out to a school's faculty will have any impact on their decision to accept you.