Direct College Connect

Search Your : College

Graduate Schools

Learn more about graduate schools, and find out how a graduate school degree can help you pursue your career goals.

What Is a Graduate School?

Colleges that award graduate degrees, including master's degrees and doctorate degrees, are called graduate schools. These schools are usually part of a larger university that also awards undergraduate degrees. Students must have earned a bachelor's degree in order to apply for a graduate degree; this degree can be earned at the same school where you're applying for grad school or at another college or university.

Time Requirements for Graduate Schools

The length of time it takes to complete a graduate degree depends on the type of program you're enrolling in. The amount of time you spend in graduate school is also determined by whether you choose to take summer courses to complete your degree more quickly or to take the summer off. Most graduate schools give students the choice of taking classes year-round toward their degree.

Is graduate school for you?

Graduate school requires a great deal of dedication, good grades in your chosen area of study and high scores on your Graduate Record Examination (GRE) as well as any other required standardized test, such as the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) or Law School Admission Test (LSAT). Here's why some students choose to go to graduate school:

To further career goals. A graduate degree allows you to pursue certain careers, such as legal careers, medical and health care careers, and getting a graduate degree in fields such as business can help you advance in your career more quickly.
To specialize in a specific field. Pursuing a graduate degree expands your career options in a number of fields. For example, a doctorate degree allows you the option of teaching or going into research in your chosen area of study.
To increase your earning potential. In many fields, the more initials after your name, the higher your salary will be.
To produce original research. In some graduate fields, completing a degree gives you the opportunity to try to publish your graduate work, whether this is a scientific study, thesis or dissertation.

What types of students attend graduate school?

Motivated, driven students with a strong desire to pursue a particular field tend to seek out graduate school. Because you are required to complete a bachelor's degree before entering graduate school, the youngest students you'll find in graduate school are in their twenties, but the age range of students will vary. Some people may have chosen to start their career and then return to graduate school, either to save up the money for school or to gain real-world experience to bring to their studies.

Should you attend an online school?

If you'd like to complete a master's degree but aren't able to commit to a year or two years of full-time study on a campus, you may want to consider pursuing your degree at an online school. Online colleges offer master's degrees in a number of fields. The benefits are many: studying from home, not having to commute or relocate, not having to pay room and board and increased flexibility in scheduling classes.

Online schools do have additional requirements, however. You need access to a working computer with Internet access, and depending on your degree and the online school, you may need to complete some of your coursework at a campus. You also have to make sure you can stay motivated to complete your coursework outside of a classroom setting; students who thrive in online courses tend to be motivated, happy working alone and comfortable communicating with fellow students and professors over the Internet rather than in person.

How do you narrow down your choice of graduate school?

The graduate school you choose depends in large part on the type of graduate degree and career you're seeking, and the area of study you'd like to pursue. Once you've determined the area of study and concentration you're interested in, you may want to filter your search by region, state or city. However, if you're considering taking online courses, school location may not be as important to you.

Grad school costs also vary significantly by school, so if you're concerned about cost or financial aid opportunities, be sure to factor the costs associated with the degree to your decision of what school to attend.