Grad School: A Likely Story - going to graduate school; why and how? - Brief Article - Statistical Data Included

Dance Magazine, August, 2001 by K.C. Patrick

SO HERE YOU ARE, MAYBE A couple of years out of college. You've been dancing with pickup companies and independent choreographers' projects. One roommate just got married and the other has been laid off due to corporate downsizing. Your parents are proud of you, of course, but they worry about your security. You're beginning to get that metallic taste in your mouth and ask, "Is that all there is? What do I do to support the rest of my life?"

While this may not be your portrait, it's likely that you are considering going to graduate school as one option. Think again. It's likely that you are going to have to study the process and work hard to get into a graduate program. Right now, at many universities there are more applicants than openings into graduate programs, both at the master's and doctoral levels.

Why go to graduate school?

Apart from prestige or a family dream of achieving success in academia, people go to graduate school for various reasons. Some see staying in school as a way of being able to continue to dance or choreograph in a sheltered, known setting. Others are in the process of changing careers and need the education or degree that their new profession requires. Mostly, it's the money and the perceived security it will bring. Current studies show that those holding post-graduate degrees earn 35 percent to 50 percent more in a lifetime than those workers who hold only an undergraduate degree. Read that again. Now understand those are average U.S. dollars earned in a lifetime of work based on all career fields. Those percentages don't necessarily represent earnings in the dance field, but you get the drift: Employers or patrons think that people have learned more skills if they stayed in school longer. And they are willing to compensate them accordingly.

When to go to graduate school?

Obviously it's easier to continue right on into graduate study immediately after completing undergraduate degree work. You're still in the swing of being a student and you probably aren't encumbered with many obligations such as house payments and child or aging-parent care.

On the other hand, a dip in the job opportunities or a flat place in your goal paths may lead you to look at MFA or Ph.D. options.

If you have been independent for a while, remember that when you return to a formal academic setting you must bend to others' styles, rules, and quirks. You will not be expected to adapt Cecchetti or Graham technique to fit your own need; rather, you will be asked to just do it and demonstrate that you can, very well. There is a certain loss of independence in the role of student, and you must be willing and able to thrive during that time. Focus on the fact that the role is for a limited time and the sense of achievement you will have upon completion.

Getting into grad school

The first step in making your decision is gathering correct information. Graduate schools usually have different personnel than the undergraduate departments. Always ask for the graduate program advisors or chair. Graduate admissions processes are different; you must check every current calendar and requirement. Many schools require graduate schools admissions tests; some programs do not. Financing may require creativity. Graduate schools often offer fellowships or graduate teaching assistantships that undergraduate programs do not. Check out the opportunities at every school. Confirm all dates and info that you may receive.

Where's the information?

Remember when you were in middle school and you asked only your friends for information--information that they also didn't have? If you learned nothing else from your college days, you must have learned how important it was to ask the person that had the right information. When you begin your grad school information search, you will find much good general information in directories such as Peterson's, Baer's, or U.S. News & World Report. Their information is good, but it is often too broad to help you find dance departments and related fields. You might key in "graduate school" in your Internet search engine. A good overall info site is www.GradView.com. Remember, though, Web sites are designed to promote something or someone, so learn with a critical eye. They are sometimes outdated, but they offer advantages such as being able to apply online. Do confirm whatever information you read and that any message you submit is actually received. Dance Magazine's College Guide 2001-2002 lists only dance programs (though they may be resident in other departments such as theater or physical education), and for the first time has expanded its coverage into dance-related fields. If you do not have a copy, ask for it at your library or counselor's office.

Many universities have an office devoted exclusively to returning students who have had a break in continuity of their education. They are a fine resource, not only of education, but also of many kinds of support. If you have been a working dancer for a number of years, don't overlook the organization Career Transition for Dancers, with offices in New York City and Los Angeles. (There are similar organizations in other countries.) They are an invaluable source of information, and if you qualify, some funds as well.