deep end, The

Black Collegian, Oct 1997 by Reed, Minerva H

Reference books include The Peterson Guides to Graduate School Study and The Graduate School Guide. Both of these are comprehensive volumes that list all areas of study, but there are other references that focus on specific disciplines. For those interested in schools of management, there is The Official Guide to MBA Programs, published by the Graduate Management Admission Council. For law schools, some excellent resources are: The Official Guide to US. Law Schools, Master the LSAT (contains an actual LSAT exam), The Directory of Law School Joint Degree Programs, and Pre-Law Companion: What Law School Grads Wish They Knew Before They Started. For those interested in studying abroad, consider the Council on International Education Exchange, based in New York City. The Council is a source of information about international schools and programs covering all disciplines in countries throughout the world.

Another source of information is the Internet. School web sites can be a solid source of information about their programs, admissions requirements and procedures-including required tests, application deadline dates and financial aid information. Full school course catalogues are also posted on the Internet.

A decidedly low-tech but invaluable resource for graduate school information is your college faculty. They attended graduate school and often have valuable contacts who can help you.

Once you've narrowed your choices down to several universities, it's time to start comparing the programs. Evaluate each program and school by its strengths in your field of interest, the strength of the specific department, and the strength and quality of the faculty. Program specialties, school resources (including the library), and, of course, program cost and school location are also considerations.

"There is a tendency to look at graduate schools and see if they offer tuition assistance or a stipend. That is often not the best policy," Carson says. "If the school doesn't have a good reputation, or if they have a reputation for chewing up and spitting out African Americans, then you don't want to go there."

Ultimately, the best way to determine if a school is for you is to see the school yourself, especially when it comes to law schools, Reed says.

After you put together a list, call or write for a catalog and financial aid information. Look at the list and narrow it down to five, 10, 15 schools and arrange visits," says Reed. "When you visit, see if it feels good. Your intuition tells if it feels good.

"The best way is a combination of going to visit the schools and talking to present students and recent graduates. Sit in classes and see if it fits your specialty. I would not depend upon ranking, but only use it as a general source`of information," Reed says.

Getting in the door

Once you've decided on a school, it's time to fill out an application. The basic application for graduate school has several parts: the introductory essay, the application itself and the attached letters of recommendation. Each one serves a specific purpose; each one should be treated seriously