Graduate school: A necessary step for your future success

Black Collegian, Oct 1999 by Rovaris, Dereck J Sr, Edwards, Brandon D

Can I Go To Graduate School?

As you consider this question, the answer becomes fairly obvious once you have answered several underlying questions. Why go to graduate school? What does graduate school entail? How do I apply? When should I get started and what else do I need to know?

Why Go to Graduate School?

Graduate school training is fast becoming an entry-level requirement for many of the more desirable academic and other professional positions. Further, the critical shortage of African-- Americans with advanced degrees, especially the Ph.D., is requiring that an immediate remedy be found to correct this situation. The need for African-American lawyers and MBAs is crucial. However, the necessity for African-American Ph.D.'s to provide research and instruction in all academic areas is at the critical stage. Without their presence, education will take on a much different look. Their absence will be felt in all segments of society. Noticing this dearth of Black faculty, William Grant IV, a 1999 Ph.D. candidate at Northwestern University, adds "I remember being a sophomore at Xavier University and it became clear (that) I had to become part of the solution rather than part of the problem." You too can be a part of the solution by pursuing doctoral study.

When asked why she chose to pursue a doctoral degree, Tasha Inniss, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Maryland, responded, "A Ph.D, in mathematics is a perfect idea for me. Obtaining a Ph.D. allows for tremendous flexibility and increased opportunities in anyone's professional career path. My choice to pursue a doctorate in mathematics affords me the opportunity to conduct research, to develop curricula and programs, and to teach math in an engaging style to facilitate better understanding. I've made a great choice. " Dr. Jillandra Rovaris, a psychologist with Tulane University, agrees that "Graduate school has opened many doors and has provided meaningful opportunities." Not only does graduate training "open doors" with which we are familiar, but according to Grant, it can help identify "a lot of doors that prior to this journey, I never imagined existed." These are but a few of the many good reasons to pursue graduate study, not the least of which is your success in the future.

What Does Graduate School Entail?

It is not a process that can be taken lightly, and like anything else that is worth having, it will require a great deal of work. Graduate study typically refers to programs that award a masters degree and/or a doctorate. Masters' degrees usually involve one to two years of coursework, a comprehensive examination over that coursework, and in some cases, a thesis. Unlike undergraduate programs, your graduate coursework will take place nearly exclusively in your major area of study. Doctoral programs can require anywhere from two to four years of coursework, comprehensive exams, and a dissertation. The comprehensive exams are much like senior comps and require a great deal of preparation. Typically a three hour written exam based upon your major coursework, comprehensives also may have an oral component covering your proposed research. The thesis or dissertation is your original research written with the guidance of a group of faculty known as your committee. Many people worry about the ability to produce a thesis, but with your committee's support and your academic training, you will find that like coursework and comprehensives, writing a dissertation also can be accomplished.

How Do I Apply?

Once you have decided to pursue a graduate degree and have figured out which specific field you will study the steps in the application process are as follows:

1. create a list of potential schools

2. register, practice, and then take the GRE;

3. ask faculty members for letters of recommendation;

4. write a statement of purpose and have it critiqued;

5. complete and mail your applications for admission and financial/fellowship support

1. Create a list of potential schools -- In order to maximize your opportunities you will need to apply to several schools or more. The more schools to which you apply, the more chances you have for admission. By consulting a guidebook such as Peterson's Guides (they can be found online or at your college library), you will uncover a comprehensive listing of graduate opportunities in your respective area. The listings include descriptions of each discipline and their sub-fields. It will also include a wealth of data about the various institutions in those disciplines (location, entrance requirements, acceptance rates, tuition costs, funding options, enrollment demographics, etc.).

To create your list of schools you should first consider factors like quality of the program, strength of the university, reputation of faculty in your area, availability of funding, institutional support, and commitment to minority students. Other factors that may play a part include geographic region, size of enrollment, racial make-up of student body, community in which the school is located, and campus facilities and activities. After weighing these factors, you should compile a list of ten or more institutions.