GRADUATE SCHOOL: Still a Good Idea

Black Collegian, Oct 2003 by Rovaris, Dereck J Sr

5. Complete and mail your applications for admission and financial/fellowship support. This is in fact a very important process, and you do not want to leave anything to chance. Type your application. Make copies of everything! The final copy must be legible; it must look nice. Use the original application materials provided (no photocopies), including any return addressed envelopes. MAIL ALL MATERIALS WELL IN ADVANCE OF ANY STATED DEADLINE! Institutions receive hundreds of applications and most have no room for late or incomplete applications. Order transcripts and test scores early enough to be mailed on time to the appropriate institutions. Also remember that a completed, clean, and on-time application will not by itself gain you admission, but you can rest assured that an incomplete, sloppy, or late application will ensure rejection.

Also complete all financial aid forms (some are separate) and fellowship/assistantship requests (most are included in the application). While most students receive funding from their graduate institution, it is always advantageous to have outside funding. This funding may come from major corporations, professional organizations, special interest programs, or other sources. They often have deadlines for fall application, and they typically require good grades and test scores. Contact these funding sources directly or check with your school for other sources. These funding sources can be found in reference journals at your library or on-line at web sites such as www.black-collegian.com and fastweb.com. It must be noted that due to the underrepresentation of certain groups at the graduate level, there is plenty of funding to go around. You should not have to pay for a Ph.D., given the number of funding opportunities available. It is up to you to find your financial support.

Is Graduate School Still A Good Idea?

Yes, because you have (or will have) successfully completed an undergraduate program that prepared you for the rigors of graduate school. You have the intelligence; the question is do you have the discipline and persistence? What about grades? Usually a 3.0 GPA is a minimum, but there have been numerous graduate degrees awarded to people with averages that were lower. Good test scores and a strong statement can make the difference if your grades are not as high as you would like. What about going later? Why put off until tomorrow what you should be doing today? People who wait often do not ever pursue graduate study because of professional, financial, or personal commitments. Others who wait and eventually enroll will typically state that they wish they had started graduate work sooner. Go now while there are plenty of funding opportunities, while you are still academically sharp, and while you are not overly encumbered.

Your career, in whatever field you have chosen, can only be enhanced by the acquisition of a master's or a Ph.D. degree. Your marketability and promotability will increase, as will your prospects for major contributions to your field and for leadership responsibilities. These and other intangibles point to the many benefits of advanced study. 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.Ds. to provide research and instruction in all academic areas is at the critical stage. You owe it to yourself and the world around you to make the most of your education and your life. Preparing today for an advanced degree is more that just a good idea - it is what you should do.