Has your research indicated that a graduate degree is needed to attain your career goals? Is graduate school what you have always imagined your next step to be? If graduate school is a possibility sometime in your future, this next section will highlight some important points to consider. The Applying to Graduate School Tipsheet offers additional suggestions and recommendations.

General Guidelines

Graduate school is an extensive commitment of time, money, and hard work. It is not a plan in and of itself; it is merely a step in a plan. Before making a commitment to graduate school, examine your long-term goals, both personally and professionally. Why do you want to attend graduate school? Do you feel that it will make you more marketable? How? Do you lack direction and feel that graduate school will give you direction? Do you want to study a particular subject for your own knowledge? Are you using it as a fallback choice or to make your parents happy? Think about the true answers to these questions and make your decisions accordingly.

It is important to consider what you imagine doing after graduate school. Is a graduate degree required for that field? How will it help you achieve your goals? Should you go straight to graduate school or take time in between to work? Find the answers to these questions by gathering as much information as possible. Talk to current students and graduates of the programs that interest you, as well as to people working in that career field. Speak with as many people as possible to get a complete picture. Try not to base your decision on any one person's opinion or experience. Conduct extensive research before committing to a program.

Through the Career Resource Center, you have access to printed and online resources that provide details on specific programs and tips on how to select a program that is right for you. Applications for most major examinations are also available. It is also helpful to speak directly with the academic department at Columbia that you are interested in. While you may or may not be considering Columbia for graduate school, the professors and students in the academic department can serve as great resources for you and your graduate school search.

Law School

Law school provides a professional education that helps shape the way you think, analyze, read, and write. Before making the considerable investment of time and money, evaluate your reasons for going to law school. Law school, more than many other types of graduate school, draws liberal arts majors who "don't know what else to do." In order to decide if law school is right for you, try to obtain as much hands-on information as possible about the field. Consider the possibility of a law internship or part-time work in a law office. Speak to lawyers working in different types of settings and find out more about what they do on a daily basis.

There is no special coursework or major that will prepare you for law school or that is favored by admissions committees. Your Columbia education should equip you with the strong writing, research, and analytical skills that admissions officers prefer. The Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) is required. Your LSAT score and your undergraduate GPA are considered the main criteria for admission.

Please refer to the Office for Preprofessional Advising for more information and advising on preprofessional programs.

Business School

There are many reasons to pursue an M.B.A., including advancing your career, gaining management expertise, and increasing your salary. Business school provides you with concrete business skills, access to many industries, and great networking opportunities. It can help you to rise within your current profession or gain exposure to a new industry. However, the most important thing to clarify before applying to business school is how this degree will help you to achieve your career goals. Admissions officers favor applicants who can demonstrate both how the program will benefit their own careers as well as how their background can be an asset to the program. Furthermore, academic strength, professional promise, and the ability to be both a leader and a team player are all highly regarded.

Currently, the average age for business school students is 27. The two years of work experience that were previously the norm for applicants is now more of a minimum; four years is typical. It doesn't matter if your job prior to business school is as a banker or a fundraiser, as long as you can explain why you are seeking an M.B.A. While you are an undergraduate, there is no particular course of study to pursue, but strong grades in quantitative and English courses are highly regarded. Virtually all schools require the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). The essays are also considered quite important.

Medical School

Unlike some other types of graduate or professional school, medical school requires certain courses to be completed as an undergraduate. A science major is not required, and in fact you might stand out more as an applicant if you choose a major from a different field. However, you do need to have completed some basic science coursework. Although the mandatory curriculum varies from school to school, the requirements generally include one year each of biology or zoology, inorganic chemistry, and organic chemistry-all with laboratory components, as well as physics and English. For applicants who do not complete these courses as an undergraduate, there are many school that offer postbaccalaureate premedical programs, including the program within the School of General Studies here at Columbia, that enable you to complete your coursework requirements after graduating from college.

Medical schools look favorably upon related work experience. Gaining experience in hospitals or clinics as a volunteer, intern, or research assistant not only helps you to determine if a career in medicine is right for you, it also enhances your resume and medical school application. The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is required, and acceptance is always contingent on a personal interview.

Please refer to the Office for Preprofessional Advising for more information and advising on preprofessional programs.

Doctoral Programs

Getting your doctorate can be an overwhelming, yet fulfilling accomplishment. Whether you dream of being a professor, doing research, or simply achieving mastery of a subject you love, a doctorate may be the ideal route for you. However, with the academic market currently at a low, be sure you know what you are getting yourself into. Will you be accruing a debt that will be difficult to repay? What will you do if you can't find a teaching job in your field? Where will you be willing to relocate?

Despite these challenges, people are still flocking to graduate school. Be realistic but don't be discouraged. A doctoral program is usually a six-year time commitment, so be sure to research programs carefully. Speak to professors if possible, and read some of their publications. See how their research interests match up with yours. Talk to current students and graduates to get their impressions of the program. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is generally required for admission, however undergraduate coursework, recommendation letters, and essays are also important.

Master's Degree Programs

Before beginning your master's degree, evaluate your goals. Are you planning on a career that requires this credential? Are you looking to become more employable in your current or a related field? Or do you want to continue learning for learning's sake? If you consider these questions carefully, you are more likely to enter into a satisfying program as well as get the most from your education.

The requirements for master's programs vary greatly from field to field. Depending on the career area, the entrance examinations and required undergraduate coursework may differ. The amount of time a master's degree may take varies as well, ranging from one to three years. Many graduate programs have a combination of academic learning and required internships; research the relationship between coursework and practical training. Find out from students and graduates what their experiences were like, and get their insights on post-graduation job options.

Alternative paths

Not every graduating student follows a linear path from point A to point B. You might decide you are not ready to go to graduate school or apply for a long-term job. There are many opportunities available if you are interested in taking time off, seeing the world, following your passion, and doing good work that contributes to society.

Fellowships

You may decide to apply for various fellowships after you complete your degree. A fellowship is a financial and intellectual reward for personal and academic achievement, as well as the recognition of future potential. Many fellowships provide financial support for graduate study; however, a few provide support for the last two years of undergraduate study. Additionally, other fellowship programs provide funding for a short-term, nonprofit work experience.

If you are looking to find financial support for graduate study or work either abroad or in the United States, a fellowship is an amazing opportunity to do just that. A few fellowships that Columbia University offers students the potential to apply for are the Rhodes, Marshall, Truman, Goldwater, and Fulbright Fellowships. For the pre-application process, visit the Fellowships Web site.

Travel/work programs

The desire to travel is often a powerful and appealing option after graduating from school. There are multiple work programs that offer you this option while getting paid to do so, and simultaneously making a difference in others' lives. One such program is the Peace Corps, with numerous locations and programs for which you may volunteer, including: teaching, stopping the spread of disease, and farming. Housing and a stipend is provided. Another similar program is Cross-Cultural Solutions, which focuses on service, empowerment, and cultural sensitivity.

If you are interested in domestic travel and wish to teach, there is Teach for America, an intense two-year teaching experience in urban areas throughout the continental United States. There is no experience necessary, just a two-year commitment to inner city youth. Other U.S.-based programs include Americorps. The Work Abroad tipsheet offres additional suggestions and recommendations.