Making the decision to go to grad school might be easier than determining the best graduate program for you and your career goals. It might seem overwhelming to have so many options, but it’s actually an amazing opportunity for you to consider what’s most important to you. Ultimately, you should choose a program that will prepare you to be a leader in your industry.
Choosing a strategic graduate program begins with you and your goals, and how you approach this decision should have a strategy.
Here are steps to finding the best graduate program for you.
Explore your passions and match them to your overall goals
In graduate school, you’re going to spend a lot of time specializing in one specific subject area. For this reason, it is critical that you are passionate about your field of interest.
Passion is more than just enjoyment — passion is enjoyment plus the added desire to innovate and improve. So, if you’re passionate about a particular industry or area of study, it should follow that you see opportunities for improvement and want to make an impact in the space.
So how do you figure out what you are passionate about? Consider these questions:
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What were your favorite classes in undergrad?
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What do you like about your work?
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How do you spend your free time?
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What kinds of societal issues are you concerned about?
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What is a field where you think there’s a question to be answered? And you can answer it?
In short, if you're having trouble deciding what graduate program will be most valuable to you, you should start by determining where your interests and values intersect – and work backward from there.
Discover careers and industries that match your goals/interests
Once you’ve identified where your interests and goals intersect, the next step is determining what field will allow you to dig deeper.
Let’s say you’re interested in technology with regards to engineering, and specifically, you want to be a part of the solution to national and international gas shortages. You might want to pursue a graduate degree in petroleum and natural gas engineering. A program like this would provide you with advanced technical knowledge and research engineering skills needed by the oil and gas industry in the state, the nation, and the world.
Conversely, perhaps you love virtual games and are fascinated by how the media we interact with every day affects the gaming industry. With a master’s degree in game design, you'll learn game design, game theory, and game production. From there, you'd be qualified for a job with game development companies and a wide range of employers from banks to educational software developers.
If you're passionate about policy and research but want a job that is specifically designed to help others, then obtaining a graduate degree in social work could be the right fit for you. With either a Master of Social Work or PhD in Social Work, you'll develop the sought-after skills needed to implement industry-wide change through research, teaching, and leadership.
Tip: Once you’ve narrowed down a possible industry and career, you can check out job satisfaction and growth statistics by visiting Payscale.com or the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Identify what you want to experience in your program
Not all graduate schools are created equal, and not all graduate programs in your field will provide the same opportunities. Here are a few things you should look into before choosing a program.
Research initiatives
As a graduate student, you'll almost certainly be involved in research. You should prioritize choosing a graduate school that's known for its research standards, such as R1 status institutions (West Virginia University is not only an R1 institution; it is the only R1 university in the state of West Virginia). By doing so, you'll ensure that you graduate at the forefront of innovation and cutting-edge research in your field.
Real-world learning
Taking advantage of hands-on, experiential learning opportunities is often paramount to your success as a grad student. Many departments in grad school offer graduate assistantships (GA), which allow you to gain practical field experience, deepen academic understanding and network with thought leaders. Most graduate assistants receive a tuition waiver and a small stipend for the tasks they perform for faculty members or departments. If a position like this is not available to you, inquire about potential internship opportunities.
Financial assistance
Grad school is a significant investment, but there are various ways you can offset the cost of graduate school. Loan forgiveness programs, fellowships, scholarships, grants, and graduate assistantships are all options you should consider.
Start a conversation with admissions
Now that you’ve identified your goals and what's important to you in a program, it’s time to get in touch with your admissions team and take advantage of the resources made available to you.
Here are a few questions to keep in your back pocket for when you speak with admissions:
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Do faculty in my program have published research at the forefront of their field?
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Will I have the opportunity to obtain a GA position or an internship?
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Where are graduates of my program working today?
Find the best graduate program for you at WVU
At West Virginia University, we offer dozens of graduate programs that are specifically designed with your success in mind. We foster a community of diversity and equality, and we are dedicated to helping you to reach your full potential in an inclusive environment.
As you consider your next academic venture, we invite you to take advantage of a few of our resources: read more stories, subscribe to our podcast, and visit our resource library to learn more.
Feel free to request more information while you explore our programs, or if you're ready to apply, you can start your online application today.
Ready to reap the benefits of being a graduate assistant? Download WVU's Graduate Assistantship Guide today!
