Graduate school preparation presentation for second year students.

1. The Future Is Closer Than You
Think
PREPARING FOR GRADUATE SCHOOL NOW!
Courtney McDermott, MS
Office of Graduate Admissions

2. Is Graduate School For Me?
 Certain professions may require it
 Example: Medicine and Law
 Example: Teacher Certification in New York
 Office of the Professions (psychology, counseling, social work)
 Advanced degrees may be necessary for leadership
positions within certain career fields
 MBA
 Earning potential is historically higher for
individuals holding an advanced or terminal degree
 Is this a personal goal that you’ve set for yourself? If
so…Go for it!

3. The Application Process
 Most graduate schools have their application online, but can also be
done via paper application
 Commonly requested documentation:
 Official college transcripts from ALL institutions attended
 References/recommendations from faculty or professional contacts
 Written statement/essay/writing sample
 On-site versus part of the application
 Standardized entrance exams
 GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, MAT
 Resume
 Entrance interview
 Important to note: Graduate applications cost $$. Associated fees
typically include:
 application fees {$50-$75 on average}
 transcript fees {$5-$10 per copy}
 entrance exam fees {$130-$285 depending on the exam}

4. A Little More on Entrance Exams
 Graduate Record Examination (GRE; www.ets.org/gre)
 Three sections: Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical Writing
 Computer-based, offered continuously in a variety of locations
 Revised August 2011, including new scoring format
 Used for a wide variety of graduate degree programs; degree of importance varies by school
and program
 Administered by ETS (Educational Testing Service)
 Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT; www.mba.com)
 Analytical Writing, Quantitative and Verbal Sections
 Scores range from 200-800 with a mean of 540
 Used by many business/MBA programs for admissions
 Administered by Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC)
 Law School Admission Test (LSAT; www.lsac.org)
 Logical Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Analytical Reasoning, and a writing sample are
the major components of the test
 Administered by the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) four times per year at testing
centers
 Crucial to law admissions processes

5. And A Little More on Entrance Exams
 Medical College Admission Test (MCAT; www.aamc.org/mcat)
 Computer-based test, offered 25 times a year at regional testing centers
 Content areas include Physical Sciences, Verbal Reasoning, Writing
Sample, and Biological Sciences
 Scaled score range from 3-41, with average of 25 (in 2010)
 Administered by the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges)
 Miller Analogies Test (MAT; www.milleranalogies.com)
 Used in lieu of the GRE for many graduate degree programs
 120 questions in a sixty minute time period
 Scaled score range of 200-600 with a median of 400
 All questions structured as analogies
 Computer-based, published by Harcourt Assessments
 DAT (Dental), PCAT (Pharmacy), OAT (Optometry)

6. And Yet Even More About Entrance Exams
 Things to keep in mind:
 Most test scores can be voided THAT DAY if you do not feel
like you are performing well, though it is not advised to do so
(Folks usually do better than they think!)
 Be aware of the policies related to your scores if taken multiple
times. Will your scores be averaged or can you submit the
highest? How frequently can you take a test? What is the time
required between taking the test a second time?
 Is the test required?? You’d be surprised!
 Each test is administered by its own associated agency, which
also provides its own test prep. Third party prep agencies, such
as Kaplan Test Prep, also exist.

7. Timelines and Deadlines
 Be aware of each school’s deadlines!
 Factor in time for entrance exam testing!
 Set a timeline to keep yourself on task
 Keep in mind your other obligations: mid-terms, finals, travel,
etc.
 Leave time to re-take an exam if you’re not happy with your
score
 Be familiar with Financial Aid deadlines
 Earlier decisions may correlate with better scholarship
opportunities!

8. Choosing A Program
 Master’s degree versus Doctoral degree
 What does your career field call for? What are you personal goals?
 Does the doctoral program require a master’s degree?
 Faculty research and opportunities for study
 Program specialization and/or focus
 Resources
 Petersons.com
 Graduate Guide
 Gradschools.com
 Office of Career Services
 Faculty, friends, and professional colleagues

9. Action Items
 Now that we’ve covered all of this, what should you
do now?
 Pay attention to your grades!!! They WILL matter!!
 What is meant by a “closed degree”??
 Research graduate programs to ensure you are taking the
coursework you will need to fulfill pre-requisites. It’s easier
now than after you graduate!
 Discuss your plans with trusted faculty, mentors, and advisors.
Listen to their advice!
 Visit the Career Center here on campus! Amazing resources.
 Begin entrance exam preparation if necessary and appropriate.

10. Shameless Self-Promotion!!!
 Mount Saint Mary College offers three Master’s Degrees
 Master of Science in Education
 Programs available in Literacy, Special Education, Childhood, and
Adolescent education as well as Middle School Extension programs
 Master of Science in Nursing
 Programs offered in Family Nurse Practitioner and Adult Nurse
Practitioner
 Master of Business Administration
 Accelerated format
 See Courtney McDermott in the Office of Graduate
Admissions (Villa 204) with questions!
 courtney.mcdermott@msmc.edu
 845-569-3402