Choosing a Law Program

There are a number of different factors to take into consideration when deciding which law programs to apply for – Harvard Law isn’t for everyone.  To get a better idea of which programs might be a good fit for you, look into the rankings offered by the Princeton Review and the US News & World Report.  These programs will give you more information on the average grades of entering students, as well as on the tuition of each program, the size of the school and the geographic location of each institution.

Law programs are assigned tiers to designate how competitive they are, with tier-one programs being the most competitive.  While it isn’t necessary to graduate from one of these programs to find a job, you’ll find that the top firms tend to recruit students primarily from these schools.  If it’s important to you to obtain one of these positions, you’ll need to work hard to earn the grades and LSAT scores necessary for admission to these schools.  If, on the other hand, you plan to work in a less competitive setting, you may find that a lower-ranked – and typically cheaper – program will suit your needs.

Getting into Law School

Getting into law school requires an application process that’s similar to what you experienced as an undergraduate.  You’ll need to complete an admissions essay, as well as provide information on your volunteer activities, any relevant awards and references from professors who are familiar with your work.  To be considered, you’ll also need to take the LSAT, a standardized exam that’s similar to the SAT and ACT but with the addition of logic and reasoning questions.

Your LSAT scores figure more prominently into the admissions process than GRE scores do for other graduate programs, so it’s in your best interest to study hard for the exam.  Many prospective law students enroll in LSAT preparation courses or hire personal LSAT tutors to get the highest possible scores, although these programs can be costly.  If they’re out of your budget, you can also prepare using LSAT study guides and at-home practice exams, or find other students and form your own study group.

Attending Law School

There’s no other way to put it – expect to work harder than you’ve ever worked before while attending law school.  You’ll learn the ins-and-outs of torts, contracts and other legal statutes, as well as the details of significant cases throughout history.  In addition to the added academic challenges, you’ll be introduced to a new method of teaching called the Socratic Method, in which the professor poses questions in order to stimulate philosophical discussion.  At first, you may feel as if you’re being put on the spot, but eventually, you’ll come to respect the process of sharing opinions with your fellow classmates.

After three years of law school, you’ll be awarded your Juris Doctorate (J.D.).  However, before you begin practicing, you’ll need to pass the bar exam in the state where you plan to work.  Despite all the hard work you’ve put into law school, the exam isn’t easy and you’ll need to spend time preparing for it.  Once you pass, you’ll be eligible to work as a lawyer, but don’t think you’re done yet.  Law is an ever-changing field, so you’ll need to stay on top of new laws and legal precedents in order to stay competitive.

Choosing a Program

Once you’ve made the decision to attend graduate school, you’ll need to identify the specific programs you’d like to apply to.  If you plan to continue on at the same institution where you earned your Bachelor’s degree, you’ll find that the application process is fairly similar to what you’ve already gone through.  However, if you’re investigating other options, you’ll need to be sure that the institution has a strong program in your area of specialty.  After you’ve identified a few possible schools, thoroughly review the application to make yourself familiar with the different elements of the admissions process.

Taking the GRE

The Graduate Records Examination is required by most graduate school applications, with the exception of those fields that require specialized exams like the MCAT for medical schools or the LSAT for law school programs.  In order to meet grad school application deadlines, you’ll need to take the exam early in your senior year of college.  Because your score on this standardized test will influence which schools you’re admitted to and how much merit-based financial aid you’ll receive, it’s important to take the time to develop and complete a good GRE study program before you take the exam.

Writing Your Admissions Essay

The admissions essay is one of the hardest parts of your graduate school applications, so make sure you allow yourself enough time for several revisions.  First, be sure you completely understand the question posed and outline an essay that responds specifically to the issue.  Try not to wander off track while discussing your experiences.  Once you’ve finished the first draft, as a trusted friend or professor to read through it and provide feedback.  Be sure your spelling and grammar are perfect – many institutions will reject a candidate out of hand for essays filled with mistakes.

Applying for Financial Aid

Just as you did as an undergrad, you’ll want to complete the FAFSA to determine whether or not you’re eligible for financial aid.  On the positive side, since you’re probably no longer considered a dependent of your parents, you’ll probably be eligible for more aid than you were as a Bachelor’s student.  Unfortunately, there are significantly fewer scholarships and grants available for grad students, so you may find that the FAFSA qualifies you for more loans than you’d like.

If you’re concerned about the cost of graduate school, start looking for private grants and scholarships specific to your field as early as possible.  Your undergraduate professors may be able to direct you to these opportunities, and you should also check with any professional organizations in your field.  You can also look into teaching or research assistant positions at your school to help offset the cost of your tuition and provide a small stipend to cover your living expenses.

What You’ll Do

As a teaching assistant, you’ll typically assist your professor by teaching all or part of an introductory level course in your field.  If you’re assisting with a large lecture, you may be responsible for leading a section of the students in study group sessions, while you may shoulder the burden of the teaching if the class size is smaller.  When you apply for one of these positions, it’s important to find out first what you’re expected responsibilities will be.

What Qualifications You’ll Need

Typically, to earn a position as a teaching assistant, you’ll need to have a solid academic record in your field of study.  However, just because you know your subject well doesn’t mean you’ll be a great teacher.  You need to be comfortable speaking in front of large groups of people, as well as handling questions from the undergrads you’re working with.  In addition, you need to be good at managing your time well.  Working as a teaching assistant often involves more working hours than a standard part-time job, since you’ll be expected to grade homework assignments and prepare lesson plans in addition to the hours you put in teaching.

What You’ll Make

Most universities offer generous benefits packages for their teaching assistants.  In the best programs, you’ll receive a full scholarship for your tuition, a teaching stipend, free room and board, and full health benefits, although the specifics of your compensation package may vary.  Some schools offer all these benefits, while others provide just a few.  In some cases, you may be expected to join a union of teaching assistants that will negotiate future benefits contracts.

How You’ll Benefit

Besides covering a significant portion of your graduate school expenses, working as a teaching assistant holds a number of other benefits.  You’ll hone your public speaking skills and learn how to work with different types of people.  Taking on these responsibilities can be tremendously beneficial if you plan to work as a college professor in the future.  You’ll also benefit from working closely with a professor in your field of study, which may lead to valuable professional connections and recommendations.

The bottom line is, working as a teaching assistant can be a great way to gain experience in your field and to challenge yourself and your ability to work with others.  In addition, you’ll likely be eligible for a better package of benefits than you’ll find flipping burgers or manning the counter at the college bookstore.  Plus, if you can find a position that offers full tuition scholarships for teaching assistants, you may be able to graduate free of student loan debt, giving you a much stronger financial start when you finish your education.

Your Chosen Career

For some people, the decision of whether to pursue a Master’s degree or a Ph.D. is pretty straightforward.  In business, for instance, the gold standard of advanced education is an MBA – the degree you’ll need to work in the field.  Conversely, if you plan to work as a college professor, you’ll need a Ph.D. degree to be considered for most positions.

However, for many careers, the distinction isn’t so clear.  If you plan to work as a marine biologist, you’ll likely be able to find work whether you hold a Master’s degree or a Ph.D.  The same goes for those in the engineering industry.  You may be able to command a higher salary or earn a more prestigious position with a Ph.D., but you’ll have to balance these rewards with the amount of money and time you’ll put into pursuing this degree.

Your Financial Situation

Unless you’re one of the lucky few to have received grant funding to pursue your Ph.D., your financial situation may determine which degree path you follow.  If you’re financing all or part of your advanced education with student loan money, you’ll need to analyze whether your potential earnings will enable you to pay off your student loan debt.

Graduate school can cost as much as $40,000/year, depending on a number of different factors including whether or not you attend an Ivy League program or choose to go to school in state.  If you pursue a Ph.D. and wind up with $100,000 in student loans, you can expect to pay $1,150/month when your loans enter repayment.  If the entry-level positions in your field pay only $30,000/year, these student loan payments will represent more than half of your monthly take-home pay.

The Time Commitment

Pursuing a Ph.D. is not a path to be taken lightly.  If you’re on the fence, thinking, “It sure would be nice to have a Ph.D.,” consider starting out with a Master’s degree.  Most Ph.D. programs take at least seven years to complete, during which time you’ll be intensely focused on your particular subject of interest.  If you aren’t sure that you’re willing to commit to this length of time, look for programs that allow you to complete a Master’s degree as part of your Ph.D. path so that you can leave the program early if you change your mind.

Your Area of Interest

Finally, if you aren’t yet decided on which degree is best for you, consider this – as a Ph.D. candidate, your entire life will revolve around a single topic.  For example, you don’t pursue a Ph.D. in microbiology; you focus on a specific sub-topic, like the commercial applications of methanotrophic bacteria.  You’ll be expected to conduct research on your topic and publish the results of your research in professional publications.  If you aren’t 100% committed to such a detailed course of study, a Ph.D. program may not be the path for you.

On Campus

First, if you’re attending grad school in a new city, living on campus will help your meet people more quickly by providing you with a built-in community of new friends.  Walking down the hall to meet someone is a lot easier than going door-to-door in your new neighborhood.  You’ll also find that on campus housing is less complicated – you won’t need to worry about setting up utilities and most dorms offer convenient dining options that come included in your room and board bill.

If you’re interested in on campus housing, check to see what specific options your college or university offers.  Some institutions offer separate graduate student dorms or townhouse-style living arrangements that resemble off campus alternatives.  However, consider your options carefully if your school doesn’t separate graduate dorms from their undergraduate counterparts.  As a grad student, you’ll be working harder than ever – there will be nights you need to work late without being distracted by constant partying or loud music.

Off Campus

Despite the benefits of living on campus, most graduate students choose to find off campus housing in the areas surrounding campus.  Living off campus gives you more freedom than you’ll find in the dorms.  You can come and go as you please without worrying about building lock down hours and missing keycards.  In addition, very few dorms include the full kitchens that you’ll find in off campus housing, so you won’t be limited to microwave Easy Mac or hot plate popcorn.  If you like to cook or need the flexibility of preparing meals outside of limited dorm cafeteria hours, off campus housing may be for you.

Off campus housing also gives you flexibility in terms of who you want to live with.  If you’re attending the same college where you earned your Bachelor’s degree, you may already have a core group of friends you want to live with.  Dorms may restrict you to living in pairs or groups of three or four, while off campus housing options are available for ten to fifteen students or more.  Depending on your landlord, you may also have more flexibility to customize your space with paint and decorations than you will in the dorms.

If you do plan to live off campus, choose your rental unit with care.  Don’t ever sign a lease without touring the unit, and when you do tour it, check carefully for signs of damage or structural instability.  Your landlord may charge you for existing damage to the property if you don’t specifically note it on your lease.  Also be sure that you understand every provision of your lease before you sign.  If something looks funny to you, check with the Tenant’s Resource Center or a lawyer in your area to find out if it’s legit.

Applying to Medical School

The process of applying to medical school is different than what you’ll go through applying to most graduate programs.  Instead of taking the GRE, you’ll take the MCAT standardized exam which tests your mastery of the hard sciences, in addition to your critical thinking and writing skills.  And because of the competitiveness of top medical schools, your score on the MCAT does more than just give admissions officers an idea of your academic abilities.  If you don’t score within a particular range, you may not even be considered at some institutions.

You’ll also find that a greater focus is placed on your undergraduate transcript when you apply to medical school than would be in any other field.  Top medical schools expect their applicants to have followed a pre-med program with a heavy emphasis on the physical and biological sciences.  Even if your school doesn’t offer a formal pre-med program, your academic advisors should be able to help you devise a plan that includes the science courses that medical schools will be looking for.

What to Expect

Medical school programs typically last four years, the first two of which consist of classroom education in common diseases and diagnoses.  You’ll study harder than you ever have before as you attempt to process the thousands of different symptoms you’ll be expected to recognize as a working doctor.  You’ll also need to familiarize yourself with the most commonly used medications and the standard treatment programs for most illnesses and injuries.

After your first two years, you’ll move into another two years of clinical rotations that take you through the different specialties available in a hospital setting.  For example, you may spend a few months working in an OB-GYN ward, before shifting to trauma medicine and then on to oncology.  These rotations are designed to give you on-the-job experience that will help you decide which specialty to pursue, but be warned – you’ll be working longer hours than ever while you try to keep up with your continuing education.

The Next Stages

Once you complete your medical school program, you’ll move on to an internship and residency in your chosen specialty that will give you the complete training you need to work in the field.  In these post-graduate years, you’ll also be expected to take a greater hand in patient care.  As an intern, you’ll be assigned to specific patients for whom you may administer medication and complete basic medical procedures.  In addition, you’ll be expected to complete charts and paperwork related to admissions and discharges.

As a resident, you’ll be given a greater level of autonomy in patient care.  Although you’ll still be under the supervision of an attending physician, you may be responsible for deciding the course of a patient’s care and performing more complex procedures.  Depending on your specialty, you’ll spend anywhere from 2-9 years as a resident.  Upon completion of your residency, you’ll need to pass a board certification exam in order to begin practicing as a licensed doctor.

Field of Study

As an undergrad, you’re expected to switch your major several times and explore interesting classes that you didn’t have access to in high school.  Grad school – on the other hand – is much more career-focused.  Consequently, if you plan to become a marine biologist, you’ll want to find a graduate school that has a strong program in your area of expertise.  It doesn’t make sense to attend a school that’s known for its public policy program if you specialize in deep sea invertebrate life.

How can you tell if a potential school is a strong contender?  First, check the rankings.  Groups like the US News & World Report and The Princeton Review often rank programs according to many different factors, including graduate employment rates and the caliber of the professors on staff.  You can also research the top researchers and professionals in your field to determine which programs are strong.  If 90% of the brokers at a top financial firm attended the Wharton School in Pennsylvania, you may want to consider the program for yourself.

Location

Your age and family situation will also play a large role in where you’re able to attend graduate school.  If you’re entering grad school immediately after earning your undergrad degree, you may not be tied down by young children or a spouse’s career.  On the other hand, if you’ve been out of school for a few years and are established in a particular geographic area, you may need to look for options in your field.  You may also want to consider programs that offer flexible course scheduling, accelerated programs or online courses that will fit into your lifestyle.

Cost

When it comes to the cost of your grad school education, the one factor that will have the biggest impact on your tuition bill is whether you’re considered an in-state or out-of-state student.  You can save thousands and thousands of dollars by going to school in the state you live in, instead of pursuing a program in another state.

However, if you’re determined to attend a great program in another state, you’ve got a few options to keep your student loan debt at a minimum.  The first is to apply and see if you qualify for any scholarships or grants.  Some colleges offer financial aid programs that pay the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition – check to see if your chosen school offers this type of award.

Also, if you’re willing to delay entering grad school for a year, you may be able to move to the area in advance, establish residency and then enter the school at the discounted rate.  Of course, a few caveats come with this approach.  First, don’t try this if you aren’t absolutely sure you’ll get into the program.  Waiting a year only to find out that you’ve been denied admission to the program won’t do you any good.  And double check the residency requirements for your potential program – some require more than a year of being in the area or won’t extend residency privileges to students who’ve moved to the area specifically to pursue an education.

Grad schools all ask for different subjects for their admissions essays, including everything from, “Tell us why you want to attend this university,” to “Share a moment of personal growth from your life.”  The most important thing you can do – regardless of the topic – is to clearly answer the question at hand.  You won’t earn any points for talking about all the volunteer hours you’ve logged if the essay question asks about the person who’s been most influential in your life.  Of course there are ways to relate the two, but make sure your essay answers the original question.

What to talk about?

Maybe you haven’t taken year-long backpacking trip around the world or raised enough money to build a new school in South Africa – that doesn’t mean you don’t have anything worthwhile to write in your essay.  Of course, you shouldn’t lie about your experiences to sound more interesting – just try to find a meaningful event from your past that fits with the theme of the essay question.  If you’re asked to talk about your volunteer experiences, a well-written essay on an afternoon spent working in a local soup kitchen can be just as effective as one that discusses the year you spent chained to a tree in protest of deforestation.

Relate it back to the college

The admissions officers reading your essay want to know how you’ll fit in to the campus community, so try to relate your response back to some special characteristic about the college.  If there’s a professor you’re interested in working with, talk about your passion for the field and how you plan to contribute to his or her research.  Or if the school offers a special volunteer or internship program, express your interest in participating and how the program would help you advance your career goals.

Triple check your grammar and spelling

It should go without saying that there should be no grammatical errors or spelling mistakes on your grad school application – although you’d be surprised how many sub-par essays are turned in.  As soon as you’re happy with your admissions essay, print out three copies and give them to trusted friends and family members to review.  It’s easier to catch mistakes in print than it is on the computer screen, and you’ll find that a few extra sets of eyes will catch errors that you’ve missed.

If you’re absolutely stuck on your admissions essay, check to see if your undergrad college has a writing assistance program.  More schools offer these than you might think and the advice they can offer in the essay writing process can be incredibly helpful.

Exam Basics

The GRE covers four major skills – verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking and analytical writing.  Like your undergrad admissions exams, you’ll find math problems, word association questions, logic puzzles and writing samples on the GRE.  However, one major difference is that the exam is given year-round on the computer – no tiny bubbles to fill out or worrying about making stray marks in the margins.  Currently, you’ll pay $140 to take the exam, unless you register late or need to switch your testing date at the last minute.

Preparing for the Exam

Given the emphasis that many grad schools place on high GRE scores, it’s in your best interest to start preparing early.  Most students take the GRE in their senior years to apply for grad school in the following fall, so it’s best to start studying for the exam in your junior year.  The more time you give yourself to prepare, the better off you’ll be on exam day.

But where to start?  It may seem as if you’re being constantly bombarded with advertisements for GRE prep courses or study guides, but how do you know which product is right for you?  First, look at your study habits.  Do you do better studying on your own, or do you need the guidance of a teacher to stay on track?  You’ll also want to consider how much time you have left to prepare for the exam.  The preparation methods you should use if you’re a year out from the exam date will be very different than the options you’ll choose if you have only a few weeks to study.

If you do well on your own, consider starting with the GRE prep books found online and in your local bookstores.  These texts will lay out a study schedule and provide you with test taking strategies and practice exams.  Whatever you do, don’t neglect the practice exams!  Making flash cards and studying different question types is helpful, but you’ll also need to practice how you’ll manage your time during the actual test.  Preparing with practice exams will also help you combat any test-day anxiety you may experience.

If you’re the type who needs an occasional kick in the pants to stay motivated, look into the GRE prep courses offered by Kaplan and The Princeton Review.  These courses are classroom-based – just like a regular college class, you’ll attend regular sessions where you learn the best ways to tackle different types of questions.  You’ll also take timed practice exams that simulate what you’ll experience on the exam day.  Many students find these courses to be extremely helpful, but beware – the average price-tag for these classes is in the $1,000-$2,000 range.

If traditional courses are out of your budget, but you’d still like a little support in your GRE preparations, consider forming your own GRE study group.  Ask around your program to see if there are any other students who are preparing to take the GRE.  If they’re interested, sit down and plan a schedule of when you’ll meet and what topics you’ll cover.  You may even find that your college or department organizes informal study sessions to help students prepare for the GRE.

Your desired career requires an advanced degree

If you’re planning a career in medicine, law or business, you’re going to need an advanced degree to work in the field.  However, there are many other career paths that require graduate degrees.  If you’re interested in working public policy or as a high-level government official, you’ll likely need a degree in public policy in order to advance in your field.  The same goes for careers in veterinary medicine and advanced research – think marine biology or education policy – as well as for students interested in eventually working as college professors.

A quick note about working as a professor.  It’s easy to romanticize the life of a college professor – working with bright young minds, traveling the world to pursue your research interests and enjoying a few months off in the summer.  However, if you’re serious about this career path, you’ll need a Ph.D. degree to teach at four-year colleges and universities.  Make sure you’re prepared for the challenges associated with this field – constant pressure to publish and the dual demands of teaching and researching – before you sign up for a 7+ year Ph.D. program.

Your career field is extremely competitive

Maybe you don’t really need a graduate degree to find a job in your field, but you know that the competition for available positions will be fierce.  In this case, it may make sense to enter grad school immediately after your bachelor’s degree.  The field of engineering is a great example of this trend.  Sure, you’ll be able to find a job with just a four-year degree, but you’ll face stiff competition and you may not be considered for some of the better positions available.  And since many Master’s degrees in engineering require only one year, it’s definitely something to consider.

You aren’t sure yet what type of job you’re looking for

You’ve probably already guessed what I’m going to say about this one.  If you don’t know what you want to do at the end of your undergrad career, grad school is not an acceptable alternative!  Burying yourself in the comforting bosom of academia is tempting, but jumping into a grad school program you aren’t 100% committed to won’t help you make up your mind.  Instead, apply for jobs that interest you and get some real world experience in the field.  You can always go back to grad school if you eventually decide on a career that requires an advanced degree.

Grad school programs aren’t for everyone – they’ll be harder than your undergrad courses and may take several years and several thousands of dollars to complete.  Spend time exploring all your different post-grad options before you commit to further education.