Choosing the Right Program for Me
Hello, hello! This is Maddie Key, Associate Director in the Office of Graduate Admissions here at Tufts. I’m excited to highlight some important elements to consider as you are selecting your graduate program. In the next few paragraphs, I will suggest ways to connect, gather information, and lean on your community to set yourself up for success in choosing the best program for you.
1. Consider your goals
Graduate school is a big investment of time and money, but it is also an incredible tool to give you the knowledge, credentials, and experience to move forward or pivot in your career. In considering your goals, it is important to evaluate the kind of degree you need. Will the skills learned through a certificate suffice, or should you apply to a full master’s program? To start this process, find someone on LinkedIn who has your ideal role and work backwards. What degree(s) do they have? What steps are necessary to get to this place? Before applying to graduate school, you want to make sure this decision will appropriately support you and your goals.
2. Connect with an admissions counselor
When I was applying to grad school, I seriously underestimated the support of admissions counselors. What are the roles of grad admissions counselors? These folks are often available to connect through Zoom or over the phone, or even to just answer questions and chat through email. Admissions counselors have a lot of knowledge not just about your prospective program, but also about the admissions process, the larger university’s goals and identity, and opportunities for graduate students. There is no right or wrong time to connect with an admissions counselor during this process, but it is best to come to a 1:1 counselor meeting with some clear questions or goals. Let the counselor know what you’re hoping will result from the meeting and lean into this great support available to you!
3. Attend information sessions
As you are refining the list of schools you plan to apply to, attend as many information sessions you find relevant and helpful. Most graduate schools host a variety of events, from an Application 101 webinar to graduate student panels. These events are a great opportunity to learn a lot of information about the school and program and provide the chance to ask your questions. Many of these sessions are recorded and are available asynchronously. Reach out to the admissions office to see what recordings are available.
4. Talk to a student in the program
Who knows the program better than someone currently in it? Many academic programs provide the opportunity for prospective students to connect with current students in the program. Through these conversations, you’ll have the opportunity to get a closer look into academics, student life, and other anecdotal information you wouldn’t have otherwise heard about. The Tufts Office of Graduate Admissions has a team of Graduate Student Representatives – GSRs – who are current master’s students available to meet with prospective and applying students 1:1. Reach out to our office to get connected with a student: gradadmissions@tufts.edu.
5. Weigh your options
When you receive an admit letter, it is an amazing feeling. But shortly after that, there may be a period of questioning what now? It’s likely that you’ve applied to a few other programs. When you’re deciding between admission offers, this is when your values and personal interests in the program are very important. Look granularly at the programs: what courses do they offer? Do they give you an option to do a thesis? Is that a requirement that you want to fulfill? Are you choosing the program with the best financial offer? How does the scholarship compare to the overall cost of tuition? There are dozens additional questions that can stem from this personal analysis, so give yourself time to sit and think through everything. This is when you can tap back into the support of a graduate admissions counselor, who can help talk you through your decision.
Applying for graduate school is not a step you need to take alone. Connect with us and leverage the support of our graduate admissions team to help you choose the best graduate program for you.