Graduate school teaches the organizational, management, research and writing skills that upper-level management requires. These universal skills, combined specialized knowledge, make graduate degree holders highly sought by business and government. 

Career counselors suggest that students consider graduate school as part of their overall career planning. I would suggest that students begin with an assessment of their goals, says William Carson Sr., assistant vice president for enrollment management and former director of the Center for Career Development at Morgan State University. Graduate school should be part of a continuum of their career plans.  

Choosing a graduate program 

Selecting a graduate program that best matches your goals is a matter of research and comparative shopping. A good graduate program should provide you with the credentials and skills to enable you to advance in your chosen field. 

Consider your interests what truly excites you. Do you enjoy words, and are you drawn to logic and theoretical constructs? If so, the law and law school might be for you. If you have people skills, a facility for numbers, enjoy the world of finance, and have a good natural business sense, a school of management (business) school might be in order. How about your communications capabilities both written and verbal? Might an advanced degree from a school of journalism or an advanced degree in communications support those interests and a career in the communications industry? How about those of you with aesthetic sensibilities? Would an advanced degree in the fine arts be the ticket? Or how about arts administration and museum or art gallery curatorial work as interests to develop through additional academic work and training? 

And for the scientific and technical minded, continuing your education and research in the discipline(s) can certainly enhance your marketability in research and development, governmental assignments and work with think tanks for policy groups. There are clearly a variety of routes you can follow to reach your personal and professional goals with additional academic credentials in hand. 

After deciding to pursue graduate work, the next step is to focus on selecting a (specific) graduate/professional school program, deciding on the academic disciplines to study that will be in concert with meeting your objectives. Consider the type of degree(s) and the schools that are offering programs of interest to you. 

Most graduate schools require applicants to pass an entrance exam in a specific area of study. These tests are described in the accompanying article. 

Types of degrees include the more traditional master's degrees (MA, Master of Arts; M.Ed, Master of Education; M.S., Master of Science; M.E., Master of Engineering) or doctoral degree (PhD), offered by graduate schools of the Arts and Sciences. They cover a wide range of academic disciplines and professional schools. Other popular degrees include the Master of Business Administration (MBA) for business school, Juris Doctor, or Doctor of Laws (JD) for law school and Doctor of Medicine (MD) for medical school. Growing in popularity are the Master of Public Administration (MPA) and Master of Public Policy (MPP) for schools of public policy, (MIA) Master of International Affairs for schools of international affairs and international studies, and the (MPH) Master of Public Health for schools of public health and health care administration. Find out all you can about schools and degree programs representing your interest areas. Gather data on their admissions policies and procedures. 

Graduate school degrees in the Arts and Sciences (MA and Ph.D.) traditionally have been sought by those wishing to work in an academic setting, especially those who want to teach at the college level, conduct research and publish scholarly works. In the classical sense, the central purpose for pursuing degrees at the graduate level in the Arts and Sciences is to center one's attention on intellectual pursuits grasping and understanding the process of learning while delving deeply into a subject matter of interest through research efforts, writing and teaching. 

Beyond teaching and scholarly pursuits, however, numerous master's and doctoral degree holders take positions in areas outside of academe, from business to government to the not-for-profit sectors. There is a critical need in today's global marketplace for professionals with strengths in these areas such skills are highly valued and are in great demand. 

Finding a graduate school 

Many excellent resources are available in your school library or career center to help you conduct your research. 

Barrons, the Princeton Review, and large publications list what schools have programs, says Kimberly Reed, dean of the University of North Carolina Law School. It is the best place to start because it gives you a universe of graduate programs. If you know generally what you are looking for, it is the best place.  

Reference books include The Peterson Guides to Graduate School Study and The Graduate School Guide. Both of these are comprehensive volumes that list all areas of study, but there are other references that focus on specific disciplines. For those interested in schools of management, there is The Official Guide to MBA Programs, published by the Graduate Management Admission Council. For law schools, some excellent resources are: The Official Guide to U.S. Law Schools, Master the LSAT (contains an actual LSAT exam), The Directory of Law School Joint Degree Programs, and Pre-Law Companion: What Law School Grads Wish They Knew Before They Started. For those interested in studying abroad, consider the Council on International Education Exchange, based in New York City. The Council is a source of information about international schools and programs covering all disciplines in countries throughout the world. 

Another source of information is the Internet. School web sites can be a solid source of information about their programs, admissions requirements and procedures including required tests, application deadline dates and financial aid information. Full school course catalogues are also posted on the Internet. 

A decidedly low-tech but invaluable resource for graduate school information is your college faculty. They attended graduate school and often have valuable contacts who can help you. 

Once you've narrowed your choices down to several universities, it's time to start comparing the programs. Evaluate each program and school by its strengths in your field of interest, the strength of the specific department, and the strength and quality of the faculty. Program specialties, school resources (including the library), and, of course, program cost and school location are also considerations. 

There is a tendency to look at graduate schools and see if they offer tuition assistance or a stipend. That is often not the best policy, Carson says. If the school doesn't have a good reputation, or if they have a reputation for chewing up and spitting out African Americans, then you don't want to go there.  

Ultimately, the best way to determine if a school is for you is to see the school yourself, especially when it comes to law schools, Reed says. 

After you put together a list, call or write for a catalog and financial aid information. Look at the list and narrow it down to five, 10, 15 schools and arrange visits, says Reed. When you visit, see if it feels good. Your intuition tells if it feels good. 

The best way is a combination of going to visit the schools and talking to present students and recent graduates. Sit in classes and see if it fits your specialty. I would not depend upon ranking, but only use it as a general source of information, Reed says. 

Getting in the door 

Once you've decided on a school, it's time to fill out an application. The basic application for graduate school has several parts: the introductory essay, the application itself and the attached letters of recommendation. Each one serves a specific purpose; each one should be treated seriously. 
 

The essay is your opportunity to explain to the university's graduate admissions committee why you believe your credentials, interests and experiences make you a strong candidate for graduate school. But more than that, it demonstrates your writing and organizational skills. (Keep in mind that a committee of deans and faculty members will evaluate it.) 

Another point to consider: if there is no provision for an admission interview, this will be your best shot to sell yourself. Take full advantage of this opportunity to discuss in detail why graduate or professional school study is an important personal and professional goal. List in detail your skills and accomplishments. Describe what you intend to do with the degree. While your career plans need not be set in stone, you should be able to articulate your motivations and aspirations. 

Take the time to do a good job on this. Think about what you want to say and write several drafts. Have a professor or your career counselor critique what you've written. Rewrite and refine as much as time permits. This means starting early. The summer before senior year is not too early to start working on your essay. 

There are a number of books that can help you. How to Write a Winning Personal Statement for Graduate and Professional School by Richard J. Stelzer, and Graduate Admissions Essays What Works, What Doesn't, and Why by Donald Asher, are two excellent resources that can be helpful as you prepare your essays. 

Letters of recommendation are vital. They support your statements in your application and provide information on your strengths and talents. The letters can be from university faculty or administrators, employers or community leaders. You can help them write a good letter by discussing your goals with him or her. Providing each person with a written statement of your career goals and a copy of your resume so that he/she will have materials to refer to while writing is also a good idea. 

In applying for the next school year, try to have most, if not all, applications completed and ready to mail by Christmas vacation. 

The end of your junior year is the best time to start applying. All applications should be in by December, Reed says. Be prepared to fill out applications at the beginning of your senior year.  

Application deadlines vary, from mid-to-late November through March. Some schools, particularly professional schools, follow a rolling admission procedure (several application dates per year, beginning in November) and make decisions on whom to admit during each application round. 

Formal interviews are quite often a part of the application process. (If the school you are applying to does not require an interview, you may be able to arrange one.) It's nothing to be afraid of -in fact, it can be a real advantage. It gives you the opportunity to present your case in person and to show off your oral skills. It also provides an excellent opportunity for you to visit campuses, attend select classes if you'd like, and meet with graduate students. 

It's a good idea to arrange for campus visitations the day before your formal interviews take place. Once the interview is scheduled, prepare to discuss the issues you addressed in your essays. Also be ready to ask questions about the program and school. 

Paying for school 

Graduate school is not cheap, but it can be made affordable. Financial aid resources run the gamut from loans and scholarships to fellowships and assistantships or work-study. 

A work study job is worth it and helps you get allies in the administration of the school, Reed says. There are a lot of loans and organizations that offer scholarships. Churches, fraternities and sororities, and community organizations all offer scholarships. 

The Law School Admissions Council in Newton, Pennsylvania offers general information on available scholarships. For example, the Young America Foundation in Reston, Virginia, Rotary clubs, many local bar and medical associations, and veteran organizations have scholarship funds, Reed added. 

Apply for fellowships as early as possible. Major fellowship programs, such as the Rhodes, Fulbright and Marshall fellowships, have early fall application deadlines and rather detailed application procedures. Keep in mind that there are more students applying for fellowships than there are fellowships, so competition is fierce. 

Sometimes financial aid for graduate school can be found in the workplace, Carson says. Many companies support graduate education for their employees, especially if it's job-related. The amount of support varies with the company and can range from flexible work hours to full tuition reimbursement. 

There are directories that list companies that have educational assistance programs, Carson says. Some will support all or part of the cost if the degree is work related, Carson says. 

Another approach to financing your graduate education is to consider state schools. Tuition is lower than at private institutions and program quality is often just as good. Another option is to attend school part-time. That way you can continue to work full-time and draw a paycheck. Alternatively, you might choose to supplement your education funds with part-time work in order to pursue full-time study. 

There are a number of books that list sources of financial support. Among the books available are The Annual Register of Grants Support and The Grants Register of Scholarships, Fellowships, and Loans. Garrett Park Press puts out a series of publications on financing your graduate education: Financial Aid for Minorities. This is another six-volume set covering: Health Fields, Journalism/ Mass Communications, Engineering and Sci-ence, Education, Business and Law and General. Of course, the schools to which you will be applying also have their own financial aid resources that can help to augment your financial package. Be sure to tap as many financial resources as possible. 

Also see The Black Colle-gian's Guide to Graduate and Profes-sional School Fellowships (http:// www.black-collegian.com). 

Joint Degree Programs 

Students need not be limited to one area of study. Many schools offer attractive joint degree programs that enable students to develop a broad career base. Unlike their undergraduate counterparts, however, graduate joint degree programs tend to have more complicated acceptance procedures. 

Usually in applying to joint degree programs, students must meet separate and independent admissions requirements applying to each school and being accepted to both, says James Milligan, dean of the Columbia University School of Law. Upon acceptance to both programs, joint degree candidacy is granted. It takes four to five years to complete the two programs together.  

The variety and combinations of dual degrees are seemingly endless and depend upon the university as to which programs can be combined. Among the interesting dual degree programs available are the joint MBA/MA (Inter-national Studies) offered by the Wharton School and the Lauder Institute of the University of Pennsylvania, Boston University's JD/MBA programs with concentrations in health care management and mass communications, and Columbia University's joint JD/MA in journalism. To find schools that offer joint degrees, check into the Peterson Guides to Graduate Schools. 

When to go 

One of the biggest questions facing students is not whether they should attend graduate school but when they should attend graduate school. If graduate or professional school is an integral part of your career path you want to be a doctor, lawyer or social worker, for example then you will want to go im-mediately after commencement, unless your chosen program requires experience before you enter. 

The top business schools require one-to-two years experience before admission, Carson says. The Harvard Business School is one of them.  

There are two reasons to not enter graduate school immediately after graduation: if the graduate school requires experience before admission; and if the student determines he doesn't have the experience to compete with his fellow students. I don't recommend a wait when neither of these conditions exists, Carson adds. 

Many students, however, do choose to wait a year or two before entering graduate school. There are a number of good reasons cited, but it usually comes down to one of these: 

• They want to take time to rest and think about how or if graduate school fits into their plans.

• They want to work and pay off undergraduate debts before taking on the expense of graduate school.

Carson does not support the second reason. 

It's economics. They get out, they go into debt. Then they can't afford to go back to graduate school and they get caught, he contends. 

Final points 

Ultimately, the choice is yours to make. Graduate school is an expensive, time-consuming endeavor. It is not something to be entered into half-heartedly. But if, after you've conducted your research and explored the issues, you accept the challenge of pursuing a graduate degree, you will be glad you did. The personal and professional rewards can be substantial. Just remember the following points: 

• A good graduate program provides you with the credentials and skills needed for advancement in your career.

• Dual degree programs grant added marketability, but are time-consuming and can have complicated admission procedures.

• Reference books listing graduate and professional programs are available in the library or the career center. Other sources include university web sites and your own college faculty.

• Reputation and quality of the program, department and faculty determine the value of a graduate program. The best way to determine if a program offers what you want is to visit the school, sit in on a couple of classes, and talk to the faculty and students.

• Applications are important. Start filling out applications at the end of your junior year and have them in the mail by Christmas break. Do your best on all parts.

• Financial aid is available for graduate school in the form of loans, scholarships, fellowships, and assistantships or work-study. Other methods of reducing costs include attending state universities, attending school part-time and working full-time, attending school full-time and working part-time, and working for a company that has an educational assistance program.