Dr. Susan A. Adams, LPC, NCC

(662) 846-4360

Email: sadams@dsu.deltast.edu

 

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About

Graduate School But Didn't Know What to Ask

 

Adams, S. A. (2001)

(Manuscript submitted for publication)
The following list of questions are comprehensive in nature and cover areas from program requirements to faculty expectations.  These questions can serve as a guide for assessing potential programs, and may be modified according to the student’s needs and information required. 
1 What can I do with the degree?
2 How many students graduate each year?  How long does it take to complete the doctoral degree?
3 How many graduates are working in their chosen professional field and what types of work do they do?
4 What are the strengths and weaknesses of the program to prepare me for what I want to do beyond graduation?
5 What are licensure requirements beyond the course work and how difficult will it be to meet those requirements?  How fluid will my education be if I move across state lines?
6 What is the pass/fail rate for the licensure examination? For the NBCC certification?
7 What does this program have to offer me that others would not or could not?
8 What types of financial assistantships are available?  How competitive are they?
9 How many people are accepted to the program each year?
10 Is there rolling admission?
11 What are the requirements/deadlines for the application process?
12 What are the salary ranges for graduates of this program?
13 What type of personal involvement in professional organizations does the faculty have to offer? (Note: This will be important in networking and reputation of the program!)
14 What are my personal expectations for my graduate program?  How well does this program measure up to those expectations?
15 Do the faculty have current clinical experience?  If so, what types?  If not, why not?
16 Does the school have a clinic to see clients?  What types of equipment is available? (e.g., state-of-the art video equipment)  How much variation is there in the client load?  How much of the clinical experience must be done in this facility?  Can I get my LPC hours here?
17 How accessible is the faculty both in and out of class?  In a formal and informal setting?  How long have the faculty been at this university?  How current are they in their areas of special interest?
18 Is a mentoring relationship with the faculty possible?  If so, how is it initiated?  Do all graduate students have a faculty mentor?
19 Is a mentoring relationship encouraged with adavanced-level graduate students?  If so, how is it initiated?  Do all incoming students have an advanced student mentor?
20 What is the size of the classes?  How competitive are they?
21 Are teaching positions available?  If so, will you be the teacher-of-record or merely assisting a faculty member?
22 How are comprehensive examinations conducted?  What type of support/preparation is available?  What is the pass/fail rate?  What is the retake procedure?
23 How does the dissertation process work?  How is the committee chosen?  Who chooses your topic?  What kind of support can be reasonable expected?  How extensive is the proposal process versus the defense?
24 Are publications encouraged?  If so, how?
25 Are you encouraged to do professional presentations at local, state, and national meetings either alone or with seasoned faculty members?  If so, how?  Do faculty create a variety of professional opportunities for their current students?
26 What role does membership in professional organizations play in your education?
27 Are classes available on a regular basis?  (Examine the prior three years of coursework. If core classes are not frequently offered graduation expectations may be seriously compromised.)
28 What are the requirements for core classes?  Electives?  How much of your prior graduate education will be accepted?
29 What specializations are you interested in?  Does this program have the potential to encourage that interest?
30 How good is the library and what is the availability of potential resources you may require (e.g., inter-library loans, requested articles not available in-house)?
31 What is the academic environment like as you wander through the halls and listen?  Is the environment scholarly, but friendly or do you feel like a diploma mill where numbers are more important than quality of experiences?
32 What are the economic possibilities for the program?  Assistantships? Scholarships? Financial aid? Tuition waiver?
33 What is the social environment of both the program and the community?  If you are relocating, this can be particularly critical.
34 How much research activity is required during the educational process?  Clinical experiences?
35 What do you have to offer to this program that makes you a unique candidate?  (e.g., publications, clinical experiences, professional activities)
36 What are your expectations for graduation and are they realistic for this program?