داستان پذیرش گرفتن از آمریکا - از ابتدا تا انتها

[Mehrad]

Salaam,

I’ve compiled what I’ve already posted to the group and also my answers to the various questions I received in my mailbox and gathered them in a single file for easy reference (Back from Nicosia.zip). I’ve tried to provide a helpful reference (that is by no means complete or comprehensive). There may be some typos or grammatical errors that have slipped my eyes. I apologize for them if any. Making this file completely perfect and error-free (if possible at all) would have taken me too much time and I wanted to make this available as soon as possible. Hope it helps.

I’ve also attached some files (Apply.zip and Visaprep.zip) that I’ve found useful and informative. While appreciating their unknown authors for their useful advice and info, I assume no responsibility for whatever is written in there. What’s in there (and also in my file) is only for your information. Rules change all the time. It’s your responsibility to research what you read or hear anywhere independently and make sure through the US government websites that what you read or hear is valid and current.

If you find anything that is not mentioned here or is not already answered by other ApplyAbroad members or need clarification on what I’ve written, you may ask me . However, it may take some time till you get a reply. In the meantime, putting this file on ApplyAbroad forum would mean that I’ll no longer be available on the forum or group nor for personal inquiries or consultations (at least in the near future). I’m sorry but I’m getting more and more buried under my studies and research here and can hardly spend time on Emails.

Wish you all an enjoyable stay and successful study in the US (or wherever).

Mehrad

و ما توفيقي الا بالله عليه توكلت و اليه انيب . In God we trust

پی‌ نوشت:
من سر فرصت این فایل Back from Nicosia رو بازنگری و ویرایش می‌کنم با اطلاعات جدید. فقط یک نکته بود که به نظر من ضرورت داشت زودتر روشن کنم: از نظر دولت قبرس ورود و خروج از طریق فرودگاه ارجان در شمال نیکوزیا (یا هر نقطه دیگر در بخش ترک نشین شمال قبرس) غیر قانونی هست و در صورت مشاهده پلیس مهاجرت قبرس عواقب سنگین از جمله بازداشت به دنبال خواهد داشت. هنگام تهیه بلیت برای مصاحبه یا پیک آپ ویزا حتما به این نکته توجه داشته باشید. در این پست توضیح بیشتر نوشتم.

http://www.applyabroad.org/forum/sho...l=1#post784393

[AppUSA]

با سلام خدمت همه دوستان عزیز

من خودم هم این جا و هم جاهای دیگر داستان های مختلفی از مراحل و نحوه پذیرش گرفتن از امریکا را هم خواندم و هم به بقیه گفتم ولی این داستانی که در زیر می آید (به صورت فایل PDF قرار دادم) را وقتی در یک فروم خارجی خواندم بسیار دقیق تر در عین خلاصه بودن یافتم. با تعییراتی مناسب حال آن را در این جا می آورم و امیدوارم مفید واقع شود ...
بسیار خوشحال می شوم که دوستان در تکمیل آن پیشهادات خود را اضافه کنند. مثلا فکر می کنم بند ۳۷ و ۴۱ را می توان کاملتر کرد ....
با آرزوی موفقیت برای همه
(به صورت یک فایل PDF ضمیمه شده است)

[aminp30]

خيلي ممنون از زحمتي كه كشيدين. در مورد نكات مطرح شده، چند مورد جهت بهبود اين راهنما خدمتتون عرض ميكنم:
1- در نكته 22، من نديدم تا حالا دانشگاهي ايميل ياهو يا جيميل اساتيد رو قبول كنن و به نظر هم منطقي نمياد. بايد حتما ايميل رسمي موسسه يا دانشگاه باشه.
2- موارد 38 تا 40 رو بهتره ترتيبشون رو تغيير بدين. چون اول بايد قرار مصاحبه رو گذاشت بعد هزينه بررسي فايل و SEVIS Fee رو پرداخت كرد.
3- به نظرم بخش مدارك خيلي خوب توضيح داده شده ولي بخش ويزا به توضيح و بندهاي بيشتري نياز داره.

با تشكر مجدد از شما دوست عزيز. من بهتون امتياز هم دادم و از دوستان ديگه هم ميخوام اگه مطالب رو مفيد دين، حتما اين كار رو بكنن.

[she]

Hi guys:

I read some articles in a good English website about applying to graduate schools as follows. Hope them be useful for others!

http://www.gradschools.com/Article/g...antage/98.html
Gain an Advantage for Getting Into Grad School


















Just because you are still in college doesn't mean it's too early to begin thinking about how to get into graduate school. In fact, if you plan to make that academic leap after graduation, it's probably wise to start preparing now. Actually, it's probably mandatory to start right now.
So let's go:
Make the Most of Your Undergrad Years
Obviously, maintaining a high grade point average is one way to make yourself an attractive candidate to graduate schools. You can also spend time preparing for entrance exams such as the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) that most grad schools require you to take before you apply. Several programs and courses are available which allow you to become familiar with the nature of the exams and to get some practice. And a handful of books focus on preparing you for the GRE tests. In addition, if you believe you could use some help with writing, you can find workshops and courses that can help get you ready to write your graduate application essay.
If you have decided you would like to attend graduate school to further pursue the field you are studying as an undergrad, enroll in high-level courses. It's great to already know where your passions and interests lie. You can also investigate which undergraduate courses are required by most graduate programs in your field. If you get those courses out of the way as an undergrad, you will escape having to take them as a graduate student.
Graduate schools require at least three letters of recommendation, so it is an excellent idea to begin seeking out the professors who can write them for you. Make connections with a few of your professors outside of the classroom. Face-to-face encounters are much better than simply e-mailing a professor to request a letter of recommendation. Your professors and advisors at the undergraduate level can help give you a clearer idea of what graduate schools expect from students.
Even if you plan to attend graduate school at the institution where you are an undergrad, you should consult a graduate advisor for tips on the graduate school application process. To get into graduate school, you will be required to write a statement of purpose. It would be a good idea for you to begin work on that statement as an undergrad.
Assessing your financial situation is another important way to prepare for graduate school while still an undergrad. Request financial aid information from the graduate programs you are interested in and try to begin saving money if possible. You can also investigate what scholarships and loans are available for you to obtain in order to pay for grad school, which can often be expensive.
The sooner you begin your planning for getting into graduate school, the better. The application process comes with several deadlines, so it is beneficial to establish a timeline even when you are still an undergraduate. Different graduate schools have different deadlines, so watch those dates carefully. Take a look at the applications and deadline dates from a few of the graduate programs that interest you and map out your steps.
One of the best ways to gain an advantage for getting into graduate school is somehow to find work in the field you plan to study. If you can find a paying job, even if just part-time, that is ideal. However, you can also find volunteer opportunities and internships available to students at the undergraduate level. Working in the field will expose you to what you will study as a graduate student and is a great way to begin networking.
Research
Research is the cornerstone of graduate education. Getting involved in research at the undergraduate level gives students a huge advantage when it comes to getting into graduate school. When students apply for a grad program, the institution will evaluate whether or not the student will excel at research. Having worked in research before applying to grad school will impress grad programs and increase your chances of being accepted.
The hands-on, practical experience that research provides students is valuable for learning analytical and statistical skills that will be utilized in graduate school. Grad schools will use your prior research experience as an indication of your future success in their programs. You may be able to locate a professor who is seeking a research assistant during your undergraduate studies. If you cannot, try community organizations that are willing to have students conduct research for them. If you cannot find a professor or organization, you should attempt a research project on your own.
If you are fortunate enough to find a professor with whom you can conduct research, you may find that you can receive some kind of academic credit for your involvement. Researching with a professor can expose you to conferences, meetings and professional organizations within your study field. This gives you a chance to network and work in a group, as well as to possibly have your research published. You will find a growing number of undergraduate journals - many of them online--to which you can submit your research projects.
Conducting research as an undergraduate enables you to become active in your department, and can sometimes even lead to a scholarship. The outcome or quality of the product of your research as an undergraduate is less important than the experience itself. If your research project turns out to be a success, that's great, but it's not necessary. The important thing is that you have begun your scholarly career.
Getting into graduate school can be a challenge, but you can find many ways to increase your chances of being accepted, even before you receive your undergraduate degree. Making connections, engaging in research and early planning can go a long way in preparing you for the next step in your education. If you are motivated and know what you hope to study in grad school, there is no limit to what you can do to become a promising candidate for acceptance.

[she]

http://www.gradschools.com/Article/w...-study/96.html

What to Study: Choices, Choices, Choices There are a number of clear choices that you will have to deal with when it comes to making your decisions about graduate school. These are the issues everyone faces, from choosing where exactly you would like to go to school, to how you will pay for it, to whether or not you'll enroll as a full-time student.
But then there are other choices you will have to make that may not be so obvious as that first grouping, but that nonetheless will shape your graduate experience while you're in school, and play a major role in how you pursue a career once you graduate. And while these issues get less attention than some others, they are critical indeed, and still require serious thought.
Like, for example, what to study.
It may seem obvious, but the truth is that the exact degree you pursue will have the single most transformative effect on your professional life after you graduate. And yet, no one talks all that much about the confusion and unexpected issues that tend to manifest themselves when it comes to dealing with this most pressing decision.
Here, then, is a brief rundown of what your options may be, how to look at them clearly and in the context of good decision-making and how they might affect your career goals upon graduation.
Choices, Choices, Choices...
Unlike college, where the academic programs tends to be set up in such a way that you can experience as many different kinds of classes as possible while still majoring in one specific area, graduate school is much more about honing and developing your skills in the one area that interests you most academically, intellectually, and, one assumes, professionally. In college, after all, most programs begin generally and only after several semesters begin to narrow the focus into more specific areas. There are core requirements that all students must pass, and regardless of what your major is, some experience in the arts, sciences, social studies, mathematics and the like will have been gained well before graduation. In this way, college students gain not only depth in the area that interests them most, but also breadth in terms of the areas studied outside the scope of their major.
Graduate school, however, is much more like a trade-school program in that its goal is to produce students who possess not only a deep-level understanding of their specific area, but, indeed, an expertise.
So what does this mean in practical terms? Simply this: You should make sure that whatever specific area of study in which you choose to pursue a degree is perfectly suited to both your strengths and your goals. Because the effect of this most basic decision will continue to be felt for years to come, long after you graduate.
No Visine Necessary
The key to making a good decision is to ensure that you consider all your options with clear vision, with eyes wide open and with all those other sight-related clichés in mind. Essentially, don't go into a field of study without having considered all your options first, and without having looked carefully at how that decision will affect your professional life after graduation.
For example, there are some fields that have undeniable glamour, and the risk with them is that students may be lured to them for reasons that have little to do with reality. There are, for example, people who find the field of theoretical physics appealing. And, indeed, there is truly a romance to the work of these deeply esoteric thinkers: Exploring theories that deal with the deepest secrets of our universe, solving problems whose answers have eluded human understanding for as long as we've considered the issues themselves, working in highly charged intellectual environments with some of the finest minds in the world. Romantic, no?
But to go into theoretical physics simply based on those overly romanticized and, quite frankly, rather simplistic-ideas would be foolish. For while it certainly is a fascinating field, the reality is that true understanding will likely elude you for your entire career (some of today's finest minds are set to the issue of string theory, and yet, despite all their efforts, despite the work of thousands of individuals spread across the globe, no final, definitive, incontrovertible proof of their work has yet manifested itself...and there is the very good chance that it never will). Then there is the issue of all that solitary work, those hours spent trying to solve the difficult problems of mathematics that arise. And the classes you will have to teach in order to maintain your tenured position at the university that employs you, if, in fact, that's the route you choose.
The point is this: Make sure you understand all the ramifications of choosing a specific area of study before settling on it. It may be just the right one for you, of course...just make sure you look at all 360-degrees of it before making the final decision.
Like Those International Soccer Stars
The whole point of pursuing a graduate education is to reach your goals. And while they may run the gamut from the professional to the intellectual to the academic to the personal, you have to be comfortable with your decisions, and cognizant of the ramifications of them.
And while there are innumerable ways in which your graduate school decisions can affect your professional life, there are some that are more important than others.

• Make sure you'll be happy in the work environment typical of the field in which you'd like to work
• Understand what the financial compensation will be, and how much work and time will be required of you in order to succeed
• Be aware of the geographical centers-of-gravity of your field, and ask yourself if you're willing to move in order to make the most of your professional life

There are no broad-spectrum right or wrong answers to these issues. In fact, the best solutions to any of these problems are profoundly personal. And as long as you understand that, and as along as you're able to make decisions wisely, you'll be just fine.
In fact, you'll be more than fine. You'll be successful.

[she]

How to Find a Graduate Program That's Right For You
There are so many graduate school choices out there that it can be overwhelming. Before you feel as if it's too much, consider these ways of narrowing down your requirements for an optimal graduate program.
Specialization:
Of course, the area of specialization will ultimately depend on your own interests, but you may also want to take into account the job market. Some specialties will experience growth in the future, whereas those that are currently growing may be expected to become stagnant. For example, if you're interested in getting a Ph.D. in Microbiology, the job market in academia is projected to be relatively stable, whereas the job market in biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industry tends to be brighter. You might be better prepared to choose an area of Microbiology that is more marketable to the biotechnology industry.
Ranking:
For some students, a program's ranking is important. They feel that the rank of a program is an indication of the quality of education they will receive and the level of resources that will be available to them, and, in most cases, this is probably true. However, students should be aware of what qualities are used to establish a program's ranking and how those qualities are evaluated. For example, a highly-ranked program may indeed have greater resources available, but may also have a higher cost which may make it more difficult to attend, or a higher student-to-faculty ratio which may actually detract from the educational experience.
Location:
One criterion that may play an important role in the decision of which graduate program is right for you may simply come down to geography; is the program located in an area of the state or country in which you want to live. Be aware that you will be living in this area for an average of 2-6 years or more, depending on if you are seeking a Master's degree or Ph.D. You should be comfortable with the location. Some students may, for personal reasons, want to be relatively near their family. Others have a spouse who is more likely to be employed in certain areas of the country. Some students may have allergies, asthma or other health issues which may become aggravated in some areas of the country. A good way to get an idea of what the location of a university is like is to take a look at the web site of the city or community in which the university is located. The city web site will often have links to lo cal weather reports, employment opportunities, community businesses, health care facilities, etc. You may also want to consider additional accredited online graduate school options listed on our sister website at eLearners.com which allow you to pursue your degree without moving at all.
The People:
Recently, I was speaking with a noted professor in the Department of Biology at Texas A&M University, and he made a comment that is especially applicable here: "You may get your degree from a university, but you get your education from your adviser." When you earn your graduate degree, you will be entering a professional community that is influenced by tradition and reputation. Your major professor will be your means of entry into this community, and his or her reputation will influence yours. Also, it is important to remember that, as with the location of the program, you will be working very closely with your major professor for an average of 2-6 years or more. It is important that your personalities and professional ideas are compatible. The best way to get an idea of the students and faculty you will be working with is to talk to people. Talk to faculty at your current college or university to find out the reputation of the professor who will be your advisor. If at all possible, contact some of his or her current graduate students and ask them what he or she is really like to work for. Most importantly, talk to your potential advisor to get an idea of their personality and professional ideas.
The Cost:
The level of financial support you receive often depends on the degree you are seeking. There tends to be less financial support for a Master's degree than for a Ph.D. At the doctoral level, it is not uncommon for a university to waive tuition requirements (referred to in the business as tuition remission). In addition to not paying tuition, many doctoral students receive some form of grant, stipend or assistantship. Whether a university is public or private, if tuition remission is available, the likelihood of assistantships (either teaching or research), etc. are all issues to be considered when examining the cost of attending a particular program.
The Quality of Life:
Graduate school will be a way of life for the next 2-6 years. If you are married, however, your decisions will also affect your spouse and/or children. Some of the things to consider include the availability of child care, employment opportunities for spouses, health insurance, the local cost of living and the weather, culture, and local forms of recreation (is this a place where you can have some fun?). If possible, try to visit the area and spend some time in the community. Talk to some of the "locals" and find out what's going on in the area. Talk to some of the business owners to find out what the job market is like for the area, to get an idea of the local cost of living and housing and to find out what people do for fun. When you apply to a university or program, quite often they will be more than happy to send you information from the local Chamber of Commerce concerning health care, child care, cost of living expenses and recreation opportunities.
This is in no way an exhaustive list of things to consider, and students will give a higher priority to those issues that are important to them. However, these are a few of the things to consider that may help narrow the field of choices. The decision is never easy; you will be investing 2-6 years or more of your life and you do not want to make a mistake. By beginning your search early in your undergraduate career, you will have time to objectively evaluate each program, closely examine the details of each and ultimately reach a decision that is best for you.


http://www.gradschools.com/Article/r...rogram/87.html

[she]

Master's or Ph.D.: Which Is Right For You





















Just as there are many reasons people choose to go to graduate school, there are many options from which they may choose. If you have selected a field of study, you may be wondering whether you should get a master's degree or a doctoral degree. Here are some things to consider.
TIME
A graduate degree requires a significant investment of time.
Master's degrees require less time than doctoral degrees. Typically a full time student can acquire a master's degree in about two years. A Ph.D. usually requires at least five to six years and many people take seven to nine years.
MONEY
The old adage 'time = money' was never so true as with graduate school.
Since a Ph.D. takes longer to complete, it also requires more money. (Not that a master's degree is cheap either!) The flip side to this is that a Ph.D. may yield a higher salary upon completion and is therefore worth the increased cost long term.
With both degrees, school costs money (tuition, fees, books, etc.). In addition, however, there is also a significant loss of money if the student is not working or is earning low wages through assistantships or part time employment. Many people find they must either live a Spartan lifestyle for many years, or they find themselves strapped with huge loans when they graduate.
COMMITMENT
Graduate school takes work.
Most people are not going to argue with this. However, many students who drifted through college are surprised to find that graduate school requires a much larger commitment in terms of work and intellectual energy. Graduate schools are frequently very competitive. Students who are taking a full course load as well as teaching often find themselves overwhelmed. And of course, the many years of school required for a Ph.D. require perseverance on a scale above and beyond what undergraduates must contemplate. The difference between college and graduate school lies in the ability of the student to focus on their field and the subjects and areas that most interest them. While graduate school requires more work, most students find the work enjoyable since it involves an area in which they are very interested.
PROS AND CONS
So we know that graduate school requires time, money and commitment for both a master's and a Ph.D. So which should you choose?
If all you want is a raise, a Ph.D. is probably not the road to choose. If you love learning in and of itself, and you want to pursue a career as a professor then the work required for a Ph.D. may be worthwhile. Master's degrees tend to be more career-oriented while Ph.D.'s tend to be more research oriented since they are preparing people for research-oriented careers.
A master's degree has some definite benefits in that it requires less time and money than a doctoral degree, but will still set you apart from the crowd who only have a bachelor's. The master's degree can allow specialization within a field. The degree works especially well for those who have been working in a particular career for some time and hope to advance or gain new knowledge that will qualify them for a different position within their field.
A master's degree can also be an excellent method of changing careers. For those who have been in the workforce and found that their career or undergraduate education are not leading them in the direction they would like to go, a master's degree can allow them to start in a different direction by gaining new knowledge and skills.
However, there are things that a master's degree simply cannot do. For those who want to become professors, a Ph.D. is practically mandatory. Even for those few who can find teaching positions with only a master's, most schools want to see progress toward a Ph.D.
A Ph.D. can also be helpful outside the world of academia in today's increasingly competitive job market. Businesses are searching for extremely qualified people who have demonstrated intelligence, perseverance and the ability to learn. A Ph.D. can open doors.
One of the less tangible, though very important, aspects of getting a Ph.D. consists in the ideal of creating knowledge. Ph.D. work requires original research that contributes new information to the field of study. People interested in pursuing a Ph.D. should love their studies and be excited by the prospect of meaningful contribution.
There is always the option of earning your graduate degree though distance learning. You may browse our section of accredited online graduate degrees. You may also visit our sister website at eLearners.com to search for additional
masters programs online and doctorate degrees online
Still not sure what to do?
To summarize, a Ph.D. may be worth it if you truly love your field, enjoy your studies, and want the benefits and prestige associated with the doctoral degree. If you are simply looking to change fields or gain a promotion or do not think you could maintain interest through at least five to six years of school, then a master's is probably a better choice.
However, it is worth noting that you may be able to get more financial aid for a Ph.D. Since it takes longer, schools recognize that those trying to acquire their Ph.D.'s need more assistance than those who only want a master's degree. This adds an interesting dimension to the application process for two reasons.
First, if you think you may want a Ph.D. but still are not sure, it is probably better to apply to the doctoral program. There is no penalty for changing your mind later and deciding to leave with a master's degree, and it increases you chances of getting financial aid.
The second consideration is that the Ph.D. program can be more competitive, and applying to it rather than the master's degree program might decrease your chances of admission. If you are denied entrance to the Ph.D. program, you could ask them to then consider you for the master's degree program, but that may not be allowed.


http://www.gradschools.com/Article/m...or-phd/89.html

[she]

If the School Fits...

There is something to be said for that perfect fit, much like that of Cinderella's glass slipper. When choosing a graduate program, you may have to "try on" a few before you settle on the right one for you.
The "F" Bomb
That's right - Finances. Financial questions are the biggest explosions of light at the end of a great fireworks show. For many people, those grand explosions are the main reason they gathered to see fireworks in the first place. Consequently, the financial situation is often the biggest factor in a student's ultimate grad school decision.
If a school's tuition seems too much, keep in mind there is always financial aid.
The school could offer you:

• A Fellowship - the equivalent of a scholarship for undergraduate studies, only much fewer are given out a year and it is often on a merit basis, meaning you may have to compete with other students to get one. If you win the battle, however, the school may offer you health and dental insurance as well as financial help.
• Tuition remission based on a financial need. Just like when you got your undergrad degree, if your total income is too low, the school may offer you some financial assistance.
• An assistantship - work your debt off through slave labor. Or, to put it in more accurate (and more appealing) terms, get a job working for a professor. Become a teaching assistant, research assistant, or general assistant and do research, sort files, grade papers, or teach the actual class.
• There are two different types of assistantships:
• One gives you money to put toward bills, groceries, video games, and whatever else you want to buy.
• One puts your paycheck directly toward your tuition.

Don't be discouraged if your acceptance letter makes no mention of any aid. Call the school and ask. You never know what answer you may receive.
Déjá Vu
Visit the school again.
This time, you will see the school in a different light. Now you aren't worried about whether you will be accepted to this school, you are worried about whether you should accept them.
Talk to students and professors. See what they have to say about the school. Hopefully they will be happy with where they are, and if so, find out why. If they aren't, you definitely want to know that. Learn what their personal experiences have been. What they like and dislike about the place. This may seem a bit obvious, but ask questions that relate specifically to you. If you like to shop, find out if there is a good shopping district in the area. If you are into science, ask about the quality and availability of the chemistry labs. Ask if there are good movies theaters in the area. Or good restaurants. Or any details that truly matter to you. Take this time to learn the intricacies of a school that brochures can't address.
Hopefully when looking at the campuses through your new lens, one will speak to you. If you stand in front of an administrative building and swell with pride and confidence over what you are about to accomplish, that is your school.
Two Offers for the Price of One
You may still be panicking at this point. Don't. It's much better to have two or three offers than none. You may think you are in a tough position, but this is actually a terrific one. These schools want you. You hold them in the palm of your soon-to-be-extremely educated hands. Embrace that power. But don't let it go to your head. And don't rush into a decision. You have until April 15* to notify most departments that you have accepted their offer to attend their school. *That date may be different for some programs, however.
Graduate school is a big investment and there are a number of issues involved in your decision, some of which you will have to weigh more heavily than others: Financial aid versus a more appealing location, for instance. But don't make a decision based on just one issue.
Choose the school that best fits into your budget, works most with your schedule, has the nicest campus, and matches your research interests or has the best program for your needs. If no school matches your criteria perfectly, bend a little. Maybe the school is a bit too expensive but the location is so perfect and the classes are so ideal the extra cost is worth it. Or perhaps the school isn't in the best location but it's offering great financial aid.
Going back to our suit analogy, it's all about fit. The suit has to fit you completely.
Compare the money aspect to the sleeves of the suit. Making sure your sleeves fit is unquestionably important to the overall look and feel of the suit, just like making sure the cost of a grad program fits into your budget is unquestionably important in determining whether you will choose that program or not.
But everything needs to be put into perspective. Just because your sleeves fit doesn't mean the suit looks good. The pants might be too long. The skirt might be too short. The waist might be too narrow. Everything needs to fit for the look of the suit to work.
The same goes for the school of your dreams.
And if you can't find the perfect fit, if the tailor just can't seem to hem those sleeves right, you can always go back to the working world and try again next year.


http://www.gradschools.com/Article/c...school/88.html

[she]

Narrowing Down Your Grad School Options
This is the time of year when many grad school hopefuls begin their search for the perfect program. And no matter why they want to go back to school, whether it's for astrophysics or a master's in fine arts, the number of programs out there is nothing short of dizzying. Which is why it's so important to go about the process of considering all your options carefully and with a solid plan in mind. It may seem like a lot of work in the beginning, but in the long term, you'll not only make the most out of your searching, but you'll also likely end up saving time and making the best decision possible. It's worth the effort.
Know Thyself
If you want to go back to school just to get your graduate degree, you aren't the only one. While it's true that most people know what they want to go back to school for before they begin their search for the right program, there are people out there who begin their search for no other reason than the nebulous yearning they have to go back to school to earn a graduate degree in something. This is more common now than it ever has been before. For years, a bachelors degree was enough to make people stand out from the crowd; now, however, a bachelors is often seen merely as a stepping stone along a much longer path that includes graduate school. In other words, as more and more people go to college, a graduate degree is increasingly necessary for professional advancement in certain fields.
If you are member of the second group, then your best bet is to simply research the possible degrees you can earn in all the field that interest you. Then compare them with the list you've made (you have made a list, right?) of all the possible careers you would be happy to go into. Beyond this, however, it's really up to you to figure out what you want to do. If, however, you are a member of the first group, then your first step should be to ask yourself the following three questions:

1. Where do I want to go to school?
2. Is there a specific aspect of a field that interests me most?
3. What degree do I want to earn?

These three questions will afford you the opportunity to begin narrowing down your options to a manageable pool. And the way in which you answer them will provide you with just the guidance you need to really start making some good decisions about your future.
Where do I want to go to school?
America is a big country, and there are graduate schools from coast to coast. So before you do anything else, you should decide how important geographical considerations are to your future plans. After all, there may be a wonderful program in California in your field, but if you're not willing to move away from the east coast, then it doesn't really pay to look into it.
This issue also forces you to deal with how serious you are about pursuing a graduate degree. After all, college was the time to dabble in a number of different areas of study. Grad school is when you focus on one specific area and make the most of your education in it. And the truth is that, in many fields, from law to medicine to academics, you may have to move to a city or town that you're not in love with in order to take the first step along the road to professional success. So if you are unwilling to move for school, then you may want to reconsider how serious you are about pursuing your goals.
Of course, sometimes it is just not possible to move terribly far away: Family obligations, professional necessities, all kinds of factors can affect your ability to move. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with this. Either way, if you can narrow down your geographic preferences, then you will have a much smaller pool of schools form which to choose. And that, after all, is the goal of this process.
Is there a specific aspect of the field that interests me most?
Graduate students, unlike undergrads, generally become experts in a specific aspect of their chosen field. So though you may earn a degree in political science, for example, you will have focused on and become an expert in a very specific aspect of that field, whether it's the political history of the Middle East or the post-Soviet economic development of the Baltic Republics, or something entirely different.
Generally, prospective grad students have an idea of what aspect of the field they would like to pursue before they enroll in their program. Of course, the specific nature of what they will study is often a bit fuzzy, but they still have an idea that they want to study, say, the Middle East or post-Soviet Russia. So even knowing what general aspect of the field you would like to study will make it much easier when the time comes to find a program that offers - and hopefully excels in - the area that interests you most.
Many schools, for example, offer graduate degrees in political science, but only a few of them specialize in the specific aspects of the field that interest you most. Compile a comprehensive list of schools that fit the academic bill (as well as the geographic one), and proceed from there.
What degree do I want to earn?
There are two basic graduate degrees you can pursue outside of attending professional schools for medicine and law and the like: A masters and a doctorate. Make sure you know which one is right for you before you start looking for a program.
A masters degree is often more practical in nature than a doctorate. Many teachers, for example, earn masters degrees, and as a result, they are better practitioners in the classroom. They gain an understanding of the philosophy behind certain aspects of teaching, and they work to become as accomplished as possible in the area of classroom performance.
A doctorate, on the other hand, is often much more intellectual in nature, and also more specific. It affords the students the opportunity to delve to the deepest levels of research and study in a specific aspect of the field. So while it may not make you a better teacher in the classroom per se, it will nonetheless afford you the opportunity to truly understand the nature of teaching, and of the various educational and philosophical underpinnings of it.
These two degrees also result in different career opportunities, and depending on the field in which you ultimately want to work, one may be better suited than another. A masters in business administration, for example, is all you ever really need in the corporate world, and a doctorate may be considered superfluous. But in order to work at the highest levels of the field of astrophysics, you may need to possess a doctorate in order to succeed.
Really, the process of narrowing down your options is not as painful as it may initially seem. And all the effort you put into it in the beginning will result in a much easier time in the end. Essentially, it's front-loading all the hardest work. That way, in the end, you'll be able to concentrate on what's really important: Applying to the best, most appropriate school you can find.


http://www.gradschools.com/Article/n...g-down/91.html

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Decision Time








The lead-up to sending out all those applications in the fall is nothing short of crazy. Deadlines approach and threaten to pass you by. The edits of the scholarly essay and personal statement seem like they'll never end. And making sure the folks at the GRE or LSAT or MCAT or at any of the other members of the Alphabet Soup Brigade have sent out your standardized test scores to the right schools seemed, for a time, to have become a full-time job. And then, one day, it was over: Paperwork was mailed off and applications were electronically filed and then, after all that craziness, there was nothing left to do but wait. And wait. And wait.
Even waiting to hear if you'd gotten in was a passive process. Nerve-wracking, sure, but passive nonetheless. Which is why the decision process often comes as such a shock to so many students. Because after all the down-time of waiting for the envelope to arrive bearing the (hopefully) good news, it's difficult to get yourself off your proverbial laurels and into the work-mode again.
The difference this time, of course, is that the work is of a much more internal variety: This time around, this time of year, its all about deciding what to do next, regardless of whether you've received a big good-news-bearing envelope or a small rejection-filled one.
Congratulations! Now What?
There's a wonderful old movie called The Candidate in which Robert Redford plays a politically-unseasoned candidate for the United States Senate who works harder and suffers more than he ever has before in his quest for a coveted seat in that most august of American political bodies. Finally, after surviving all the proverbial slings and arrows of his outrageous political fortune, he wins the race, ostensibly accomplishing everything he's worked so hard for. The kicker is the last line of the film: Redford, sitting there away from all the hoopla of his victory celebration, uttering one of the most famous lines in American political cinema: "What do we do now?"
This, of course, is not unlike the recently-accepted graduate student: You've worked as hard as you ever have before, you've jumped through all the hoops the various admissions committees have set before you, and you've achieved your goals. So now what?
Now it's decision time. How do you want to spend the next three to eight years of your life. Maybe you've been accepted to all the programs to which you applied. Perhaps you only got into one of them. Either way, you have some choices to make, and how you make them will likely affect the direction of the rest of your life.
The key is not to let the pressure get to you. Remember, if you weren't serious about this in the first place, then you wouldn't have applied all those many months ago. Many people, in fact, look at the application process itself as a bit of a weeding-out process. If it was too easy to apply, then everyone would do it - even those who weren't sure they wanted to go to grad school in the first place. So the fact that you made it through that should set your mind at ease that you really do want to pursue your education further.
At this point, then, you need to weigh your options: If you've only been accepted to one program, then your choice is limited to only whether you do or do not want to go back to school. If you do, great: Start looking for scholarships and housing and all that other good stuff. If you don't, post your résumé on Monster.com and hope for the best.
If, however, you've been accepted by two or more programs, you'll now need to weigh the relative merits of each one. Is one more prestigious than the other? Is that prestige based on the real value of the education it provides or merely on the reputation of the school? Is the location appealing and convenient? What kind of money is the school willing to throw your way? What is the workload like for grad students? Are there many courses you'll have to teach? Is the school itself well-connected in the field in which you'd eventually like to work?
The issues you'll need to consider are endless. And the truth is that no one will be able to tell you exactly what your own personal set of determining factors should be. For unlike choosing a college, grad school comes at a time of most people's lives when they have other people to consider when making their decision: Are you married or in a long-term relationship? If you have kids, are the schools in the city or town where your potential grad school is located any good?
Just breathe. At this point in the game, the best thing you can do is to be as organized as possible. Create a list of what's important to you and carefully, methodically chart your course. This is a decision that should be based on carefully considered criteria, not emotion. The last thing you want to do, after all, is make the wrong choice because you were hasty and didn't think it all through.
Finally, trust yourself. If you're bright enough to have been accepted to a grad school in the first place, then you're certainly capable of making the right decision about which one to attend. You can do this. Just trust yourself to decide correctly and jump on in. You'll be fine.
The Little Envelope, or What Now?
What do you do if you didn't get in? After all the effort of completing the applications, it is normal to suffer a bit when the little envelopes start pouring in. But it's not the end of the world. It may feel like it, of course, but you will pull through in the end.
You basically have two choices if you're not accepted to any of the programs to which you've applied. First, you can decide to have another go at it next fall. If you truly want to go to grad school-and ostensibly you do, or you wouldn't have gone through all that effort in the first place-then you'll find a way to get in. Start studying earlier for the standardized tests required by programs in your field, rewrite your scholarly essay and personal statement, and reconsider the kind of schools you plan on applying to. Remember, you can only do it better a second time around. Consider the first round a practice run, learn from your mistakes, and do everything better next time.
Your other option, of course, is to reconsider the endeavor altogether. Because after having gone through the process and not succeeding the first time, you may genuinely choose to pursue a different angle. There is absolutely no shame in that whatsoever. Sometimes, people need to try and fail at something in order to realize that they really didn't want to do it in the first place. And grad school is far from the only means to a desired end. It is but one path. And if you truly want to pursue a goal, you will find a way to get there in the end.
But your best bet is to not make any decisions just yet. For no matter how calm you think you are, emotions are likely running high. Step back, try not to think about it for a few weeks, and then reconsider your options.
Whether you got in or didn't, you still have control of your future. Just believe in yourself, pursue your dreams either in school or not, and follow your gut and your intellect. As always, Shakespeare said it best: This above all: To thine own self be true.Trust yourself and believe in your own abilities to make the right decision. It will all work out in the end.


http://www.gradschools.com/Article/d...n-time/86.html