Graduate School Options for Eller Undergraduates
Students interested in pursuing further education after completing an undergraduate degree with the Eller College should understand the requirements to apply to various graduate programs. Early preparation is essential in graduate school planning.
Graduate School Timeline
Begin the application process no later than the summer before your senior year of college or at least a year before you plan to start graduate school.
- Work on earning a strong undergraduate GPA
- Join related organizations and clubs (ex. Pre-law fraternity)
- Attend graduate school information workshops
- Work with your academic advisor and career coach to see what major or minor selections would be beneficial
Why Attend Graduate School Immediately After College? | Why Work for a Few Years First? |
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Graduate School Resources
Why go to grad school?
Everyone has their own unique motivation for continuing their education:
- Career mobility
- Advancing your degree
- Marketing yourself
- Changing and stimulating your career
- Simply seeking knowledge
- Competitiveness in job market
- Love for the field
What type of graduate school is right for me?
Graduate School
- Master's Degree: A Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Science (MS) offers new job opportunities or advancements
- Doctorate and Research Doctorate Degrees: Doctorate degrees enables you to teach college-level courses and complete research. A PhD allows for a variety of research and development-oriented opportunities in the public or private sector.
Professional School
- Professional Master's: A Professional Master's gives skills in a particular industry, such as business, academia or engineering.
- Professional Doctorate: An MD is needed for medical practice or the JD for law
- Other Degrees: Veterinary medicine, pharmacy, optometry or dentistry, etc.
What factors should I consider in my decision making process?
- Size and location
- Fit with your particular interests, academic background and goals
- Programs' prerequisites (ex. Work experience, academic preparation, skill set, etc.)
- Selectivity of the program and acceptance rate
Where can I start my research?
More than 1,800 institutions in the United States offer graduate degrees. You can learn about these programs through:
- Program/College Websites
- News magazine ranking guides (ex. U.S. News)
- University libraries and career centers
- Faculty mentors
- College guides/books
How can I apply?
- Application deadlines and processes vary—however, most require:
- Undergraduate Transcripts
- Recommendation letters
- Personal statement
- Admissions tests
- Other specific requirements
What graduate programs does the Eller College offer?
Graduate Admissions Preparation and Application
How can I prepare for the testing component?
You will be required to take one of four main exams based on what area you wish to continue your study in:
- Law School—Law School Admission Test (LSAT)
- Business School—Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)
- Medical School—Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
- Other Programs—Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
It is highly recommended that you speak to a person in admissions for the program you wish to apply to determine which exam is required for their program and the average scores of admitted students. This information may also be found on the homepage of the department or school’s web site. Once you know this, you should begin to think about your timeline of when you will begin studying or taking a preparation course, when you will take the exam and when your exam scores will be reported for application purposes to the graduate program.