Start exploring graduate school options with this quick-start guide to help you weigh your options and advance your education.
So you’ve completed your undergraduate degree, or maybe you’re almost done. Graduate school is on your mind, and you’re asking the important questions:
- Is graduate school right for me?
- How does it compare to the workload of my undergraduate degree?
- Can I work while I’m in grad school?
- How can I pay for my graduate degree?
As you consider moving forward, take time to assess your academic interests, passions and career aspirations, your preparedness for academic rigor, your ability to balance competing priorities, and your financial plan for funding grad school.
A graduate degree can be your ticket into a career change or the promotion you’ve wanted for a long time. It might enable you to practice your profession in a clinical setting or give you the credentials you need for admission into a doctoral program.
Good news: if you’re here, you’ve already started your journey at step one, which is research.
Step 1: Research Your Options
With several aspects to consider, you may want to keep a list to help you compare your options. We’ve created a basic checklist to help you start your research:
- Learning Format
You’ll likely find online, hybrid, and in-person learning formats for your area of study. Consider which one may be best for your goals, schedule, and learning preferences. Graduate coursework tends to go deeper than it does broad in contrast with undergraduate work. You’ll focus more on independent research and writing. While the course load is lighter than undergraduate classes, each graduate course will ask more of you.
- Career Alignment
Start with your personal and professional goals: how will your top choices help you reach them? Look for course descriptions where you can learn more about the program’s required coursework. Will you need to complete an internship in this program? Will you have hands-on projects or build a portfolio of real-world work? Will the program meet any requirements for certification that you need? Does it require a thesis or research project? Some programs may also offer specializations that can help you dive deeper into your area of interest. Most graduate students continue to work, with 77% of ODU online students working 20 or more hours per week.
- Length of the Program
Most graduate programs take about two years to complete, depending on the pace you choose. If you’re still in an undergraduate program, you may also be able to consider a linked program. Linked programs, like those at Old Dominion University, allow undergraduate students to start earning credit toward a graduate degree at the same institution before they finish the bachelor’s program. These fast-track options can help you earn your master’s degree faster while giving you a taste of graduate-level coursework.
ODU offers linked programs in cybersecurity, data science, business administration, dental hygiene, nursing, and more. Explore the linked programs at ODU, and talk to your advisor to discuss eligibility and application deadlines.
- Program-Specific Financial Aid
Does the institution offer any scholarship opportunities for students in this program? You may also be able to find financial aid opportunities outside of your institution from community foundations, employer assistance, or military benefits. Contact the financial aid office at each school you’re considering to get personalized support as you explore your options.
Step 2: Start Applying
Once you’ve decided on your top choices, it’s time to submit your applications ahead of the admission deadlines. Every institution will have different deadlines, so mark those dates ahead of time, especially if you’re applying to multiple schools.
You can also check some tasks off your to-do list early, like gathering required materials or putting financial aid deadlines on your calendar. Some of the most common application components are:
- Letters of recommendation
- Transcripts from other universities you’ve attended
- A personal essay
- Your résumé or CV
- Official test scores (GRE, GMAT, etc.)—though check closely as a growing number of programs are dropping this requirement
- An application fee (Note: There is no application fee at ODU for ODU graduates.)
Step 3: Accept Your Offer and Enroll
Review times may vary by program and institution, but you can often track your status through your admissions portal. You may receive acceptance letters from multiple institutions. Congratulations! Once you are accepted, you’ll receive information about enrolling in classes, connecting with your department’s advising staff, and any steps you need to take to start your student journey.
The ODUGlobal Difference
Behind every ODU student is a team dedicated to their success. When you’re ready to engage in transformative learning, we fuel your drive with enrollment counseling, advising, and a low-friction process that makes reaching for your goals possible right now. Explore accelerated online graduate programs in engineering, technology, healthcare, business and more through ODUGlobal.
