Is a Graduate Program Right for Me?

Deciding whether a graduate program is right for you can be both exciting and overwhelming. The following information can help you figure out the right match based on your personal, academic and career goals.

On this page:

Degree Options
Investigate Programs
Narrow Your List
What Do You Want to Do With Your Graduate Degree?

Before embarking on this journey, ask yourself:

Does research and discovery excite you?
Are you passionate about your field of study?
Do you want to answer questions that go beyond the classroom?

Take advantage of resources and experiences that can help you narrow down your interests:

Professors and graduate students
Internships
Volunteer experiences
Campus career center
Student organizations
Professional organizations/associations
Campus recruiters

Degree Options

Finding the right match begins with considering what degree program best meets your goals. Here is an overview of degree types.

Certificates

Offers specific skills and knowledge in a particular area, often aimed at career advancement or transition
Few months to 1 year
Typically course-based with a focus on practical skills and industry-relevant training
Generally self-funded, but some employers may offer support or reimbursement

Master’s Degrees (Academic and Professional)

Academic (e.g., MS, MA)

Provides specialized preparation in a field of study
1-2 years
Mostly course-based, some require a thesis and/or work experience/internships
Limited funding resources

Professional Master’s (e.g., MBA, MPH)

Prepares students for a particular career and is a requirement for certain jobs. For example, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) prepares students for management positions
Practice- and course-based
1-3 years

Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA)

Focuses on ecological design
Two programs offered:
- A three-year accredited program for students without prior education in landscape architecture
- A two-year option for those earning a second landscape architecture degree

Doctoral Degrees (Academic and Professional)

Academic (Doctor of Philosophy or PhD)

Highest awarded degree that offers advanced training in a subject through original research
4+ years (includes a major research project with dissertation/thesis)
Most programs offer funding packages; the student’s financial contribution is minimal

Professional (e.g, PsyD, MD, JD)

Similar to a professional master’s degree in that it prepares students for practical applications through training in the field and coursework.
Completion time varies per degree, and funding packages are limited and competitive. In most cases students who pursue a professional degree are expected to make a significant financial contribution.

Investigate Programs

Once you’ve decided what field/area and the degree you want to pursue, you have to decide which schools you want to apply to. No two graduate schools are the same.

Review the listing of U.S. universities and graduate school locators:

Explore and connect with university resources:

Research university websites.
Look at faculty profiles and their research interests.
Attend virtual or in-person events hosted by prospective universities.
Talk to friends and professors.
Check out social media (e.g., Instagram, Facebook, X).

Narrow Your List

You might discover that there are dozens of universities that offer programs and/or have research projects that align with your interests.

As you make a list of your top programs, pay close attention to:

Admissions Requirements:

GPA requirements
Test score requirements **
Cost of application
Fee waivers
Curricular requirements

** U-M's School for Environment and Sustainability no longer requires/accepts Graduate Record Exam scores

Program Consideration Factors:

Demographics and culture
Publications and research of faculty
Requirements (credits, teaching, candidacy, thesis)
Preparation/placement record
Funding
Resources and support

What Do You Want to Do With Your Graduate Degree?

Once you’ve finished graduate school, you next steps will likely lead to one of the following:

Industry
Nonprofits
Governmental agencies
Academia
National labs
Entrepreneurship

Know yourself

A good first step is to use tools such as StrengthsFinder, leadership values exercises, and research to better understand your strengths, weaknesses, values and motivations. Learn what matters most to you.

Explore your options

Conduct informational interviews, review job descriptions for all types of careers, and take advantage of professional development opportunities offered by your graduate program and university.

Make a list

Every career path has pros and cons. Listing them can help you understand how those differences might play out in your life.

For example:

Industry:

Direct application of your research into the world
Practical, hands-on approach to real-world problems
Immediate results and satisfaction
Less overhead (i.e. no teaching, no grant writing, etc.)
More controlled work hours
On average, a higher compensation package than academics

Academia:

Near-total freedom to choose problems you want to work on, aka no boss/manager
Working on long-term problems, possibly with industry-wide impact
Working with very bright colleagues and students, and being able to choose who you work with
"Flexible" work hours and flexibility when you need it, but often work during nonstandard hours
Teaching and having direct impact on lives of students
Tenure and the associated job security
Writing grant proposals

Is a Graduate Program Right for Me?

Is a Graduate Program Right for Me?

Deciding whether a graduate program is right for you can be both exciting and overwhelming. The following information can help you figure out the right match based on your personal, academic and career goals.