What do I look for in a Graduate Program?
If you decide to pursue a graduate degree, research schools and programs to identify those fitting parameters you best match and prefer such as:
- Program requirements, length, cost, and financial assistance available
- Location, including city and institution size, cost of living, housing, and cultural and social opportunities
- Format, including on campus, online, or a combination, and accelerated programs
- Accreditation as appropriate to your field
Graduate School Comparison and Tracking Worksheet
A system such as an Excel worksheet that will organize your efforts and help you save time looking for information. Items to track may include:
- School and Program
- Link to Program
- Location
- Department Contact
- Cost of Program
- Assistantships Available
- Fellowships Available
- Application Materials Required
- Application Deadline
- Key Pros and Cons
How Do I Pay for Graduate School?
Assistantships may pay tuition, fees, books, and/or a stipend for living expenses. Selections are made by program faculty and/or staff. Assistantship responsibilities typically include:
- Teaching Assistants (TA) support and instruct undergraduate courses.
- Research Assistants (RA) assist faculty with specific research projects.
- Graduate Assistants (GA) may or may not be related to their academic program.
Student Loan Programs offer long-term, lower interest loans which typically require repayment after you complete the program. You must be admitted to a program to receive such loans. Fellowships may provide funding for studies, research, or international experience. Applications, selection process, requirements, and activities vary. Consult the UNL Office of Fellowships, unl.edu/fellowships, for more information and assistance on the application process.