About Graduate School

Master's Program Rankings?

2009-11-06T05:25:02Z

Every year several publications post lists of "top" graduate schools, but nearly all refer to doctoral programs. A reader asks, "I see national rankings for doctoral programs, but not master's. What do I do?"

Master's Program Rankings? originally appeared on About.com Graduate School on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 05:25:02.

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Scientist to Life Coach?

2009-11-04T06:02:56Z

A graduate degree opens many doors. Some graduates learn that their chosen field isn't for them - or that a career in academia isn't what they really want. In this article from the Chronicle of Higher Education Susan Basalla May interviews a biologist who made a major career change and became a life coach. Also see: Redefining Success

Scientist to Life Coach? originally appeared on About.com Graduate School on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 06:02:56.

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Should I Ask My Therapist for a Recommendation Letter?

2009-11-02T06:01:19Z

A reader asks:

I am about 3 years out of school and am applying to Clinical Psychology PhD programs. I'm not asking any of my old professors because it's been too long and I don't think they can write helpful letters. Instead I'm asking an employer and a colleague. My question is whether I should get a recommendation letter from my therapist. She would be able to speak very favorably of me. What should I do?

A letter from a therapist is not a good idea. It will not help your application. Recommendation letters speak to the student's academic competence. Effective letters are written by professionals who have worked with you in an academic capacity. Helpful letters discuss specific experiences and competencies that support an applicant's preparation for the academic and professional tasks entailed in graduate study. The graduate admissions committee will deem a letter from your therapist as inappropriate as it's based on a therapeutic relationship rather than an academic relationship. I can't stress enough the importance of an effective recommendation letter for admission to any graduate program. Clinical psychology, however, is one of the most competitive fields for graduate admissions, so the bar is set higher.

So what do you do? An effective referee can talk about your skills. A letter from your employer and colleague may be appropriate if they detail your capacities for academic work (and include concrete examples as support). You may think that your professors don't remember you (and they might not), but profs are used to hearing from graduates with requests for recommendation letters. Try.

Should I Ask My Therapist for a Recommendation Letter? originally appeared on About.com Graduate School on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 06:01:19.

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Graduate Students Skills Translate to Non-Academic Careers

2009-10-30T05:00:51Z

Wondering what you can do with your graduate degree? Start by considering the skills that graduate study develops.

Graduate Students Skills Translate to Non-Academic Careers originally appeared on About.com Graduate School on Friday, October 30th, 2009 at 05:00:51.

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Where Are the Grad Student Parents?

2009-10-28T06:20:12Z

Mary Ann Mason asks this question and offers some tentative answers in this article that appeared in the Chronicle of Higher Education. Also see: Gender, Work, Stress, and Health

Where Are the Grad Student Parents? originally appeared on About.com Graduate School on Wednesday, October 28th, 2009 at 06:20:12.

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Get Experience to Get a Good Letter

2009-10-26T17:17:16Z

If you think graduate school might be in your future, seek experience to ensure that you're covered should you decide to apply to graduate school. Faculty write letters of recommendation based on how well they know you and their views of your competence. It takes time to build a good reputation and relationship that underlies a helpful letter of recommendation. Seek some of these experiences now. If you decide that grad school isn't for you, these experiences will have broadened your horizons. Plus, most jobs require applicants to submit references - so developing solid student-faculty relationships is always a good idea

Get Experience to Get a Good Letter originally appeared on About.com Graduate School on Monday, October 26th, 2009 at 17:17:16.

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Is It Ever Too Late...

2009-10-23T05:49:05Z

to apply to graduate school? A reader asks, and the answer is no, with three considerations.

Is It Ever Too Late... originally appeared on About.com Graduate School on Friday, October 23rd, 2009 at 05:49:05.

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APA Style Headaches

2009-10-21T05:38:12Z

Social science students are all too familiar with the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. Every decade or so the American Psychological Association (APA) releases a new edition, with updated rules for citing reference material and formatting papers. The newest, 6th edition, came out this summer. I've experienced three editions in my career as student and professor. All changes, in my skeptical view, were arbitrary and unnecessary save the addition of rules for citing electronic material (clearly not needed 20 years ago when I began my journey as APA Style Guru, but essential now).

The new edition, however, is error-laden and has received a great deal of criticism and negative press. Some users have called for refunds, but APA instead insists that users should check the APA Style website for corrections. New students often find APA Style challenging, but even professors are frustrated and confused by the inconsistencies and errors throughout the new edition of the Manual.

From the APA Style site, here are 4 pages of corrections and 4 corrected sample student papers. Check for additional updates on this page (the link to corrections appears at the very bottom of the page).

APA Style Headaches originally appeared on About.com Graduate School on Wednesday, October 21st, 2009 at 05:38:12.

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Dos and Don�ts of Attending Conferences

2009-10-19T17:19:51Z

If you plan on a career in academia, you'll likely attend a great many academic conferences. Intended to provide professionals a means of gathering to disseminate their research, conferences are an important resource for professional development, advancement, and networking. Inside Higher Ed's Eszter Hargittai discusses how to take advantage of academic conferences.

Dos and Don�ts of Attending Conferences originally appeared on About.com Graduate School on Monday, October 19th, 2009 at 17:19:51.

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Prepare Your CV

2009-10-16T06:23:03Z

The curriculum vitae is simply a resume -- a long and detailed resume that points out all of your relevant academic experiences. Many students and faculty dread writing a CV, but it's not that hard once you sit down and begin. Take a look at the components of the CV.

Prepare Your CV originally appeared on About.com Graduate School on Friday, October 16th, 2009 at 06:23:03.

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