Exploring Programs
Exploring the infinite number of programs out there can be overwhelming.
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To make it a little easier, we outlined a scope process that starts broadly and narrows to help you identify the programs that are best for you.
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Let's get started, shall we?
STEP ONE
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Think about what you're interested in (major, research, etc.) and search for what schools have what you're looking for.
Example: Kiara's Google search was "bioengineering global health"
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STEP TWO
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Now that you have some schools, find out more about them, location, how the program is run, how many years, etc.
STEP TWO
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After you have identified multiple schools, learn more about them. Explore details such as location, curriculum, how many years it takes students to graduate, etc.
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STEP TWO
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STEP THREE
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Check out some rankings! They're not everything, but they can help ensure that you apply to a range of schools.
STEP FOUR
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Take note of each school's application process, which can vary widely from school to school. For instance, some may only accept students who have committed to a faculty member prior to even starting graduate school. This will be discussed further in the "faculty" tab.
Helpful links
Kat's Take
With so many amazing programs out there, choosing which schools to apply to was a struggle for me. I had an always-changing Excel spreadsheet that helped me keep track of potential universities, research, and application fees. I found my biggest resource in my undergraduate PI, who inspired me to apply to programs that I didn't initially believe I was cut out for. I strongly suggest seeking out help from your mentors and role models in your field to help with suggestions. After all, they know both you and the field.
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Also--money. Graduate applications are expensive. We will cover more of this in "Funding", but I recommend connecting with programs early on about application fee waivers.
Kiara's Take
This was an ongoing process for me throughout September to early November. I was mainly looking on my own, since there weren't too many people I knew that were in the field I wanted to go into. I would discover programs randomly or realize a school wasn't exactly the best fit throughout that time. The GRE emailing service helped me find programs as well as the ENGINE name exchange for engineering majors (your school should send you an email about that if they're a part of the exchange). Making sure that you apply to a variety of schools is definitely important, because there could be a variety of reasons as to why you do not get accepted since it is not solely based on numbers. I applied to 14 schools, with fee waivers making that number possible. Looking back, some schools I applied to weren't the best fit research-wise, but I'm glad I applied anyway.
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