Metadata
Title
Explore Graduate School
Category
international
UUID
bcfcd1a7734147d4a33967c6d68b97e4
Source URL
https://careernetwork.msu.edu/channels/explore-graduate-school/
Parent URL
https://careernetwork.msu.edu/channels/international-student/
Crawl Time
2026-03-17T06:13:43+00:00
Rendered Raw Markdown

Explore Graduate School

Source: https://careernetwork.msu.edu/channels/explore-graduate-school/ Parent: https://careernetwork.msu.edu/channels/international-student/

Continuing your education may be a desired or necessary next step to reach your career goals. Before pursuing any program, thoroughly explore your interests and options to ensure you’re doing what’s best for you and your future.

Assess Your Interests

Graduate programs, including master’s, PhD, and professional programs (e.g., JD, MD, DVM), are demanding academic pursuits that can be expensive, time-consuming, and stressful. Assessing your motivation and readiness beforehand can help you determine when and if you should pursue graduate school. Some questions to consider include:

For additional considerations when exploring graduate school, see the Considering Graduate School: Should I Go? resource guide and review the MSU Career Outcomes page to see what other Spartan alumni have gone on to do.

Find & Evaluate Programs

Explore Programs: Meet with MSU career advisors, academic advisors, and faculty to begin discussing your interest in graduate or professional school. They often have a broad knowledge of programs and can help you start brainstorming. Continue to explore by using online resources such as Peterson’s, GradSchools.com, and U.S. News Rankings, to identify possible programs. Researching professional associations as well as connecting with MSU alumni and other professionals within your desired field using LinkedIn can help you investigate options.

Evaluate Programs: Create a spreadsheet to analyze and compare the key features of each program of interest. Consider factors such as cost, application deadline, geographic location, application and course requirements, the job market in the field, etc. as you evaluate. Additional items to consider can be found in the Considering Graduate School: Finding & Evaluating Programs resource guide.

Engage Online: Narrow down your options to programs that best align with your academic interests and career pursuits, and start making connections. Contact program directors to express your interest and ask questions you can’t find the answers to on their websites. Ask about visit days or informational webinars for prospective students. 

Connect in Person: Campus visits can be especially helpful when evaluating your fit with a program. Sit in on a class, talk to current students, and connect with faculty regarding their research. This is also a good time to explore funding options, including assistantships and scholarships. Attending the MSU Graduate and Law School Fair in the fall can also give you a chance to connect with representatives in person.

Application Timeline & Financing

Although application deadlines differ for each field or program, it’s important to stay organized and on track to apply as early as possible. Applying at programs’ first deadline is the best way to be first in line for funding opportunities when available. Most programs will not review your application until all materials have been successfully submitted and it’s been verified that you meet requirements. When developing your timeline, be sure to account for any of the following as they will take time to compile or complete:

While preparing your applications, use this time to also look into financial assistance. The following options can be considered to help you pay for graduate or professional school: 

For a sample timeline and more information about paying for graduate school, see the Considering Graduate School: Application Timeline & Financing resource guide.

Considering Gap Year(s)

A gap year is a time spent in between life stages to learn and grow. The first year (or more) after finishing your bachelor’s degree can be a beneficial time to hit the pause button and reflect on your needs for future careers. Use a gap year to: 

During a gap year, consider opportunities that will help you build skills and gain industry exposure. Look for structured programs that are contracted for a certain amount of time (e.g., AmeriCorps programs), short-term contract, freelance positions or gig work (e.g., blogging, photography, tutoring), or post-graduate internships and transitional positions related to your field of interest.

Review the Taking a Gap Year resource guide for more information when considering and planning for a gap year (or two).

#### Medical School Application Timeline: The Ultimate Guide (2025)

#### Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI) for Law School — The Expert Guide

#### What is a Good GPA for Law School? (2025)

Slide 1Slide 2

View All

Videos

### Graduate School: Factors to Consider Video post

### Graduate School: Finding and Evaluating Programs Video post

### Graduate School: Application Timeline and Financing Video post

Slide 1

View All Videos

26%

Bachelor's degree graduates continue education.

77%

Undergraduate students complete an internship.

93%

Bachelor's degree graduates work or continue education.

*Data Source: Post-graduation outcomes and experiences of bachelor’s degree recipients (2021-2025).

CAREER RESOURCES

Clear

Filter:

Filters

See More Filters

Resource Categories:After the Offer Career Fairs Career Paths Cover Letters Dress for Success Grad School Interests Internships Job Search Majors Networking Other Experiences Part-Time Jobs Prepare for Interviews Professional Organizations Resumes Scholarships

Close Clear Filters

Career Education Videos: Powered by Candid Career

Career Education Videos, powered by Candid Career provides you with a fun and effective way to explore careers and learn …

Personal Statement Guide – Medical School Edition

5 easy steps to write a personal statement for medical school.

Writing a Personal Statement

Writing a personal statement is a necessity when applying to graduate or professional school. The format, length, and topic will …

MSU Testing Center

The MSU Testing Center is a unit on campus located in Bessey Hall that offers testing options for national standardized …

Gap Year Association financial aid resources

Founded in 2012, the Gap Year Association (GYA) is the only national nonprofit working to coordinate the growing Gap Year …

GRE Prep Course Reviews

This website includes some good overview information about the GRE exam along with information and consumer reviews of a number …

View All Resources

EMPLOYER PARTNERS AND SPONSORS

View All