Grad School

Applying to Graduate School

Graduate school involves specialized knowledge and concentrated study in one area. Admission to most graduate programs is competitive. The primary determinant of success for being accepted to graduate school is the quality of your academic and artistic background. There are professional and research degrees at the master's and doctoral levels. For an explanation of graduate degrees click here.

Why Go to Graduate School?

Commitment to graduate study is a major decision. There are a number of reasons for pursuing a master's or a doctorate. One reason is that an advanced degree is needed to teach at the college level. Another common reason for pursuing a graduate degree is a deep interest in the study of a particular discipline: it is for people who love research, scholarship, and intense study and practice of art, music, theatre, or dance. Do not go to graduate school because you can't think of anything else to do or want to postpone getting a job. Choose graduate school because you are working toward a tangible goal.

Researching Programs

Once you've decided to attend graduate school, the next step is to research programs that match your interests and fit your needs. If you are looking for arts-related information, begin by looking through Peterson's Graduate Programs in the Arts and Architecture 2003 (available in Fine Arts Career Services) Peterson's Guide to Graduate Programs in the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (available at the Career Exploration Center in Jester, various libraries on UT campus). If you are seeking graduate or professional school programs outside of the arts, identify comparable publications at these same locations. Some general online sites for graduate school searching are Petersons.com and GradSchools.com.

Professional associations often publish specialty guides to programs in their discipline. For example, the College Art Association publishes a directory of MFA programs in the visual arts and MA & PhD programs in art and art history. The College Music Society publishes The Directory of Music Faculties in the US. All are available in Fine Arts Career Services. Talk to faculty (on campus and at other institutions) who teach in the field you plan to pursue; they often can steer you in the direction of good programs.

Deciding Where to Apply

When evaluating programs, remember that, unlike undergraduate institutions, graduate schools do not have reputations; departments do. Understanding the distinct characteristics of your field and the specialty options within your discipline will help you focus better on programs of interest to you. Here are some factors to consider when evaluating programs:

The Reputation of the Faculty
What are their academic degrees/credentials and research specialties and professional reputations?

The Quality of the Program
This is measured by many different factors. Talk to several faculty members and graduate students in the field you are pursuing to get an informed view on the variety of graduate programs available.

Financial Cost of the Program
What are the opportunities for fellowships, assistantships, or scholarships? Is financial assistance available for students seeking a Master's degree? If so, what does the average student receive, and for how long? Will you be charged out-of-state tuition rates? What other sources of financial aid are available?

Admission Requirements
What criteria must you satisfy to gain admittance into the program in terms of GPA, test scores, undergraduate coursework, portfolios, auditions, and specific entrance examinations?

Available Course Offerings
Are courses you need to fulfill degree requirements frequently offered? Will the course offerings help you meet your professional or educational goals?

Facilities
Consider the quality of on-site facilities such as libraries, computer labs, research facilities, performing arts spaces, studios, practice rooms, museums, special collections, campus services, etc.

Employment
Are the graduates of the program working? Where? How much are they earning?

Geographic Location
Will studying in a particular location help you meet personal or professional goals? Consider cost of living and housing costs in the area. Will you have access to professional theatres, orchestras, galleries, and museums?

Student Life
Consider the diversity of student population, student organizations, housing, and campus support services.

After you have identified the programs in which you are interested, call or e-mail for application forms. You should also request forms from the university financial aid office. Ideally, you should visit every school you will apply to. The best way to find out about a program is to talk with students who are currently enrolled. This may not always be practical, but the payoff will be worth your time and money. Never just show up on campus and expect to be shown around. Call the departmental office or the admissions office well in advance of your visit and ask if you could meet with someone informally while you are on campus.

The Application Process

Applying to graduate school can be a tedious endeavor. In addition to filling out an application, you will have to gather many other materials. Careful and early preparation can make the process much easier. Devise an efficient method for tracking your applications. One method is to use a file folder for each application. Make an application checklist and staple it to the inside cover of the folder. Keep a thorough record of everything you send and make copies of all application materials.

In many cases, programs have rolling admissions policies that allow them to accept qualified candidates until the entering class is full. If a program is operating on a rolling basis, acceptance decisions may be made as early as October. With this policy, it is advantageous to submit your application materials well in advance. If a program does not follow a rolling admissions process, all applications are held until after a deadline and then reviewed by the admissions committee. Using this approach, selection is based on the total applicant pool.

Graduate schools use a variety of admission criteria, which can include: G.P.A., standardized test scores (GRE, LSAT, GMAT, etc.), portfolios, auditions, letters of recommendation, and application essays. Although there are many similarities in the admission criteria used by graduate schools, every program is unique and may weigh those criteria differently.

Standardized Test Scores
Most graduate programs use the scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test as admission criteria. But many programs in the Fine Arts no longer require GRE scores. Check with individual schools about their policy. The UT Learning Center in Jester offers GRE review classes for the verbal and quantitative sections of the test.

Portfolios
Evidence of talent and skill, displayed in a portfolio, is often the most important factors used by art and design graduate school selection committees. The portfolio is a collection of hand-made, computer-generated, photographic, or printed samples of the artist's best work.

Auditions
Most theatre, dance, and music programs require an audition. This may be done "live" or sent as a video or audiotape along with your application materials.

Letters of Recommendation
You will need at least three letters of recommendation to apply to most graduate programs. The best sources for recommendations are the professors who are familiar with both your academic and artistic abilities and can comment on your potential in the field. A person who meets as many of the following criteria as possible should write your letters:

Someone with whom you have studied or collaborated on projects, concerts, performances, exhibitions, etc.
Someone from whom you have taken one or more upper-level courses
Someone who wrote excellent evaluations of your work
Someone who knows you well academically, artistically, and perhaps, personally.

Once you have chosen potential recommenders, approach each person and ask if he/she would be willing to write a strong letter in support of your application. If there is any hesitation or if the answer is less than enthusiastic, look elsewhere. Most faculty are busy and writing a good letter takes some time. Give the recommender at least three to four weeks to write and mail a set of letters. You should provide the following information to your recommenders:

A list of the schools to which you are applying
The recommendation form and instructions that were supplied by the university on which you have typed your name and indicated whether you have waived your right to review the form (you should waive your right)
Your résumé/cv
A copy of your transcript and standardized test scores
Stamped envelopes, addressed to each program (ask each recommender if they want envelopes, as some may want to use their own letterhead and departmental envelopes)
A copy of your personal statement

It's a nice touch to write each recommender a thank-you note. If you think it's too much trouble to write a short note, just think how much trouble it is to write a recommendation letter.

Application Essays

You will be required to write a personal statement as part of your application. The three most typical themes you are asked to discuss are your long-term career goals, your areas of research/artistic interest, and your reasons for choosing a particular program. The selection committee will not only pay attention to what you have to say about yourself, but also to how you say it. Well-written, articulate essays are a necessity. Keep the essay focused. Each sentence should strengthen the committee's resolve to admit you. So, while you may have done many interesting things in life, you do not need to list every one. Your essay should have depth, not breadth. Fine Arts Career Services offers an application essay critiquing service and has several books on writing application essays.

Financial Aid Forms

Many applicants wait until they are admitted to a program before applying for financial aid. This is a major mistake because the deadline for many financial aid applications is before the admissions deadline. Most programs will offer you some financial support in the form of stipends, graduate assistantships, or teaching assistantships.

After You Apply

Once you've submitted all you materials, you can take a deep breath and consider the possible outcomes. The best-case scenario is that you are admitted to every program you applied to with a full fellowship. The worst-case scenario is that every school applied to rejects you. If you can come to terms with this possibility, you are more likely to await the actual result in relative peace. And, if the worst happens, you might be disappointed, but not devastated. If you are not admitted, but you are committed to further training, it makes sense to try again. Examine the reasons why you were not competitive. One way to do this is to call that school's graduate coordinator to find out. Was it a bad letter? What was the quality of your portfolio or audition? Poor GREs? Did you apply to too few programs? Don't get discouraged, but instead attempt to correct any problems. If you are graduating, get a discipline-related job or internship. You may be able to take a few graduate courses locally on a non-degree basis to show your commitment to the field. It is not unusual to find well-known artists, musicians, and theatre professionals who did not get in the first time they applied. Be persistent!

Many of you who have worked hard on your applications and who have the potential to become competent graduate students may not be admitted because of a limited number of slots. If you decide not to reapply, remember that the qualities that would have made you a competent graduate student will serve you well in whatever path you choose.

Interviews

Timetable for Applying

Online Graduate School Resources


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