Frequently Asked Questions
What is graduate school like?
UT offers a nationally acclaimed program for its undergraduate students interested in graduate school. The Intellectual Entrepreneurship Program provides internship opportunities that allow you to find out what graduate study at UT is really like. The internship may include attending graduate classes, research, attending conferences, and lab experience. The program will help you find a mentor/buddy in your area of academic interest who will serve as supervisor for your internship.
Another helpful way to find out what grad school is like is to ask your department if you can observe classes and if there are current graduate students available to talk with you.
How do I figure out whether graduate school is the right choice for me?
This is a very important question which many people sidestep or overlook in their decision making. We recommend you read our handout: Is Graduate School For Me? Also, we encourage you to make an appointment with a career counselor at the CEC, who can help you explore your motivations and concerns about pursuing a graduate or professional program.
What if my GPA is low?
Before you rule out grad school because of your GPA, do some research to make sure your information about GPA requirements is accurate. Most graduate schools do not have a minimum GPA. Instead they utilize a "holistic" process that takes into account your personal statement, recommendation letters, work/research experience and test scores. Strengthen your application by focusing on these other elements if you are concerned about your GPA. Also, many schools will provide you with a profile of last year's entering class, including average GPA and GRE (or other test scores). You can compare last year’s entering class to your GPA or test scores, or you can compare one school with another.
Although less common, some programs might utilize a GPA minimum in their selection process. If you don't meet their minimum and have extenuating circumstances (illness, family crisis, poor performance in an unrelated major), check with an admissions officer or graduate program coordinator to find out if exceptions are allowed. If you are eligible to apply but are below the average GPA accepted, most applications include a space for you to supply an explanation.
Finally, consider applying to several different tiers of schools. Apply to a few that you are much more likely to get into as well as those that are more competitive.
What if my entrance exam scores (GMAT, GRE, etc.) are low?
Before you apply to schools, find out which schools automatically screen applicants based on test scores. Some do, while other schools will consider lower test scores and look at multiple admissions criteria (GPA, personal statement, recommendations). You can find this information by looking at a graduate school's web site or by contacting the office of graduate admissions. Also, find out the school's view on retaking the test. Some schools consider only the highest test score, while others average multiple scores or the most recent scores.
For more information about each entrance exam, visit the exam’s official website. Some links are provided below:
GRE - (General and Subject tests) http://www.gre.org
LSAT - http://www.lsat.org
MCAT - http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/
GMAT - http://www.mba.com/mba/TaketheGMAT
What if I can’t afford graduate school?
Most students require some financial assistance in graduate school. This usually includes either working as a teaching or research assistant (many schools waive tuition and fees for TAs and RAs) or securing grants, loans, fellowships, or scholarships. Individual graduate schools can tell you what kinds of financial aid they offer. Also, check out the financial assistance information on our library weblinks page.
What if I want to study in a different area than my undergraduate major?
Some fields are broad and do not require any particular undergraduate major (ex. Law MBA, Library/Information Science and many more). Others require only a few courses in the graduate field of study (ex. psychology graduate programs often require statistics and experimental psychology courses). Some programs require a core set of prerequisites (ex. medical or physical therapy school). Some very technical programs may require a degree in the field or substantial coursework (ex. engineering). In many cases, you can be admitted even if you haven't taken the prerequisites; you will complete them the first few semesters of graduate school. Sometimes, you will need to go back to school as an undergraduate to take your prerequisites. This is usually the case if you are switching academic fields to an unrelated area and need to show aptitude in the new field (ex. a history major wanting to get a Ph.D. in biology).
How can I find information about other programs apart from the "big name" schools?
The links listed under Grad School Resources (in this section of our website) include all U.S. graduate schools and some international schools. We also have some graduate school directories in the CEC Resource Library that provide basic information on most graduate programs.
How do I find information about international graduate schools?
International Graduate Programs lets you search for programs by academic discipline.
Career Owl lists international programs alphabetically by name.
Universities Worldwide allows you to search for schools by country.
Educational and Social Science Library provides links to sites that rank international graduate programs.
Graduate Schools and Postgraduate Courses Worldwide contains articles on international graduate study and information on specific schools in the UK and Europe.
U.S. Department of Education maintains a site describing its international education programs.
How do I go about getting letters of recommendation, if I am not planning on going to graduate school immediately?
Ask your professors to write letters for you before you graduate. Tell them you will be attending grad school at a future date and will send them the addresses later. The professors will keep the letters on file for you until you apply. Many professors will give you a copy of the letter even though you waive the right to see it. To help the professor tailor a recommendation for you, give him or her your resume or a list of highlighted activities and skills that you would like mentioned in the letter. When you contact the professor at a later date when you are applying to grad school, it is helpful to send them an update of what you have been doing. An updated resume would be helpful. Also, remember to send your professor a thank you note!
Can an employer write a letter of recommendation?
Yes, especially if your job is relevant to the program to which you are applying. However, most graduate programs prefer to see recommendations from academic sources (i.e., professors) who can comment on your intellectual accomplishments and skills. We suggest that you include two academic references and one non-academic reference, unless the program to which you are applying states specifically who to include. Please note: it is not appropriate to use relatives or friends as letter writers.
How important is research experience? Is there a place on campus where I can get experience with research?
The relative importance of research experience depends on the program to which you are applying. For example, undergraduate research is very important for applications to programs in the sciences, while it is not as important for programs such as law, education or communication. Use our Faculty/Staff Contacts Program to find a professor in your academic department of interest. You can then ask the professor about the importance of undergraduate research in pursuing a grad program in their field. You can also learn how to find undergraduate research opportunities on campus. The Office of Undergraduate Research maintains a database called Eureka to help undergraduates find research opportunities on campus.
Is there any way to find out about a program’s career placement rates and where alumni work after they graduate?
Some schools provide this kind of information on their web sites. It may be located on the graduate admissions page or the career services page. If you can't find it, contact the graduate admissions officer or the program’s graduate advisor.
How do I find a mentor in graduate school?
Some programs provide a structured mentoring program; ask about this when you are gathering information about schools. Think about what you want from a mentor. For example, how much independence do you need? What do you want out of your grad school experience? How much time are you willing to spend on school and research? A good way to find a mentor is to talk to lots of professors and older graduate students during your first semester of grad school. Attend departmental information panels, picnics, and other events. Ask professors about their research and pay attention to how they react to you. Are they attentive? Do they seem approachable? Ask other grad students about their experiences with those professors with which you might want to work.
What if I am interested in a graduate program at UT?
The University’s Office of Graduate Studies provides a wealth of information about graduate study here on campus. They can direct you to graduate coordinators, graduate students, and professors who can help you learn about the graduate programs you are considering at UT-Austin. They also will periodically offer workshops on topics of interest to graduate students. In addition, check with the Intellectual Entrepreneurship Program described in the "What is graduate school like?" question.