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Show ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT 4 Thursday, October 27, 2011 GRADUATE continued from Page 2 CHECKLIST FOR RESEARCHING GRADUATE SCHOOLS • • • Quality of Program: What is its national reputation? How are the faculty perceived in the scholarly community? Difficulty of Admission: What are the minimum and average test scores and GPAs of admitted students? What other criteria are considered for admission? How many students are admitted to programs each year? What is the ratio of in- and out-of state residents? Programs/Curricula: What degrees and specializations are offered? What is the philosophy or orientation of the program (e.g., applied vs. theoretical, research vs. clinical)? What are the course and other requirements? What degree of individualization is possible? What are the opportunities for related work experience? What is the average length of time for program completion? What percentages of students I • • • complete their programs? Available Resources: What facilities are available for students (e.g., lab space, offices, office space)? What is the size and accessibility of the library? Who is available for advising students? What placement resources/services are there? Faculty: What current research is faculty involved with? Is it anything you are interested in? If clinical work is involved, are skilled supervisors available with faculty and staff? What is the student/faculty ratio? What is the faculty turnover rate? University Environment: What is faculty-student relationships like? What is the size of the institution? What geographic area is it in? Is it urban or rural? What is the surrounding community like? What is the financial situation of the university as a whole? What reputation does the department have within the • • • university? Financial Considerations: What is the cost of tuition and the cost of living in the area? What financial aid, particularly fellowships, assistantships and grants are available? What are the criteria for eligibility for these awards? What percentage of students is funded? What percentage is working outside the university to support themselves? Accreditation: Is the program accredited? Should it be? (In manyprofessions it is important to graduate from a program accredited by the national professional association in order to meet future licensing/ certification requirements.) Other: Where are graduates of the program working? How many are working in the field? How useful is the particular degree offered by this institution? Is it respected in the field? more than their peers. Bussin says it's not enough to prepare for a certification or even take classes. "You need to take the exams and finish the process," she says. Of course, there are some who don't want to settle for a certificate. Sheila Bravo, a marketing consultant with an MBA and 20 years of experience working for national organizations, decided to pursue a doctoral degree in organizational leadership at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. And, Bravo says, she's glad that she did. "I'm constantly learning new information that I'm thinking I could have applied to past projects or that I can use for current and future clients," she says. Groups such as the Graduate Management Admission Council, which oversees testing for business schools, reported that many employers are planning to increase the number of jobs they offer to people with graduate degrees in areas other than business. According to its own 2007 survey, the council says that number of jobs will rise by about 16 percent. Survey respondents said they like the skills in expertise in managing corporate strategy and in motivating teams of workers that MBA students build in business school. The recruiters indicated that people with graduate business degrees are likely to be more adept in these areas than those with less extensive management educations or degrees in other disciplines. In addition, the pay gap between people with graduate business degrees and their counterparts with other credentials is widening. Recruiters said they plan to offer annual base salaries to people with graduate business degrees that are 28 percent higher than what they extend to new hires with other types of graduate degrees. That figure was 23 percent in 2006. Of course, graduate degrees are costly and can range from the lower end of $20,000 to more than $100,000. "That's a lot to invest for a 10 percent raise. You need ask yourself why you really want to do it when other options exist," Bussin says. .dailyutahchronicle. co Reach Your Potential A promotion. A pay raise. A career shift... You know what you want. A master's degree can help you get it. rsy Understaa your career options in Accounti ng See Richard Jenson at the USU School of Accountancy booth at the Graduate Fair. October 28th 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. University of Utah Union Ballroom JON M. HUNTSMAN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS Reach your potential by earning a master's degree from Weber State University. Visit us at 2011 Utah Graduate School Fair Learn about WSU's graduate programs. Master of Accounting Master of Taxation Master of Athletic Training Master of Business Administration (MBA) Master of Criminal Justice Master of Education Master of English Master of Health Administration Master of Nursing Master of Professional Communication Master of Science in Radiologic Sciences University of Utah Union Ballroom Friday October 28, 2011 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. UtahStateU n ive rs ity huntsman.usu.edu/acct WEBER STATE UNIVERSITY weber. edu/graduateprograms CTW Features |