Applying to Graduate or Professional School
Introduction
Unlike a liberal arts education, which emphasizes critical thinking across a range of disciplines, post-graduate study is characterized by focused training for entrance into a specific academic field or profession. A central question to ask oneself is whether graduate study is necessary (as opposed to employment, volunteerism, travel, etc.), given one's short- and long-term goals.
Post-graduate study is a considerable investment of personal and financial resources, as well as time. Many students choose to work directly after college in order to better define their goals. Work experience can offer an opportunity for reflection and clarification in a way that was impossible during the college years.
The duration of full-time master's degree programs ranges from one to two years, although a thesis can extend completion time by months or years. JD programs typically take three years to complete, while MD programs take four years. In addition, physicians typically spend another three to seven years in residency, at which point some continue for specialized training. A greater variance exists for doctoral programs. The National Opinion Research Center (NORC) Survey of Earned Doctorates reports that, depending on the field of study, the median time spent as a registered doctoral student ranges from six to nine years. Graduate students and post-docs can provide the most recent testimonials about time to degree.
