The "best" way to select a graduate program is to develop a set of criteria based on what your own individual academic, professional, and personal goals are for wanting to pursue graduate work. Consider the quality of the program, costs of the program (including tuition and books as well as living expenses), reputation of the faculty, and reputation of the department within the professional community you will be entering upon receipt of your degree. Some questions you might want to consider when developing your own set of criteria for selecting graduate schools are:

• How does the program rate? (What matters most to you -- prestige, employability, number of publications, faculty-student ratio, or equipment? Make your choice based on the strength of the program in your field rather than the general reputation of the University.)
• Does the program emphasize areas in your field that fit your career interests and goals, such as research, theory, or practice?
• Does the faculty have a special strength and a strong academic reputation, as determined by the quality of their research projects and/or published works? Is there someone on the faculty you want to work with directly?
• Does the program offer interesting internships or field-work opportunities? If so, what are the qualifications?
• Who will be your supervisor? Will the experience count towards professional licensing requirements?
• Are the libraries, laboratories, and other research facilities adequate for your needs?
• Are you academically prepared for the kind of program being offered?
• Is financial assistance available?
• Will you be eligible for licensure? Are their program requirements consistent with professional licensing requirements?
• Are there alternative programs in other departments that will train you for the same or similar career options?
• Where have recent graduates gotten jobs? What are typical placements?
• It is advisable to know the basic facts about the school prior to arriving there for the day of interviews. This would include such things as size, relationship to college campus, etc. Use the following check list to gather your data.
• What are the demographics of its entering graduate class: percent of women and minorities; typical age range of students; overall size of class?
• Is the program like an apprenticeship where you study primarily with one faculty advisor?
• To further research the programs, ask faculty in the field you intend to pursue for their advice on specific programs after you have talked with them about your interests.

Go to the library and ask a reference librarian to help you find professional journals in your field. See which professors are doing research and publishing in your area of interest; you may want to write them for advice on the best programs to consider given your stated interests.

Visit the schools that appeal to you and talk with faculty and current graduate students for a better perspective.

Rankings of graduate programs are available in some fields, but they vary on the criteria used, so read the introduction of each ranking carefully to see how the judgments were made. The UCSB library owns one of the better publications available.

Other Resources:

• US News.com Rankings & Guides
• Grad School Rankings