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This is the third in a series of HDCLS area chair updates by Dr. Stephanie Cawthon, written for Human Development, Culture and Learning Sciences (HDCLS) students, faculty, and staff in the Department of Educational Psychology at the College of Education at The University of Texas at Austin.

The most recent update, Take Care of Your Human, Okay? was published in September, and the first update was published in June. For students interested in working with her at HDCLS, check out this post with application tips.

Fall is the time of year to get serious about applying for graduate school. One of the most challenging parts of this process is figuring out which program is a good fit for you, and then how to demonstrate that fit in your application materials.

If you’re new to the world of graduate education or are a first-generation college student, this process can seem especially hard to figure out. Below are six steps to gauge “fit” and gather the information you need to make a decision in your pursuit of an academic graduate degree.*

Step 1: Look at the coursework and program requirements.

Most universities post information about their graduate programs online. Some may even have an entire section for prospective students. Your topic of interest should be represented somewhere in the curriculum; if it is not, definitely dig a little deeper to see if what you are looking for is a part of their theoretical foundations and applications of key concepts.

A second thing to look for is what methodological focus and training is a part of the mission and curriculum. For example, our program in HDCLS has a heavy psychology bent because it is in the Department of Educational Psychology. We provide robust training in research methods, especially quantitative methods (i.e., statistics). While a broader range of theories and research methodologies can complement and be a part of how individual students develop their line of research, sometimes prospective students see “education” and “culture” and miss that foundational psychology research piece of where we are housed and what our faculty do. 

Step 2: Contact the program directors.

Find out who is responsible for the department, area, or program you are applying to. While they are likely very busy (and I do mean beyond busy), they may be able to point you to resources that will help you with your search.

However, be sure you have completed Step 1 first, because if the information is already on a website, they will just send you there. Program directors may be able to share information about any changes to anticipated timeframes for admissions or refer you to an admissions coordinator who can provide more details. 

Step 3: Reach out to faculty you are interested in. 

Particularly for doctoral study, a department, area, or program is greatly shaped by the individual faculty members and their own research interests. You will want to read their most recent publications, which easily found on their faculty pages or Google Scholar.

Something that you may not know is that your doctoral advisor is often someone you have a very long journey with, through your formal training and beyond. I am still in touch with both (I had two!) of my advisors, 20 years later, and that’s across a lot of changes in our lives. Seeking out an advisor that is a good fit for you is therefore a key part of the doctoral journey. 

Your first contact is usually via an email. You’ll first want to describe your academic interests and any relevant experiences in a few sentences. If you know someone who knows the faculty member, such as a faculty member from your undergraduate program, it may be worth making that connection in your email. In some cases, it may be worth asking faculty if they are recruiting new students at this time. Not all websites have that information, and the context may be fluid pending funding, current student supervision, project development, and upcoming changes in their own roles on campus. 

Step 4: Ask to connect with a current graduate student.

There is nothing like a current student perspective to learn more about the culture, workload, and a peek into what your daily life might look like as a graduate student in that department, area, or program.

In your email to a program director or faculty member, you can include a polite ask if there are any students who might be willing to share their experiences with prospective applicants. There are many ways that they can provide that information, ranging from an email response to a “shadow” experience in their courses or other campus activities. 

Step 5: Consider both masters and doctoral programs.

Depending on your previous training and experience, as well as your future career goals, it may be that both masters and doctoral programs are options for you.

If you do not already have a masters degree in the field (or something close to it), you will likely start a course and training sequence that includes options for finishing with a masters or continuing on for the doctoral degree. Both have value, and both are a significant investment of your time, energy, and personal resources. Have an open mind about what graduate training prepares you for the range of professions that are a good fit for you holistically. 

Step 6: Craft your personal statement for each program you apply to.

Most graduate programs ask you to write some kind of essay or personal statement. While it can be tempting to simply send the same statement to each program, this reduces your opportunity to demonstrate how your personal and professional goals fit with the program you are applying to.

Think of this statement as a job application. Would you send the same cover letter to all companies you are seriously applying to? No.

Of course much of the core information will be the same, but be sure to name the specific program in your essay. Show that you’ve done some homework on the program components, the faculty interests, and how it fits with your own goals. While your professional goals will certainly evolve, do give some sense of what direction you hope to pursue after graduate school — it’s a long journey, so making that connection will both help your application and continue to give you purpose.

Good luck with your program search!

* These tips are for academic graduate degree consideration, not professional tracks such as clinical, licensure, etc. I’m sure someone else has some excellent advice for you about those degrees!

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