Is graduate school right for you? Attending graduate or professional school is a very big decision. Most Holy Cross students take at least one or two years after graduating to clarify professional and personal goals, and gain experience before advancing their education.
You should apply to graduate or professional school to pursue a career path you are passionate about, if your chosen career requires an advanced degree and/or you are established in your career and can grow professionally with further education. You should not apply to graduate school to avoid the job market or if you are unsure of a career path. Schedule an appointment with a career counselor to discuss post-grad options.
Before you start the graduate or professional school application process, talk with a Career Counselor and research your field of interest and the role advanced degrees play within that field or industry.
• Schedule an appointment with a Career Counselor to discuss your strengths, skills, interests and values
• Take the Strong Interest Inventory, a widely-used career assessment tool that measures career interest
• Talk with academic advisors, advisors in the health professions, prelaw or prebusiness programs and meet with Anthony Cashman, Director of Distinguished Fellowships and Graduate Studies
• Attend information sessions hosted by employers, alumni and academic departments. See the Calendar for dates and details.
• Apply to the Alumni Job Shadow Program, all class years are welcome to apply. Learn more by logging into Handshake.
• Apply to the Alumni Mentoring Program. The Alumni Mentoring Program matches students with alumni based on careers/industries of interest. As part of the program, students connect with their alumni mentor via phone, email or video throughout the academic year. Alumni mentors provide their mentees with guidance and support as students navigate their individual career exploration at Holy Cross. This program is open to students from all class years. To learn more about the Alumni Mentoring Program contact the Center for Career Development at careers@holycross.edu or 508-793-3880.
• Find alumni through the HC Network or LinkedIn to conduct informational interviews and meet with a Career Counselor to discuss how to use these tools
• Join a campus activity, group or team that allows you to explore your interests
Find schools/programs that fit your goals and interests:
• www.petersons.com
• www.gradschools.com
• www.princetonreview.com
• www.usnews.com
• Identify 6-15 schools that seem like a good fit (at least 2 safety schools, 2 probable schools, 2 reach schools)
• Make note of application requirements and deadlines. Basic requirements include:
• Official transcripts: Submit transcript requests in a timely manner as it takes at least a few days to receive an official copy your transcript
• Resume or CV: Review the resume and CV guides offered through Career Development
• Personal statement or letter of interest
• Letters of recommendation: Give your references a minimum of two weeks to write a letter of recommendation. Four weeks is preferred.
• Test scores (each school/program has different requirements and minimum scores)
• www.ets.org/gre
• www.mba.com/us/the-gmat-exam.aspx
• www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat/
• www.lsac.org/jd/lsat/about-the-lsat/
• www.milleranalogies.com/
•Contact graduate admissions offices and ask to speak with professors and current students. Possible questions to ask:
• What is the curriculum? Review course offerings and descriptions to ensure the curriculum will prepare you for the career you want to pursue.
• Is there a required or suggested internship/practical experience? What resources are available to help with this component?
• How long does it typically take to complete the degree?
• Where are alumni working and what kinds of positions do they secure after completing the program? Is there a supportive alumni network?
• What are the demographics of the current students?
• Are there any fellowships or assistantships for this program or school?
• Talk with graduate financial aid offices about funding and financing your degree.
• www.fedloans.org
• www.finaid.org
• www.accessgroup.org
• Demonstrate knowledge of the industry/area of study
• Draw a connection between your interests and career goals and the graduate program
• Highlight specifics from the program to demonstrate your research
• Discuss your relevant experiences that have prepared for you the profession thus far
• Identify faculty, staff or supervisors from an internship or relevant experience
• Make your request at least 4 weeks before you need the letters. Two weeks is the absolute minimum amount of time to give a reference to write a letter on your behalf.
• Speak with recommenders about your post-grad plans, what schools you are applying to and deadlines
• Provide an updated resume, unofficial transcripts
• Provide appropriate methods for the recommender to submit their letter(s) (pre-addressed/stamped envelopes or the link for online submissions)
• Even if you are planning on taking time off from school before applying to graduate school, ask faculty for recommendations now while they know you best. You can keep them in a credential file in the Center for Career Development for a period of five years.
• Send thank you notes!