Graduate School

Searching for the right graduate program can be an overwhelming task. There are so many programs out there, how do you narrow your search? The best way to narrow your search is through comparison. On average students apply to between six and nine schools. You may have more or fewer applications depending on your particular program. As you conduct your search, comparing programs based on the following categories will help you find your option. 

• Personal Investment (Time to complete the degree, cost of the degree, professional opportunities following the degree)
• Type of Program (Online, In-person, Hybrid)
• Developmental Experience (Graduate & teaching assistantships, internships, practicums, research opportunities, fieldwork)
• Application Requirements (GRE & other graduate exams, number of total credit hours, application documents, personal & diversity statements)
• Overall Vibe (Personal values, dealbreakers such as location, culture, and political climate)

We strongly recommend meeting with a CaPS advisor to talk through each of these categories to come up with a personalized plan of action.

Most graduate and professional school programs will require you to submit a personal statement. This is a personal narrative that talks about you, why you’re applying, your overarching career goals, and how your experiences have prepared you for this next step. Depending on the program, you may have specific instructions or prompts for this component of your application. You may also be asked to complete a statement of purpose focusing specifically on the program itself, faculty whose research you admire and would like to work with, your own research interests, and what impact you will make. Finally, most programs will ask you to submit a CV, transcripts or GPA, along with answers to supplemental questions. For sample personal statements and statements of purpose, click here. If your program requires you to answer additional questions and you would like help, reach out to CaPS for assistance.

Don’t wait to request letters of recommendation from your faculty at Butler. Once you have determined who will complete your letters, you can support them by sharing the program requirements, your most up to date CV, a draft of your personal statement, and brief guidelines around what you would like them to write about specifically. At the same time, you will want to research prominent faculty at prospective programs. Determining where you plan to apply will depend largely on identifying faculty in programs who will serve as your instructors, mentors, and research supervisors.

The majority of programs will have an interview component. Whether it’s virtual or in-person, preparation is the best tool for calming your nerves. Researching the field, program, and the institution is the first place to start. From there, you will need to reflect on your past experiences to create relevant stories to share. Many professional programs also have online communities where typical interview questions are shared, but you can also schedule an interview preparation appointment with CaPS. We can help you identify typical questions as well as provide feedback while you practice.

At the very beginning of your search you can start with a few of our resources. If you want to explore careers by title and then search for training, My next move is great place to begin. For example if you search the role of “clinical psychologist” in their “careers with keywords” section, you can then see a snapshot of necessary skills and abilities along with an average salary range. Additionally, you can find specific graduate programs by state affiliated with each career search. 
When you are ready to dive deeper into your search process, the LinkedIn alumni tool is a valuable resource. You can find Butler alumni working in your desired field as well as connect with alumni from institutions and programs to which you are applying.