Considering Graduate School - How to Research

1. Faculty members - Individual faculty members in a program related to the field you would like to pursue can be excellent resources in recommending programs worth considering.
2. Other people working in your field of interest - Professionals currently working in your field are often invaluable resources as many have been through graduate programs themselves. Check our alumni career advising service for potential contacts.
3. Professional associations - Professional associations are made up of working professionals in particular fields. These associations can serve as clearinghouses for information related to their respective fields. You can write to some associations in your area of interest and request lists of accredited graduate programs. A directory of professional associations is available in our resource library.
4. Xavier's McDonald Library or the city library - Go to your local college or city library to find directories of graduate study. Two excellent resources, are Peterson's Annual Guides to Graduate Study and The Directory of Graduate Programs. These guides briefly outline, for each field of study, the academic programs, financial aid resources, cost of study, application requirements, and other information. Use these directories to write for applications, catalogs, and financial aid information approximately one year before your intended matriculation date.
5. Visit graduate schools directly - Try to visit some schools in person so you can speak with faculty members and currently enrolled students.

Once you acquire this information you can then begin narrowing down your list. When trying to choose programs, consider the focus of the program, course/ thesis requirements, opportunities for practical experience, caliber of students, prestige of institution, size of program, faculty (who are they? what kinds of research/writing have they done?), and the future prospects for graduates. Allow yourself a range in the types of programs to which you apply. Since competition for admission to graduate school is keen, you may want to include alternative choices to help ensure your admission.