Selecting a Program

It's an important decision and should not be taken lightly.

This information can assist you in the process. If you need additional help, you can always schedule an appointment with one of our career consultants.

Establish initial program selection criteria.

When selecting graduate school programs, look for those that will best meet your career and learning objectives. To do so, conduct a thorough self-evaluation by clearly defining your own needs and expectations.

To establish your own criteria for selecting programs, answer the following questions:

  • What must a graduate program offer academically in order to meet my career goals?
  • What do I want to get out of a program?
  • What size program/university do I want to attend?
  • In what geographical locations am I willing to attend graduate school?
  • What else might I want from a program?

Develop a list of programs to consider.

As you look at programs, compare them to the criteria that you’ve constructed. How do they measure up? Ideally, you want to develop a list of approximately 15 to 20 schools of initial interest to you. 

After you’ve defined your program expectations, it’s time to find ones that most closely match your requirements. The resources listed below may prove useful in conducting your search:

Internet resources

 LSU Career Information Center

We have books with lists of graduate school programs. Center hours are from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Visit 158 LSU Student Union.

 Professional associations & accrediting bodies

 

LSU