Deciding where to go to grad school?
Deciding which graduate program is right for you can be a daunting task, and a strategic approach can help you narrow down your options and pick the program that best fits your needs and goals. While there are different considerations depending on the type of program you’ve applied to (e.g., clinical students might factor in APA and/or PCSAS accredited institutions), this post is meant to provide broad guidance on choosing the right program for you.
When you evaluate your options, consider that you are going to spend the next 4-7 years of your life in one location, with the people in the program of your choice. So, what would be most suitable to your academic progress, research interests, long-term career goals and, perhaps most importantly, your mental health and well-being? Here are some tips on what to consider:
Mentorship
During your application process, you probably chose schools based on the fit between your research interests and those of the faculty within each program. Your primary mentor is going to be involved with your academic progress every step of the way. It is incredibly important to choose a mentor who has a high degree of fit with your research interests, and also offers a mentoring style that works with your own needs and expectations. Some people work best with a mentor who is hands-on and consistent in communication, while others prefer more independence and touching base with their mentor as needed. When interviewing at schools, you might consider asking a prospective mentor what their general advising style is, and how they work with first-year graduate students. You might also think about asking their graduate students what it’s like to work with the mentor. Once you’ve matriculated in a program, it is crucial that you communicate with your mentor early on and set expectations. Keep in mind that your needs might change as time goes on. In my experience, over-communicating with my advisor has been far more beneficial than keeping quiet and letting anxieties fester. Of course, another consideration is the rapport you have with your prospective mentor. Do they seem supportive and understanding? Are they honest with you throughout the interview stage? You will go through significant life changes during graduate school, so you’ll want to choose a mentor who can reassure and encourage you throughout the journey.
Culture
In addition to picking the right mentor, the culture of the program you’re considering can strongly impact your experience. Graduate school is a fairly independent journey, but the departmental culture can perpetuate norms (often implicit) that influence levels of productivity, collaboration, and camaraderie. Talking to the current graduate students at a particular school can give you a sense of what the expectations are – does the department cultivate a publish-or-perish mindset, emphasizing the importance of churning out publications quickly? Do other graduate students appear to have a work-life balance, or are they spending most of their time working? Is collaboration with other students, faculty and/or areas encouraged? Note that the department will have overall norms and expectations, but the area you’re applying to will have its own norms as well. For example, in my social psychology program at UC Berkeley, students are encouraged to collaborate with each other, especially in the early stages. Early-stage students can benefit from working with more senior graduate students on projects to get a sense of the research process, both overall and within the department (e.g., writing IRB protocols at Berkeley). Many (if not all) students work with more than one faculty member, and some students work with people in other areas as well. Learning about the availability of these opportunities can narrow down your choices, depending on your goals.
Being able to establish social connections with your fellow graduate students might also be valuable to you. In my case, I moved from New York – where I have friends and family – to the other side of the country with a blank slate. Meeting people whom I could, at the very least, get along with, was extremely important in my decision-making process. During the interview stage, you’ll likely attend social events held by the graduate students themselves. These events are great spaces for you to learn more about the social culture of the department. If the students seem to know each other and get along well, that’s a decent sign that the program isn’t ultra-competitive and weird. However, keep in mind that interview season is as much a time for you to sell yourself to a department as it is for the department to market itself to you. The department will play to its strengths during this time and you won’t get the full picture of what it’s really like to work there, so it’s vital to use your judgment in these social events! The graduate students are definitely your best resource for gathering this information. Talk to as many of them as you can, and in most cases people will be honest with you. Graduate school is a challenging journey, and even if you’re lucky enough to stay close to friends and family, having friends in your line of work can still seriously buffer the more negative aspects of the experience. If you find yourself unsure of whether you’d get along with the people in your department, but you’re sold on the program otherwise, keep in mind that you can also make connections and meet people from other departments.
Finally, does the program seem to be inclusive and offer equitable opportunities for people coming from different backgrounds? Does the department welcome and value diversity in thought and culture? What systems, measures or networks are in place to support students who come from historically excluded or disadvantaged backgrounds? Perhaps now more than ever, use your instincts to assess whether programs are truly inclusive and supportive, or are merely performative.
Teaching
Another factor to consider is how much you’ll be expected to teach during your graduate career. Different departments have unique requirements, and advisors within departments will have varying levels of grant money to fund a research assistantship. Internal and external (e.g., NSF and Ford) fellowships can also determine how much you teach. If you enjoy teaching and/or plan to pursue a teaching-heavy career (i.e., tenure-track positions) post-graduation, then you might consider choosing a program that has a lot of teaching opportunities. If you’d rather focus more on research or you’re planning to go for a non-academic position post-grad, then choosing a program with a lighter teaching requirement, an advisor who can fund research assistantships, and/or fellowships that lessen the teaching load might be better options for you. Definitely reach out to graduate students working with different mentors to get a sense of the variability in how often students are teaching. The program’s department might also have a website or handbook where you can read more about the different requirements including teaching, coursework, milestones, and more.
Location
Alright, now that you’ve thought about what program is a good fit for you, you’ll also want to think about the geographical location of where you want to live for the next 4-7 years. Think about what type of weather you feel most comfortable with; whether you want to live somewhere rural or urban, or live in another country; and how the campus/physical building of the department feels when you walk around and explore. You’ll spend a lot of time being physically present in the psychology building/lab, so be sure to trust your instincts on how it feels to be there.
Funding and Finances
We’re in 2023. The cost of living is outrageous! Choosing an affordable location for graduate school might be one of your most important considerations. As we know, stipends for graduate students are incredibly low, but you’ll still want to factor in the cost of living, your expenses, and your housing expectations (living alone vs. with a roommate/partner/family) before you commit to a program.
Ask current graduate students what the post-tax monthly salary is, and whether there are salary differences for teaching assistantships vs. research assistantships. If there are, does the department offer a top-up to balance out the discrepancy in salaries?
How often would you get paid (biweekly, monthly, etc.)?
Do students get reimbursed for travel (e.g., moving stipends, conference travel, etc.)?
How many years of funding are guaranteed?
Also, find out whether the department/your advisor will provide summer funding or if you will need to secure it on your own. Another very important consideration is the availability of health insurance! Depending on where you go, having a side job might be discouraged, but you can ask graduate students whether they work on the side and how they manage their time.
Ultimately, your decision on where to go to graduate school will be personal to you, your needs, and your goals. The factors discussed in this post are not an exhaustive list of what you should consider, but you can use them to structure your decision process. Keeping a pros/cons list, journaling, meditating, going for walks/exercising, and talking to family, friends, and/or a therapist can be extremely useful as you narrow down your options and finalize your choice. By considering these factors, you'll be well on your way to finding the program that's right for you.
About the Author
Nirupika Sharma is a PhD student at the University of California, Berkeley. She is a Punjabi-American woman, born and raised in Queens, New York. Her favorite musical artists are Sidhu Moose Wala, J. Cole, and The Weeknd.
