• Inform your advisor and recommenders of your decision so that they know where you are going next. Provide them with an email address contact that will be yours for the long term if your current student account will close after your graduation. Keep in touch periodically over the coming years—ideally more frequently than when you need another letter of recommendation for a fellowship or job application.
Many programs also accept students mid-year. Look at the deadlines and talk to faculty in those programs to determine when you should have your application submitted. From there you can adjust the timing discussed above.
In parallel to the graduate school application process you should also consider applying for graduate school fellowships. Also, unless you are independently wealthy or have a particular aversion to teaching, you should check all of the above if the application asks if you are interested in being considered for a teaching assistantship (TA), research assistantship (RA), and fellowship.
2.4.4 VISITING A GRADUATE PROGRAM YOU WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND
To make a well-informed decision, you should ideally visit the university and interact with the faculty and graduate students there. Many graduate programs organize visit weekends in the late winter/early spring. These are a great opportunity that you should try to take advantage of, if at all possible. You will have access to faculty and students on the visit and you will be able to see the facilities, campus, and community. Some programs invite only students that they have accepted into the program. Others will invite admissible students they would like to consider for funding offers.
If the programs you are interested in do not plan a visit weekend, you can arrange to visit on your own. The best point of initial contact would be the staff member in charge of the graduate program (e.g., program coordinator) or the faculty director of graduate studies (e.g., chair of the graduate studies committee). If you can’t visit then you should make arrangements to set up virtual or phone conversations with the director of graduate studies and other faculty members you may be interested in working with.
You should think of a visit weekend like an interview. You are being interviewed, but you are also interviewing them. Everyone involved should be trying to determine if there is a good fit. Although you would not be expected to wear a suit, do present yourself professionally (business casual attire is usually appropriate). Be ready to present your experience and background clearly and succinctly. If you have engaged in undergraduate research, you may want to print out a few slides or have a copy of a research paper you wrote in order to share your prior experience more effectively.
Do your homework before you go on the visit. Learn as much about the university and faculty in the program as you can. If you are interested in working with a particular research mentor, become familiar with their recent research publications. Prepare questions that will help you determine if this is the right fit for you (see the list below).
“Questions to Ask Yourself and Others While Considering a Graduate Program”
This is a broad list of questions. Some of these questions are intended for you to answer yourself. Others you can find the answer to by exploring the university website. Some are questions you should ask of the faculty you speak with. Others you should ask of graduate students who are already in the program.
Overarching Questions to Ask Yourself
Am I most interested in experimental, computational, or theoretical research?
Would I rather be in an established group or do research with a more junior faculty member?
How much time and attention do I expect to get from my thesis advisor/research mentor?
Am I interested in interdisciplinary research and does this position fit with those interests?
Are the other students in the research group people that I can get along with?
School/City/Lifestyle
Is the campus a safe place? What safety programs are available (i.e., emergency phones, campus escorts)?
Is housing easy/difficult to find?
What are living expenses like?
Is there a reliable mass transit system?
Are there bike paths for commuting to campus?
What kinds of entertainment are available?
Will I be able to pursue the recreational activities I am interested in?
Do I feel comfortable in this community/area of the country?
Can I see myself living here for the next ∼5 years?
Program/General Atmosphere
What is the reputation of the program?
How is the quality of the teaching?
Are the required and elective courses ones that I am interested in taking? How frequently are they offered?
Are graduate students happy here?
How is the rapport among students, staff, and faculty?
How is the atmosphere for women and underrepresented minority students?
What is the office space policy for new graduate students?
Are the labs and facilities broadly accessible? How do I get trained to use these facilities?
Do faculty members collaborate on research or work separately? Is collaborative research encouraged and supported?
Funding/Financial Aid
Do I need to find/choose a thesis advisor before accepting an offer to join the program or do I have the opportunity to spend a semester or two on campus before I decide?
How do I apply for a teaching and/or research assistantship?
What fellowship opportunities are available from the program/university? Am I automatically considered for these opportunities or do I need to apply?
Is a tuition waiver included in my funding offer?
Is health insurance included in my funding offer?
What are the vacation/sick leave/family leave policies?
What is the stipend level? Do students live easily on this amount?
Does the funding continue through the summer months?
If I am offered an assistantship appointment, what are the work expectations?
What are the responsibilities associated with a teaching assistantship (TA)?
Is there training for new TAs?
How is my performance evaluated?
Who is my supervisor?
Who do I talk to if I need help with a problem in the classroom?
Research Mentor/Thesis Advisor
How stable is his/her research funding?
Does the advisor have tenure? If not, what is the tenure rate at this institution?
What is the advisor’s reputation in the department?
How do the advisor’s current students feel about working with this person?
Does the advisor treat students respectfully?
Does the advisor stand up for his/her students when a political situation arises?