Focusing on Fit: Finding the Right Graduate Program for You
Brandy L. Simula
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Determining a program’s fit before entering that program can strongly influence your happiness there. By fit, I mean how well a program’s philosophy, goals, and climate mesh with your own needs, goals, and personality. It is relatively easy to find program rankings, determine whether there are faculty members present with whom you would like to work, and whether the program offers the concentration you are interested in. However, it can be quite difficult to determine whether a program is a good fit for you. Although it is unlikely that you will find a program that meets your preferences in every way, it is likely that you will find that certain programs meet your academic goals more than others. The key is to determine the factors that are important to you.
A variety of factors influence whether a program will be a good fit for you. Which factors go into our definition of fit and the relative importance of each is something that is unique to each of us. My purpose in this essay is to share with you some common questions that students ask when they are attempting to determine fit and to demonstrate how you might go about determining which arrangement fits you best. These questions are intended as a starting point from which you can create your own set of questions to help you determine fit. It is important to know not only what arrangement is in place at each program, but which arrangement you prefer.
Would you be happiest in a large or small program?
Large programs usually offer more courses, faculty members with whom you can work, and diverse areas of concentration but have larger class sizes and make it difficult to connect with faculty. Small programs make it easier for students to connect with faculty members and one another and facilitate collaboration but offer less variety of courses and fewer faculty members with whom you can work.
Do you prefer structure or flexibility in designing your plan of study and area of concentration?
Highly structured programs make it easier to map out your plan of study and facilitate preparation for exams and the dissertation but can reduce your control over coursework and your plan of study. A more flexible program might allow you to create your own plan of study and include the courses that best serve your own goals but might make it difficult for you to ascertain what training you need and may make it difficult for you to determine whether you are meeting the requirements of the program.
Does the program offer fellowship or assistantship support?
Fellowship support allows a student to pursue his/her own research goals while assistantship support provides students with research and teaching training. Assistantships facilitate relationships between students and faculty members but limit students’ ability to pursue their own studies unless the assistantship duties are related to the research or professional goals of the student.
How do graduate students relate to one another?
Programs that have fewer sources of funding than students often foster competition. Competition can motivate students, but often prevents collaboration. Programs that value collaboration over competition encourage students to work together on conference presentations and publications. In some programs, students across cohorts work together, while in others, students from different cohorts spend very little time together. Some programs value collaboration across concentrations while others encourage students to work with others in their same concentration. The diversity or similarity of students’ backgrounds influences programs in many ways, including relations between students.
Does the program provide private, shared, or no office space?
The availability of office space influences relationships between students and how much work students are expected to do on campus. Sharing office space can help to create strong bonds between students and can facilitate collaboration, but it can also be a distraction from work. Programs that provide office space to students usually expect students to be more visible on campus. Not having office space can mean that students have to work harder to form relationships and have to find another place from which to work. However, office spaces that are shared among many students are often not ideal places to work because there are many distractions.
Are computers provided in student offices, in a computer lab, or not at all?
Even in you have your own computer, some of your courses may require you to use software that you do not have on your own computer. Sharing computers, like sharing office space, facilitates friendships and collaboration between students but it can also hinder your ability to get work done.
Does the program focus on preparing students for careers in Research I institutions or can it help students prepare for a variety of different career paths?
Programs that focus on preparing students for Research I careers are usually very effective at preparing student for Research I careers but are not as effective at preparing students for careers in the private sector or at liberal arts schools or community colleges. Conversely, programs that can prepare students for a wide variety of career paths may not be as effective at preparing students for a Research I career.
Conclusion
Knowing the answers to these questions and knowing which arrangement you prefer can help you to
determine whether a program is a good fit for you. I don’t believe that there is any such thing as a
‘perfect’ fit, but some programs will be a much better fit for you than others. Being in a program
that is a good fit for you will positively influence your happiness and success in graduate school
because you will be in a place that facilitates your work and feels right for you.