{"id":3063,"date":"2011-10-27T15:47:33","date_gmt":"2011-10-27T19:47:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/career\/?page_id=3063"},"modified":"2025-07-02T20:37:35","modified_gmt":"2025-07-03T00:37:35","slug":"graduate-school-resources-at-bates","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/purposeful-work\/graduate-school-resources-at-bates\/","title":{"rendered":"Graduate School Resources at Bates"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Whether you are just beginning to think about graduate school or trying to decide which program or school is right for you, <strong>Bates faculty and staff<\/strong> are an excellent resource and knowledgeable about particular areas of study.<\/p>\n<p>Questions about the application process can be directed to <strong>Lea Staedtler, Blake Edwards, or Hoi Ning Ngai<\/strong><strong>\u00a0at<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/purposeful-work\/staff-team\/\"><strong>Purposeful Work<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Students interested in applying for prominent nationally competitive awards such as the Fulbright, Rhodes, and Watson should contact <strong>Robert Strong<\/strong> <strong>at<\/strong> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/fellowships\/\">Graduate Fellowships<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Additional resources for writing personal statements are available through\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/writing.xml\">Writing @ Bates<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>Graduate School Guide:<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>If you are thinking about applying to graduate school, here are some things to consider. Please schedule an appointment with <strong>Lea Staedtler, Blake Edwards, or Hoi Ning Ngai<\/strong><strong>\u00a0at<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/purposeful-work\/staff-team\/\"><strong>Purposeful Work<\/strong><\/a> to get started!<\/p>\n<p>For specific pre-health support and resources, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/dof\/pre-health-support-resources\/\">click here<\/a>.<br \/>\nFor specific pre-law support and resources, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/purposeful-work\/pre-law-advising-resources\/\">click here<\/a>.<br \/>\nFor specific pre-business support and resources, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/purposeful-work\/pre-business-support-resources\/\">click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><b><div class=\"btn-wrap\">\n\t<div class=\"btn-action\" id=\"questions-to-ask-yourself\">\n\t\t<h3 class=\"btn-title\">Questions to ask yourself<\/h3>\n\t\t<div class=\"btn-arrow\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"btn-content\"><\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why do you want to go?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What degree(s) would be best for your goals?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What other factor(s) are important to consider?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Who at Bates (and beyond) can assist you?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When and how should you start preparing to apply?<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Are you sure?<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b><div class=\"btn-wrap\">\n\t<div class=\"btn-action\" id=\"why-you-should-go-to-grad-school\">\n\t\t<h3 class=\"btn-title\">Why you should go to grad school<\/h3>\n\t\t<div class=\"btn-arrow\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"btn-content\"><\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You want to study something you are passionate about and\/or have not had a chance to study yet<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your desired career\/occupation requires an advanced degree<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You are well-established in your career but you want to increase your earning potential with an advanced degree<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b><div class=\"btn-wrap\">\n\t<div class=\"btn-action\" id=\"why-you-should-not-go-to-grad-school\">\n\t\t<h3 class=\"btn-title\">Why you should not go to grad school<\/h3>\n\t\t<div class=\"btn-arrow\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"btn-content\"><\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You really enjoy being in school (e.g., structure) and\/or you think you have momentum now that you will not have later<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Someone else is insisting you do it (<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">e.g., family, friends, alumni, advisors\/mentors, well-meaning professionals)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b><div class=\"btn-wrap\">\n\t<div class=\"btn-action\" id=\"getting-started-and-researching-opportunities\">\n\t\t<h3 class=\"btn-title\">Getting started and researching opportunities<\/h3>\n\t\t<div class=\"btn-arrow\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"btn-content\"><\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Know what discipline\/subject or kind of academic\/professional work you want to focus on<\/li>\n<li>Know which degree would be best for your goals (e.g., Master\u2019s, Ph.D.)<\/li>\n<li>Research programs on a national and international scale &#8212; rank them based on your personal and professional interests and priorities<\/li>\n<li>Talk to Bates faculty and staff; program faculty, staff, students, and alumni; as well as professionals in your field of interest about programs and schools to consider<\/li>\n<li>Explore professional associations, academic journals, and the following websites:\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.petersons.com\/graduate-schools.aspx\">Peterson&#8217;s Grad School Search Tool<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/princetonreview.com\/grad-school\">Princeton Review&#8217;s Grad School Search Tool<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gradschools.com\/\">GradSchool.com&#8217;s Grad School Search Tool<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Ask the reference librarian at Bates for help generating a list of schools where faculty have published articles in your field of interest<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b><div class=\"btn-wrap\">\n\t<div class=\"btn-action\" id=\"questions-to-ask-when-speaking-with-graduate-program-representatives\">\n\t\t<h3 class=\"btn-title\">Questions to ask when speaking with graduate program representatives<\/h3>\n\t\t<div class=\"btn-arrow\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"btn-content\">\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>What is the curriculum?<\/li>\n<li>How long does it typically take to complete the degree?<\/li>\n<li>What are the demographics of the student body?<\/li>\n<li>What are the criteria for choosing teaching, research, and graduate assistants?<\/li>\n<li>How substantial and reliable is the financial support?<\/li>\n<li>What types of jobs have been attained by recent degree recipients?<\/li>\n<li>Can I connect with current students and recent alumni to discuss the program?<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b><div class=\"btn-wrap\">\n\t<div class=\"btn-action\" id=\"advice-for-contacting-programs-and-faculty-of-interest\">\n\t\t<h3 class=\"btn-title\">Advice for contacting programs and faculty of interest<\/h3>\n\t\t<div class=\"btn-arrow\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"btn-content\">\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Identify programs that best align with your academic\/professional interests<\/li>\n<li>Identify several professors in each program \u2013 connect your interests with their research<\/li>\n<li>Read some of their work (especially current work) <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">before<\/span> reaching out to them<\/li>\n<li>Email questions regarding the program and\/or articles or books they have written<\/li>\n<li>Indicate your own interests and propose topics that you might want to pursue<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b><div class=\"btn-wrap\">\n\t<div class=\"btn-action\" id=\"application-process-and-criteria\">\n\t\t<h3 class=\"btn-title\">Application process and criteria<\/h3>\n\t\t<div class=\"btn-arrow\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"btn-content\"><\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Identify 6-15 schools that seem like a good fit (at least 2 safety, 2 target, 2 reach schools)<\/li>\n<li>Take tests (e.g., GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT) only when you are prepared and ready. Do not take them just to give it a whirl &#8212; all scores will be seen<\/li>\n<li>Consider the strength of your grades, test scores, and other application components<\/li>\n<li>Address academic and relevant personal challenges in your application materials<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b><div class=\"btn-wrap\">\n\t<div class=\"btn-action\" id=\"personal-statement\">\n\t\t<h3 class=\"btn-title\">Personal statement<\/h3>\n\t\t<div class=\"btn-arrow\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"btn-content\"><\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Demonstrate interest in and knowledge of the discipline\/subject or kind of academic\/professional work you want to focus on<\/li>\n<li>Highlight relevant experience<\/li>\n<li>Connect your interests to the program<\/li>\n<li>Address relevant academic and\/or career goals<\/li>\n<li>Articulate your personal\/professional mission\/vision<\/li>\n<li>Be interesting and unique &#8212; schools read a lot of applications and you want to stand out<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vault.com\/blogs\/admit-one-vaults-mba-law-school-and-college-blog\/how-to-write-a-strong-grad-school-personal-statement\">Check out this great piece from Vault!<\/a> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b><div class=\"btn-wrap\">\n\t<div class=\"btn-action\" id=\"letters-of-recommendation\">\n\t\t<h3 class=\"btn-title\">Letters of recommendation<\/h3>\n\t\t<div class=\"btn-arrow\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"btn-content\"><\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Identify faculty who know you well and will write a positive, personal recommendation<\/li>\n<li>Discuss specific post-grad academic\/professional plans with them<\/li>\n<li>Provide them with relevant materials, including your resume, transcript, and written work<\/li>\n<li>Let them know when and where you are applying, especially if they have a connection<\/li>\n<li>Write thank you notes during the application process and after you receive decisions<\/li>\n<li>Ask for letters of recommendation before you graduate \u2013 faculty know you best during your time at Bates; you can have letters sent directly to an online dossier service such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.interfolio.com\/dossier\/\">Interfolio<\/a> and store them there until needed<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b><div class=\"btn-wrap\">\n\t<div class=\"btn-action\" id=\"how-to-pay-for-graduate-school\">\n\t\t<h3 class=\"btn-title\">How to pay for graduate school<\/h3>\n\t\t<div class=\"btn-arrow\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"btn-content\"><\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Contact the program representatives for each program to find out what kind of financial support they offer and how\/when to apply<\/li>\n<li>Connect with the Financial Aid Office for graduate students at each school to find out what kind of financial support they offer and how\/when to apply<\/li>\n<li>Research options such as: teaching assistants, research assistants, graduate assistants, fellowships, grants, and loans (especially subsidized loans)\n<ul>\n<li>EXAMPLE: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nsfgrfp.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The National Science Foundation&#8217;s Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)<\/a> is a prestigious fellowship available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents planning on pursuing a Ph.D. in the natural sciences, social sciences, mathematics, engineering, or STEM education. Students are eligible to apply twice &#8212; once before they start graduate school, and once in their first year of graduate school.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Check out these websites: <a href=\"https:\/\/finaid.org\/about\/\">Finaid<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.accessgroup.org\/\">Access Group Education Lending<\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b><div class=\"btn-wrap\">\n\t<div class=\"btn-action\" id=\"what-should-you-do-if-you-dont-get-in\">\n\t\t<h3 class=\"btn-title\">What should you do if you don\u2019t get in?<\/h3>\n\t\t<div class=\"btn-arrow\"><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"btn-content\"><\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>If you are waitlisted, be sure to stay in contact with applicable schools and provide updates regarding your most recent grades, awards, honors, and\/or relevant experience<\/li>\n<li>Meet with faculty and Purposeful Work staff to discuss weaknesses in your application, such as grades and test scores<\/li>\n<li>Demonstrate commitment and interest in the field by gaining work experience and\/or taking relevant courses before reapplying<\/li>\n<li>Apply to more schools, especially safety schools, in your next round of applications<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Whether you are just beginning to think about graduate school or trying&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_hide_ai_chatbot":false,"_ai_chatbot_style":"","associated_faculty":[],"_Page_Specific_Css":"","_bates_restrict_mod":false,"_table_of_contents_display":false,"_table_of_contents_location":"","_table_of_contents_disableSticky":false,"_is_featured":false,"footnotes":"","_bates_seo_meta_description":"","_bates_seo_block_robots":false,"_bates_seo_sharing_image_id":0,"_bates_seo_sharing_image_twitter_id":0,"_bates_seo_share_title":"","_bates_seo_canonical_overwrite":"","_bates_seo_twitter_template":""},"class_list":["post-3063","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","with-sidebar"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/purposeful-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3063","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/purposeful-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/purposeful-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/purposeful-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/purposeful-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3063"}],"version-history":[{"count":31,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/purposeful-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3063\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25214,"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/purposeful-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3063\/revisions\/25214"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bates.edu\/purposeful-work\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3063"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}