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Bad economy makes graduate school acceptance more difficult

July 28th, 2009

By Emily Simmons

In less than a month, I’ll be graduating from UT. When April rolled around I contracted an awful case of Senioritis. My friends diagnosed me with the syndrome when I started studying less and started going out more.

But my Senioritis is going to have to be short-lived because in the fall I’ll be attending graduate school. Although I like to think I’m done with school, I still have two more years. The workload and stress-level of these two years, I’ve been told, is comparable to all four years as an undergraduate.

But I’ve decided to continue my education rather than facing the stress of not finding a job. I’d much rather have the stress of classwork than the stress of being on my own and paying my own bills in a market that just doesn’t seem to be hiring.

Many universities have seen a drastic increase in graduate school applications this year. I won’t be alone because graduate school is gaining popularity. Many universities have seen a drastic increase in graduate school applications this year.

The Daily Texan reported that graduate applications at the University of Texas increased by 12 percent compared to last year. UNC Chapel Hill saw an increase of 16 percent, and the University of South Carolina saw a whopping 17 percent increase.

These numbers don’t come as a shock to me because, like other applicants, I never planned to go to graduate school. When the economy took a nose-dive, and I saw the struggle all my older friends had finding jobs, I decided to hold out a little bit longer.

Luckily my parents agreed to pay for my graduate schooling, which was my determining factor. Two more years of being supported by someone else is two less years I have to support myself.

The GW Hatchett reported that the Graduate Management Admission Test was up by 12 percent this year. So thousands of students are considering the possibility of staying in school.

Some students are staying the extra few years simply for the experience. The limited numbers of jobs tend to be filled by the people with the most experience. Graduate school gives students the higher education, and it gives them the time to gain more experience, whether through internships, assistantships, research, teaching or part-time positions.
The GW Hatchett said graduate programs seeing the biggest increase in applicants this year were in business, engineering, applied sciences and education.
Graduating students in these fields usually need a lot of experience, such as internships, in order to even be considered for a job, let alone a high-paying job. Graduate school will give them at least two more years to get this experience.

Before the economic crisis, the better graduate schools were difficult to get into, but now they’re even harder. Just because more students are applying doesn’t necessarily there will be more spots available to admit them. In fact, with budget cuts affecting almost every college, there will be even less availability than in previous years.

I applied to four graduate schools in the Southeast. Two accepted me and two didn’t. I was rejected from a college ranked top five for its communications program, and rejected by a college ranked top 50. One of the schools I was accepted in is top 25 college for its communications program, and the other top 50.

All the programs fit my interests of what I wanted to pursue, but there was a drastic difference in their rankings. When I was rejected by a top 50 school, I was shocked. I didn’t understand why I was accepted in schools that ranked higher.

I spoke with an administrator at the school, and she said they cut the number of students accepted by nearly half. The way I looked at it was that my chances were twice as hard.

It’s great to think that some us will go on to graduate school and wait out the economy. I hope we’ll have a better chance of getting a job. But the hardest part starts in the beginning because chances of even getting into a school may be twice as hard.

Budget cuts, the bad economy and the popularity of graduate schools aren’t helping students trying to get accepted. With lower acceptance rates at colleges, getting into school will continue to get harder.

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Grad school applications mixed as economy falters

April 6th, 2009

By JEANNIE KEVER
Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle

The conventional wisdom is that when the economy tanks, people go to grad school. But that may not happen this time.

“This is a very different recession,” said Nathan Bell, director of research and policy analysis for the Council of Graduate Schools. “It’s kind of an unknown still.”

Some graduate and professional programs are reporting more applications for next fall than they had received a year ago. Others aren’t.

And even when applications are up, admissions officials say it’s not clear whether more people are applying, or the same number of people are applying to more schools.

“Some schools are up, and others aren’t,” said Monica Ingram, assistant dean for admissions and financial aid at the University of Texas school of law, where applications are up 8 percent over last year. “It’s odd.”

Looking for aid

Perhaps more telling is the increase in applications for scholarships and fellowships.

Applications for graduate programs at Texas Tech University are up by 20 percent domestically, and 26 percent among international students; meanwhile, graduate school Dean Fred Hartmeister reported an even steeper increase in applications for scholarships and grants.

“That’s an indication of financial hardship and the worldwide economy,” he said.

The federal stimulus package and President Barack Obama’s proposed budget both promise additional money for financial aid and student loans, but few details are available so far.

Admissions officials hope the programs give a boost to people who want to attend graduate school, said Marco Mariotto, dean of the office of graduate and professional studies at the University of Houston.

But other aspects of the recession, especially the credit crunch, are causing uncertainty.

Enhancing skills

That may impact student loans and home-equity loans, making it harder for people to pay for graduate school, said Latha Ramchand, associate dean of programs and administration at UH’s Bauer College of Business. Applications there are running about even with last year, but the deadline has not yet passed.

Overall, Mariotto predicts an increase in business, engineering and other fields that directly enhance job skills.

The true impact of the recession may come the following year, said Robert C. Webb, interim dean for graduate studies at Texas A&M University. That’s because most people began planning for graduate school the previous fall.

“The economy was going badly last fall, but it wasn’t clear how bad it was going to get until Christmas time,” he said. “So it may be … something that will take a little bit of time to see.”

‘So much we don’t know’

Applications to the UH Law Center were up just 2.8 percent for its full-time program, said Jamie Hammers West, assistant dean for admissions.

That’s a lower increase than the school expected, but West echoed others in noting that this recession hasn’t been typical.

“For young people to be making decisions, there’s so much they don’t know,” she said. “There’s so much we don’t know.”

Nationally, Mariotto said, the numbers have been equally unpredictable. “It doesn’t seem to be fitting cleanly into the old models, that applications go up when the economy goes down, and vice versa.”

Still, he said, students set to graduate in May appear to be applying to graduate school as a safety net, in case they can’t find a job.

“What we may see is some of those students hedging their bets, saying, ‘I should apply for graduate school, too,’ ” he said. “If I were in their position, I would hedge my bets, too.”

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Economy Influences Graduate School Applications

December 26th, 2008

After she graduates, UC Berkeley senior Lauren Apter is steering clear of the souring job market and opting for the Peace Corps. But the dwindling availability of jobs and surging national unemployment rates have led her to consider another move after that-graduate school.

“I definitely say my choice in grad school is definitely heightened by the economy,” she said. “The idea that I can still continue my education provides me with a nice security blanket.”

Apter is not alone.

Joseph Duggan, associate dean of UC Berkeley’s graduate division, said that as of Nov. 30, the number of graduate school applications is 28 percent higher than the same time last year-the biggest spike he has seen in his 23 years in the division.

So far, about 7,814 applications have come in, compared with 6,115 last year. Roughly 35,000 applications come in yearly.

“I don’t remember ever having that large of a jump,” Duggan said. “This is quite a big rise. They usually go up and down three or four percent.”

For more: http://www.dailycal.org/article/103823/economy_influences_graduate_school_applications

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In Changing Economy, Graduate School Becoming a Necessity

December 8th, 2008

by Michelle Nealy

Access to graduate education is an invaluable resource for this generation of Americans. For the “public good” of the nation, the U.S. government must allocate more in the way of financial support and public policy to ensure that students have access to and experience success in some form of graduate studies, a new study reports.

Most scholars agree with Salem State College President Patricia Meservey’s current assessment of the American educational system and future job market. “In the world that looms before us, a bachelor’s degree alone will no longer suffice. More jobs than ever will require both advanced degrees and advanced credentials.”

“A strong link exists between U.S. graduate education, the production of knowledge and economic and social prosperity,” said Rep. Lois Capps, D-Calif., during press briefing Thursday in Washington on the societal benefits of graduate education.

Reading the opening lines of a report released by Council of Graduate Schools, Capps said, “The United States needs a cadre of high-skilled leaders and experts in a variety of fields to address current and future challenges.”

In a 20-page report titled “Graduate Education and the Public Good” researchers at the Council of Graduate Schools illuminated the obvious and obscure benefits of a graduate education for the nation, as opposed to a single individual.

It is common knowledge: the more education one has, the more one earns. On average, adults with advanced degrees earn about 44 percent more than those with bachelor’s degrees, the U.S. Census Bureau reported.

The federal government benefits in many ways from having a highly educated population that garners high wages: increased tax revenue, greater productivity, increased work force flexibility and decreased reliance on government and financial assistance.

“Without advanced education we wouldn’t have medicine,” said Dr. Joann M. Eisenhart, vice president for human resources for Pfizer’s Global Research and Development Organization and Pfizer’s Medical Division, noting another societal benefit afforded through graduate education.

Since Benjamin Franklin attached a key to a kite string, research and innovation have always been the drivers of the U.S. economy. Invention coupled with groundbreaking research has allowed this nation to carry the title of superpower nearly 100 years, the report indicates.

Graduate school enrollment increased by 2 percent from 2004 to 2005 thanks to a spurt in the numbers of female and Black students earning advanced degrees, according to a 2006 report released by the Council of Graduate Schools. To sustain that growth by recruiting more ethnic minorities to higher education, institutions will have to buy them, the scholars said.

In 2006, Black graduate students composed the largest minority group, not counting non-U.S. citizens, with 135,020 students, or roughly 12 percent of the fall 2005 graduate population. Hispanics were the second largest group at 7 percent. Asians and American Indians were 6 percent and 1 percent, respectively.

“Getting more first generation and low-income students in graduate schools, you are going to have buy them,” said Nan Wells, the former director of government relations at Princton University. “Many students are concerned about the costs of graduate studies. Graduate students need reliable, multi-year financial support,” she said.

Strengthening American research in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics is imperative to secure our position as a global leader in the future.

According to the report, the social effects of a graduate education are far reaching.

Parents with postsecondary degrees are more likely to educate their children about community, national and world events. They are more likely than parents who did not complete college to involve their children in community activities, such as concerts, religious services, sporting events or plays. Individuals with graduate degrees are more likely to vote, read the newspaper frequently and engage in shaping local tax policies.

Beneficiaries of graduate education become the teachers of tomorrow, said Dr. Joan Lorden, former associate provost for the graduate school at the University of Alabama, Birmingham.

“At the state level, undergraduate students are often the focus of public discussions. But it is the people with advanced degrees who train our future teachers. Their impact is felt all the way up the line,” Lorden said.

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As economy declines, graduate schools see more applications

December 8th, 2008

Juliana Gabrovsky (Contact)
Published: Monday, December 1, 2008

There might be a downturn in the economy, but there is no downturn in graduate school applicants.

Studies predict an increase in graduate student applicants as the current economic crisis causes students to worry about job security.

Balint Szoke, a fourth-year history student, said the current economic crisis has caused him to worry about his ability to finance any future education.

While students such as Szoke may be concerned about covering the costs of their education, these same students might actually be staying in school longer in today’s uncertain economic times.

Test preparatory giant Kaplan reported as much as a 45 percent rise in interest in law, business and graduate school programs since Sept. 1.

Many predict corresponding increases in the competitiveness for admission to graduate schools.

In fact, 75 percent of business schools said the admissions process is more competitive than three years ago, according to a recent Kaplan survey of 245 business schools.

“We have seen in recent years that the quality of applicants has increased across the board,” said Mae Jennifer Shores, assistant dean and director of MBA admissions at the UCLA Anderson School of Management.

For those contemplating applying to business school, however, it might be reassuring to know that more than half of all business schools surveyed are also considering accommodating this surge in applicants by increasing capacity, some by as much as 25 percent.

The UCLA School of Law also saw a 37 percent increase in applicants from 5,834 in 2006 to 8,007 in 2008, said Robert Schwartz, associate dean of admission at the law school.

Although both the UCLA School of Law and Anderson do not have any plans to increase capacity, they have made other changes to their admissions process.

The law school added an early decision option and Anderson is allowing applicants to submit their personal statements on tape in order to demonstrate their communication skills.

However, the size of an applicant pool does not necessarily dictate the level of competition.

Contrary to the overall graduate applicant trend, a decrease was reported in law school applicants nationwide in 2007.

A Kaplan survey reported at the time that 79 percent of law schools said the shrinking applicant pool had no effect upon the competitiveness of their admissions process, according to Daily Bruin archives.

“Even though the applicant pool might shrink, it doesn’t mean that the quality of applicants will shrink,” said Priya Dasgupta, director of graduate programs at Kaplan.

Similarly, Shores said she does not think the increased quality of business school applicants is due to an increase in the number of applicants.

“Our applicant numbers are sufficiently large enough that it would only have a very marginal effect on someone’s chances of getting into our program,” Shores said.

Some applicants, fearful of the economic situation and concerned about job prospects, might be applying last-minute without the usual preparation, experts said.

However, not all applicants contributing to this upward trend are a result of spontaneous decision-making.

Dasgupta said that many students have told her they were already considering graduate school, but being hammered with news of the current economic crisis was the final push to apply.

In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows a direct correlation between education level and ability to whether an economic storm, Dasgupta said.

“An MBA gives students extra flexibility that will allow them to shift from one job sector to another during unstable times,” Shores said.

Szoke, like many students, worries about accruing more debt in an economic downturn.

But he said he still plans on attending graduate school because he is even more concerned about getting a job that will actually let him pay off his student loans.

Historically, graduate schools have always risen in popularity during an economic downturn, Dasgupta said, and law school applicant pools have been especially cyclical.

According to data compiled by the Law School Admission Council, the number of law school applicants tends to rise during recessions and decrease during economic improvements.

However, some graduate schools, such as medical schools are not as directly affected by the economy, Dasgupta said.

Consequently, they are less susceptible to this type of constant cyclical change than business and law schools.

Law and business schools don’t require an undergraduate preparation like medical schools do, so students can delay their decision to apply until senior year or even until after graduation.

“This is a time for students to explore all their options,” Dasgupta said. “The economic downturn is going to allow students to reconsider their career path.”

While not applying directly from college does not necessarily put an applicant at a disadvantage, Dasgupta said she encourages students who are not applying immediately to still take the admissions exam as soon as possible.

Statistically, applicants perform better on the exams when taken during their college career or immediately after, Dasgupta said.

While some students are biting their nails at the prospect of an even more competitive graduate applications process, some experts tell students not to be discouraged by news of an increase in graduate applicants.

“It’s never a bad idea to go to a graduate school,” Dasgupta said.

Encouraging students to apply, she offered reassuring advice for the nervous applicant.

“Do your research. There are a lot of schools out there. Make sure you find one that fits you,” Dasgupta said. “Given the competitive nature, you have to keep your options open.”

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Hiding from a poor economy in graduate school

November 24th, 2008

By Micael Kemp

“I want to go to grad school, I just don’t know what in. I’ll go grad school, then look for work when the economy is stronger. ”

As the economy stumbles and shifts, students increasingly consider extending their stay in higher education with a quick add-on of another year or two of graduate school. Is this a good idea?

There are exactly two good reasons for going to graduate/professional school. Can pick them from the list below?
1. I am pursing a career that requires an advanced degree.
2. I need to buy a few years while I figure out my career.
3. I have a passion for a particular subject and 4 years of study just isn’t enough.
4. I want to earn more money.

If you chose #1, you are right. Some careers require advanced education: college professor, psychologist, marine biologist, lawyer, researcher, doctor, sociologist, architect, etc. If you are considering such a profession, then graduate/professional school is your next step. If you’re not sure if jobs you are considering require advanced education, you can access that information using the Occupational Outlook Handbook, a comprehensive primer put out by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, any of the other major career online guides, Vault (which you’ll find in your GauchLink Account under Announcements) or stop by Career Services.

If you chose #2, graduate/professional school may be a poor choice for you. Advanced education is an expensive and time consuming endeavor. Most graduate/professional programs are highly competitive. In a poor economy, competition will be even steeper, as experienced workers who have been laid off are looking at graduate school as a way to retool for their next career, creating an even steeper ratio of applicants to admits. Costs are also a consideration. If you don’t have a clear career goal in mind, you could end up buying a degree that won’t offer you a return on your investment. Rather than paying thousands of dollars per year for the privilege of not knowing what to do next, why not get a job and have someone pay you? You can still go to graduate school later if it turns out you need or want to, and you will be a much better student once you know why you’re there.

If you chose #3, you’re right again. If you simply can’t imagine going through life without knowing everything there is to know about the mating habits of nudibranchs, or the history of Apartheid, or the evolution of the English language, you are tailor made for graduate school. If your undergraduate education has only whet your appetite and you simply need to learn more, if you feel driven to immerse yourself in every possible aspect of your area of interest, then graduate school is the right path for you.

If you chose #4, you’re probably barking up the wrong tree. Companies do not pay employees by how much education they have, but by the work they do. An administrative assistant gets paid the same salary regardless of whether s/he has a BA, an MBA or a PhD. While it’s true that doctors with their MDs earn more than taxi drivers regardless of degree ($105-$202K versus $28-$40K), it’s also true that plumbers, whose jobs require no higher education, earn more than licensed professional counselors, whose jobs require Master’s degrees ($60-63K versus $30-$43K). (Salaries from www.salary.com for 93106 zip code.)

If graduate school is your next logical step, then start getting ready now. Here’s a time line that can help you see what you need to be doing and when.

If you’re convinced that graduate school is not your best next step, then there are all kinds of options open to you. You might look at post-BA internships, management training or other entry level options (talk to recruiters at the upcoming job fairs, or talk to your career counselor about other ways earn money while you wait out the economy. If you work your way the tough times, the good news is that companies often lay off their more experienced, more expense staff and replace them with less experienced, less expensive people — newly minted grads, for instance. The poor economy can actually work in your favor.

Next week I’ll talk about recession-proofing your career. Tune in to see how you can increase your options and chances for getting hired.

Have more questions about what the heck to do once you have that degree? E-mail Micael Kemp at micael.kemp@sa.ucsb.edu

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Programs help with tuition in exchange for public service

November 24th, 2008

By G. Jeffrey MacDonald, Special for USA TODAY

Tufts University junior Dean Ladin expected to owe as much as $40,000 in student loans upon graduation and assumed he’d need to postpone for years his dream of working in youth services.

But now he’s planning to apply for a low-paying teaching job in a high-need setting. By doing so, he will become eligible for a program, launched earlier this year, to help Tufts graduates pay down their debts if they go to work in a public service field

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Graduate Schools Magazine Launches its exclusive online Blog

November 5th, 2008

Welcome to Graduate Schools Magazine Blog, an online interactive forum for perspective, current and former graduate students. In addition, graduate faculty and administrators are welcomed to discuss various topics of interest to this online community. LET THE CONVERSATIONS BEGIN!!!

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www.GradSchoolsMag.com

Bad economy makes graduate school acceptance more difficult

Grad school applications mixed as economy falters

Looking for aid

Enhancing skills

‘So much we don’t know’

Economy Influences Graduate School Applications

In Changing Economy, Graduate School Becoming a Necessity

As economy declines, graduate schools see more applications

Hiding from a poor economy in graduate school

Programs help with tuition in exchange for public service

Graduate Schools Magazine Launches its exclusive online Blog

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