Applying to a Master's Program
A Master's degree is an advanced academic or professional degree that demonstrates a high level of mastery in a specific field of study or professional practice. Whether you are looking to advance in your current career path, go into a new field, or build research experience before applying to a doctoral program, a Master's degree can be a good strategic next step.
Types of Master's Programs
Not all Master's degrees serve the same purpose, so it is important to identify which track aligns with your long-term goals before applying:
- Professional/Terminal Master's (e.g., MSW, MURP, MFT): These are typically more about coursework and hands-on experience. They are designed to prepare you for a specific career immediately after graduation. They often require internships or fieldwork rather than a thesis. You can learn about different degrees in each major through the guides at the bottom of this page.
- Research-Based Master's (M.A., M.S.): These programs focus heavily on academic research and often culminate in a master's thesis. They are often very good stepping stones for students who eventually would like to pursue a Ph.D. but need more research experience, a better GPA, or stronger letters of recommendation.
Length of Program
Master's programs usually take 1 to 2 years to complete full-time, but the format can vary depending on your goals:
- Traditional On-Campus: Most applications open in the early fall of your senior year, and deadlines typically range from December to March for admission the following fall, although some programs offer rolling admissions or spring starts.
- Accelerated (4+1) Pathways: Many universities offer programs where undergraduates can begin taking graduate-level courses during their senior year. This allows you to finish a master's (often in related fields like Business, Management, or Public Policy) in just one additional year.
- Online and Low-Residency: Many professional master's degrees are designed for working professionals. These allow students to gain field experience full-time while completing coursework online.
Typical Application Components
Every program is different, so it is very important to know your specific requirements, but you can generally expect to submit the following:
- Statement of Purpose (SOP) and Personal Statement: The SOP focuses on your academic interests, career goals, and why this specific program is a good fit for you. Some schools also ask for a Personal Statement, which focuses more on your background, lived experiences, and personal journey. You can find more information about these essays here.
- Letters of Recommendation: Programs typically require 2 to 3 letters. For research-based programs, these should primarily be from faculty, especially those with whom you have done research. For professional programs, a mix of faculty and professional supervisors is often good.
- Transcripts: You will need official or unofficial transcripts from all undergraduate institutions attended. This includes community college and any colleges through which you may have taken classes in high school, if applicable.
- Standardized Tests (usually GRE): Many programs have transitioned to making the GRE optional or have completely eliminated it. Make sure to check the specific requirements for each program on your list, and do not take the GRE if you do not need to.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume: Depending on the program type, you will submit a professional resume (for terminal degrees) or an academic CV (for research degrees).
- Writing Samples: Many research-based programs will ask for an academic writing sample to evaluate your analytical and academic writing skills. Typically, the best type of paper to turn in is an honors thesis, published paper, or large research project that you did, ideally related to your field of study.
- Reaching Out to Faculty: A very important step (especially for research-based degrees) that students often miss is reaching out to faculty. If you are applying to a program where you will be working closely in a lab or with a specific faculty mentor, you often need to identify and reach out to a specific Principal Investigator (PI) or faculty mentor before you apply to ensure they are accepting new students. If you apply to someone who is not accepting, your application will immediately be rejected no matter how good it was.
Funding
Unlike many Ph.D. programs, the majority of Master's programs are not fully funded. Therefore, it is important to understand how you will finance your education.
- Financial Aid: You can submit the FAFSA to potentially qualify for federal student loans and work-study.
- Assistantships: Some programs offer Teaching Assistant (TA) or Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) positions, which can provide a stipend and partial or full tuition remission.
- Fellowships and Scholarships: Look for internal departmental scholarships as well as external fellowships early in the application process.
- Employer Sponsorship: Many students in terminal or online professional master's programs receive partial or full tuition reimbursement from their employers in the public sector, nonprofits, or government agencies.
Still Deciding? Let's Talk!
Trying to create a timeline or still figuring out which program is best for you? Come meet with us to help plan and build your applications, or to narrow down your top programs of interest.