and do some initial research on all the institutions you have on your list. Assess not only the content of material on school websites but the way in which it’s presented as well. Is infor- mation easy to find? Is the tone friendly and inviting? Are there quick and easy ways to request more information? Speaking of which, this would be a good time to request written informa- tion from each institution (you can do so right on CollegeXpress by clicking the "Connect me" buttons on each grad school pro- file!). This will enable you to review what you receive any time you want. It will also provide you an opportunity to find out just how responsive admission offices are. This can be very telling and may shed light on the general level of responsiveness of the institutions you have contacted. Give each school a grade from A to F on their website and the level of responsiveness they provide.
Narrow down your list (a little!) Based on a school's website and responsiveness, you are now in a position to narrow your search a bit—just don’t narrow it too much. Obviously, the institutions you’ve graded with an "F" could most likely be eliminated. But you may be surprised at some of the options you’re eliminating should you rely com- pletely on the grades given. If you still have an interest in a college or university that you didn’t initially grade well, keep it on the list for now. However, if you continue to get the same treatment as you did when you were first browsing their web- site and/or requesting information, ask yourself the following question: If I’m being treated this way now, how will it be if I apply, am offered admission, and enroll?
Compare schools and programs It's time to start filling in your spreadsheet! Across the top will be an alphabetical list of your grad school options. In the left- hand column will be the criteria you want to compare—every- thing from your research to admission details to the interactions you have with the school. Here are some suggestions:
• Website grade • Responsiveness grade
• Usefulness of printed materials/brochures • Friendliness of admission staff
• Number of students enrolled in the entire institution • Number of students enrolled in the program you’re considering
• Student-faculty ratio • Average class size • Grading system • Facilities
• Housing options (should you be relocating) • Extracurricular opportunities
• Career services/employment percentages • Tuition cost per year • Total cost of education per year • Financial aid (scholarships, loans, assistantships, fellowships, work-study) • Application deadlines • Application fees • Application requirements (including what standardized test[s] are needed)
• Interactions with current students • Interactions with faculty • Interactions with alumni
• Campus visit/admission event(s) you attended • Do you need an interview? • Do they have a wait list?
• Can you appeal/get feedback if denied?
Some of the columns in your spreadsheet will have letter grades; some will say “yes,” “no,” or “maybe”; some will be dates, dollar amounts, or various numerical responses; and some will be more evaluative (for example, a scale of 1–5, with 1 being terrible and 5 being outstanding).
CollegeXpress.com @CollegeXpress
Rank your schools After reviewing your entire spreadsheet, do a general rank order of the options that remain. You could rank every option, starting with #1 and going to the end of the list. Or you could group your options: top group, second group, third group, etc. Whenever possible, you should have at least five to 10 options left. Hopefully you’ll have many more; however, de- pending on the type of graduate program you want, the num- ber of options will vary. The point is that you’re not at a place where you need to have a “short list.” You’re still almost a year away from applying and will have several opportunities to narrow down your list before that time.
Remember, you can and should feel free to change your re- search spreadsheet evaluations at any time. Perhaps further information and/or contact with one or more of your options will cause them to go up or down on your list. That’s another great reason to take plenty of time to do your research. You tend to learn more about an institution the longer you research it. And while important, first impressions may change later based on repeated observation and communication.
Donald C. Martin is a former Dean and Director
of Admission at several universities as well as the founder of
GradSchoolRoadMap.com.
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