Start compiling your list of possible colleges from recommendations from professors and teachers, and other students. Look at different colleges that you find by doing searches on the fields of interest you want to pursue and also pay attention to the colleges that people you respect in your chosen field attended. There are both private and public universities that offer coursed of study for your MS degree. Tuitions are higher at private institutions, but just like with undergraduate work, there are scholarships and grants available for those going to graduate school also.
Your school’s ranking can play a part in your decision, but there are many more factors than just the ranking that you should consider. Location, cost, the types of programs they offer, entrance requirements, courses of study, and more will all factor into your choice.
If the graduate schools you’re looking at are close, try to go visit and take a look around. It is definitely good to get a feel for the school and there’s no better way to do that than to go to the campus and talk to other students and professors and see what their facilities are like.
If you are already in a career, then the numerous online graduate programs available now may appeal to you. They are great for students who already have jobs, families and other responsibilities. With online graduate programs, you can adapt them to your schedules a little better, and not have to worry about commutes or extra time away from family. You will need to be very diligent to attend an online graduate program, and make sure you don’t treat it any different than you would a program you attended in person.
When making your final decisions be sure that you know the admissions requirements for the schools you want to apply for – all of the admissions requirements. Make sure that you know what tests you need to take, essays that may need to be submitted for entrance consideration, GPA requirements, letters of recommendations you need and anything else the school requires for admission.
Also be sure you know what is expected of you to graduate with your MS degree. How many credit hours will you need? Will you have to write a thesis? Are internships required or any oral exams? And do they give you any credit for work experience you have and any other degrees you have. All these are important things to know before you decide on a school.
This is an important decision, so take your time, start in plenty of time so you don’t have to rush and enjoy the process. Getting your MS degree is an exciting thing, so you should be able to enjoy the whole process.