Graduate School

Interested in attending graduate school at A&M-San Antonio? Learn more from the Office of Research and Graduate Studies.

If your eye is on graduate or professional school, it is wise to spend time considering your goals and career plans in detail. Graduate study involves a significant commitment of time, money, and energy, so pursuing your path with a clear vision is essential. 

Is Graduate School for Me?
Before applying, familiarize yourself with work conditions, employment prospects, and other field requirements. Consult with mentors to estimate your readiness. Then ask yourself: "Is graduate study necessary to accomplish my goals?" If the answer is yes, the resources here will help you prepare for the exam needed in your field.

Graduate School: Typical Application Requirements
The below lists show graduate schools' materials when evaluating your applications. Since each graduate program is different, they may require additional materials, so you should always check with the schools to ensure you submit all necessary materials by established deadlines.

Transcripts – You will be required to submit transcripts from all colleges attended, regardless of whether or not a degree was obtained. They will look at your GPA as part of the application process. They might also set minimum GPA requirements, so you must review the application website carefully.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Scores – Most the graduate programs will require you to take the GRE test and submit scores for their review. They might also set minimum GRE requirements, so be aware of them.

Personal Statement – You will be asked to submit a personal statement as part of your application. This document is usually between 500 and 1000 words, but you should review each school's requirements to ensure the limit. You may be asked to write about a specific prompt to discuss information related to why you are interested in graduate school, your reasons for choosing their school and program, personal goals/passions related to your desire to pursue graduate school, accomplishments, and experience, career goals, etc. You will want to make an appointment with your Career Advisor to get your statement critiqued.

Interview – An interview is not required for most master's programs. However, always be ready because some schools might conduct interviews for their application evaluation criteria. On the other hand, interviewing is a considerable part of application for a doctoral program.

Recommendations – Recommendation letters and/or rating forms are also required to evaluate your application. You will be asked to submit 2-3 recommendations to assess your ability to succeed in graduate school. You may want to ask for recommendations from faculty members you have worked with or learned from academically or managers/supervisors who have overseen your professional work.

Researching Programs and Schools
Keep in mind: It is vital to gather information about graduate programs of interest to you in your chosen field and schools before making your decision! You need to consider several factors, including the program's culture and quality, cost of the degree, deadlines, admission requirements, etc. Here are a few great resources to get you started with your research:

• A&M-SA Graduate Programs
• Top Masters Programs in the U.S.
• Peterson's Graduate School Guide
• The #1 Graduate School Directory on the Planet
• Study.com
• Princeton Review

For more information on preparing for graduate school, make an appointment with your Career Advisor.

Note: If you are an international applicant, then you may be required to submit additional documents such as TOEFL/IELTS (English proficiency), transcript evaluation (any degree received outside of the U.S.), financial support letter, etc. when you apply for a graduate program in the United States.