What year of my college career should I begin applying to graduate schools?
404633
It depends on the field.  In my field, for example, applications are generally due in late December, January, or February for consideration for fall enrollment.\n\nSo in that case, first semester senior year is the time to start sending in your applications.\n\nYou will of course want to take the GREs in the summer before your senior year.
1092238
I would highly recommend that you work for a few years before pursuing a graduate degree like an MBA.  You'll get a much better feel for the areas in which you'd like to work, plus the real world experience is invaluable when you're studying theory in school.  In the financial areas, such as investment and banking, an MBA would be almost mandatory to obtain a good career position.
893089
It depends on whether or not you want to go to college.  I wouldn't get to overwhelmed with what "career" you will have after graduation because most people go through about 7+ in a lifetime!\n\nIf you don't expect to go to college then I would start thinking Junior or Senior year as to what technical job you are interested in.  Do you like work with tools?  people? ideas? \n\nIf you do plan on going to college I would focus on what area of education you are interested in rather than what "career" as again that can change.  So just do something that interests you or you'd like to learn more about and you will do well!\n\nStill it's best to narrow these ideas down by at least Senior year.  Visit a high school counselor and he/she will be more than happy to work with you and help you take career development tests etc.
1071574
For graduate school, the reputation of the school is the secondary factor.\n\nThe primary factor in deciding is to look at the programs and find 2 or 3 professors you could see yourself working for. It can be the longest 2-3 (masters) or 4-6 (PhD) years of your life if you choose the wrong advisor, so I hear.
796544
Freshman year, that way you can be sure that is what you want to do for the rest of ya life
943688
What field are you applying to?  Are you a minority of any kind?  What kind of grades do you have?  How much money can you spend on applications?  How much time can you spend on applications?  What are your GRE scores?\nAnswer those questions to get an idea of the number to apply to.  I believe I ended up applying to 4 and my boyfriend is applying to 5.  The more competitive your major and/or the program at the school the more you should probably apply to (for example, most medical students apply to 8-15 schools).  As a master's student, you will not be offered aid at many schools so think about that as you pick schools.  \nGood luck to you.
335109
I don't think your year long gap matters if you are qualified for the job. You might want to ask a career counselor at the institution where you received your Assoc. degree check your resume and help you with the cover letter for your application. You want to make sure your application reflects your abilities, and uses the right "buzz words". The most important thing is to get to that interview. Once you are called in, be as professional and polite as you can, while showing that you would be a great person to work with.\n\nWhen you find that one job that you really want, it is going to reflect on your performance in a good way. Go for it, don't hold back, and really show that you want the job.
490533
If you're looking at R&D then definitely the PhD... a company will look at your transcripts possibly, I doubt they will care for your undergrad grades... most importantly they will look at your thesis if you're trying to get a job fresh out of school.  Otherwise, experience in the field, any research you've done in the past (including anything you had published while in school.)  That means when there's an opening for any position working with a prof you should try to get it, even if the first one isn't his research assistant it could help you get in that position later.  You want to have actual research done and at the very least be able to get a reference letter saying that you were an excellent assistant.  You will most likely start as someone's underling and it can be a long process to work your way up to making the actual research...  But you can get there if you try.
908816
You may apply for graduate school.  The requirements may be differed you should contact the school you would like to apply.  here are some common requirements:\n- complete undergraduate degree with- 3.0 G.P.A (B average, 85% of grades).\n- taken GRE or GMAT
1164849
Going strictly by the numbers, overall GPA counts but also the GPA in the last year or two.  If it is above the overall average that will help.  We understand that it often takes a year to get on track and grades may suffer a little.  Also, the last year or two is focused on the meat of the degree.  If you demonstrate competence in those courses, it is a positive.  It's assumed that graduate courses will be more focused in the degree discipline and less so on general education requirements where your GPA may have been lower.
409751
most graduate schools recommend you complete the masters program course in 2 years, or at least be pretty close to completion at that point.
579185
A Doctorate is THE way to go. I am always telling my daughters, once upon a time...a 4 year degree would make you stand out from the crowd. Now 4 year degrees are as common as high school diplomas. The MBA also have people presently standing out from the crowd but The Doctorate shows you were serious in learning every aspect and determined to do what it takes to acquire the knowledge and that are willing to use these same qualities in your career. Good luck
916069
There are times when a big name school will be needed to give you that extra head start when joining the job market.  For example, lawyers and medical field are the two big ones that come to mind where a higher named school counts as much as higher education.  Myself, I am in the engineering field and do system engineering work.  It seems that my division goes after Penn State grads like crazy (no matter how good or lousy they are).  I have been out in the job market for 20 some odd years now and frankly cannot remember much of anything that I learned in school.  Most of it is probably not relevant anyways.  So I personally feel that a degree is a degree in the long run.  Advancing through your career is all based on continued education.\n\nBest advice is to talk to someone in the specific job that you are wanting to do and ask them what is more important the ink on your diploma saying that you have a degree or the paper where that diploma came from.
294229
If you do not have a clear idea of what subject (and why) you want a Masters, I would suggest you put it off for a year or two.  A graduate degreee is something that requires a lot more of you than a BA/BS does...and you need to choose a program that excites or inspires...something you are passionate about.
1067772
It depends on what type of work you want to do. Masters degree adds on more money to your student loans but in certain fields is highly recommended. However, in some fields you could be viewed as overqualified with a Masters. \n\nI would suggest performing some informational interviews with individuals in your career of choice. Find out what they recommend. \n\nOh-A Bachelor's degree is 4 years of college and a Master's is one or two years of additional education PAST your Bachelor's.
306597
The time to graduate is not an issue.  There requirement is that you have a four year degree.  The requirement is not that you graduate in four years.
287680
Is your undergraduate major in communication?  Most Ph.D. programs require significant familiarity with the field in question.  I hope your nondegree grad courses are in that field.  And why in the world didn't you take the GREs? Very high GRE scores would help.  Your chances are not good with mediocre transcripts, but you can show that you've become a better prospect by earning As in every one of your nondegree graduate courses, getting stellar letters of recommendation from those professors, including in your application a fine example of your work in one of those courses (a 15-20 page paper), and writing a flawless, literate application essay that demonstrates your interest in, familiarity with, and suitability for the field of study.  Oh, and you should describe your particular area of research interest in that essay, with reference to current scholarship in that area.\n\nOne last thing: you should always apply to more than one program.  Faculty make admissions decisions based on students' suitability for the program.  That means that if no faculty specialize in your area of interest and want to work with you, they'll assume (rightly) that you'd be better off elsewhere, and vote against admitting you.\n\nGood luck!  As the above person wrote, it will be an uphill battle for you.