So you’ve been accepted to a graduate school program!   Congratulations!   Now what?

Decisions.   For some, the right school seems obvious–after a bit of consideration they know just where to go.   For others, it’s an agonizing and sometimes heart-wrenching process (not to be too dramatic!)   No matter your decision-making style, and regardless of how many or how few programs you’ve been accepted to, the following advice can helpful in making a confident choice.

  • Find out about departmental open houses.   Many departments will have an official day or two designated for prospective students to come visit.   These are really beneficial, because you’ll not only get a feel for the department, but also meet several other admits who are in your same boat and could end up being friends and members of your cohort.   Even if this isn’t the case, try to schedule a campus visit and find out if the department can provide reimbursement for your travel.   I had some good luck in this area, and most folks that I talk to have been fully reimbursed for travel (and sometimes meals/lodging.)   Much of this will depend on your own schedule and obligations, but as with any major decision, I strongly suggest at least scoping out the terrain before you jump in headfirst.
  • Meet up with current grad students.   Get the 411–some may be willing to let you crash on their couches if you’re in town for the weekend.   Grad students are also a fount of information on the best places near campus to live, work, and play (and the undergrad-filled places to avoid!)
  • Sit in on a graduate seminar if possible, and if you’re up for a teaching appointment as part of your contract, ask to visit a class that you may potentially be teaching.   This can be wonderfully helpful in determining your workload both as a student and as a TA/Grad Instructor.   I regret not visiting a class during my visit, since adapting to teaching was the biggest challenge of my first semester.
  • Get a taste for the local flavor.   Visit nearby restaurants, shops, historical sites, museums, concert venues, parks–whatever is most important to you and your interests.   And as mundane as it seems, it’s always nice to know the price of a carton of (soy)milk in any place you may potentially be living, especially if you’ll be on a modest budget.
  • It’s never too early to do a little research on housing options.   Find out the names of a few renting agencies in the city the school is located.   Most of them will have websites with listings of available properties, and if you can squeeze it into your already-busy trip, try and check a few of the places out in person.   I know that in the college town where I live, properties for the following year begin renting out as early as September-October the year before (yikes!)

On an introspective level, your job on this campus visit is to take in as much information as you can.   Think of it as a form of field study:   you’re there in the moment to collect data about your program, the people involved, your surroundings.   Wait until after the whirlwind experience to sit down and really reflect on the school and decide:

Is this school really a good fit for my academic interests?
Will this department (and faculty) help me grow as a scholar and/or professional in my field?
Will the location of the school and its resources be conducive to my own happiness and growth?
What sorts of resources are available to me as an LGBTQ person?
Are the people in the department folks I can really get along with and befriend?
Can I afford to live in this city for X amount of years on X monthly/yearly income?

As cliche as it sounds, one can never make too many pro/con lists, or crunch too many numbers.   Sit down on your own and really write out and reflect on the benefits and drawbacks of the school, and be as honest and open with yourself as possible.   Don’t ignore your own biases; instead, be conscious of the reason why you are privileging or downplaying certain qualities of a school.   Be sure to breathe, relax, and don’t feel rushed into a decision, despite the weekly queries you may get from graduate coordinators.

One more thing–if there is a school you know you definitely will not be attending, it’s always good to send a quick, polite e-mail to notify them.   It helps the staff immensely, and best of all, one more anxious soul will move off the wait-list and receive some good news!

Next week I’ll be writing about dealing with rejection letters and viable options out there for potential grad students who are unsure of their next move.   For now, I’d like to ask those of you out there who are current or former grad students:   how did you make your decision on where to attend?