Many individuals think they know everything about grad school after discussing the subject with current or former graduate students, or reading about advanced degree requirements on the internet. Unfortunately quite a bit of the available info is often error prone, like the common myths described below that simply aren’t true!

Myth 1 – You Can’t Get Funding

The first myth involves financial aid.  Many qualified people think they simply can’t get funding. The fact is qualified applicants can get financial aid for grad school if they apply for it early enough in the applicant review cycle. If you’re someone wanting to attend graduate school and receive financial aid you’ll need to file the FAFSA  in advance to find out how much you qualify for. This process really helps many qualified applicants receive financial aid they never believed possible.

Myth 2 – It’s Impossible To Get In

While graduate school is harder to get into than undergraduate college it is not impossible. You greatly increase your chance of getting approved when you spend the necessary time to put together a polished, detailed application.

Popular universities get many more applications than they have spaces for candidates to fill. One way to avoid disappointment is to have very good grades in undergraduate school and to ace your admissions tests.You’ll find very useful information about study guides and how to pass admission tests in Best GRE Test Prep Course for 2018-2019 + Practice Tests.

Myth 3 – You must pursue graduate education at the same undergraduate school you attend

There are a multitude of qualified colleges and universities throughout America that will provide you with a quality graduate degree. You can apply anywhere that offers a graduate curriculum in your area of interest and are not limited to the undergraduate school you attend. And while there are definite benefits in staying at the same college or university such as familiarity with campus, college professors, curriculum, etc., you are far more likely to succeed in getting into graduate school if you expand the number of institutions you apply for.

Myth 4 – You must start graduate school immediately upon successful completion of undergraduate studies

This is absolutely not true. Oftentimes it is actually better to  take a year or two away from education and give yourself some time away from the college grind. In fact if you get a job in your area of interest before applying for graduate school you increase your chances of getting accepted at even highly competitive, popular institutions.

Myth 5 – You must pursue an advanced degree in the same area of undergraduate study

You do not have to pursue an advanced degree in the same area as your undergraduate study. In fact you may have discovered that you really do not want to continue in the field you selected and would like to use your successful completion of the undergraduate degree to transfer into a related (or even unrelated) field that is of greater interest to you.  Don’t be afraid to try something new if you discover your previous choice of career path is not a good fit for you anymore.

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