If you’ve started looking into graduate school, you already know there are hundreds of master’s and PhD programs out there.
Certain degrees — a Master of Arts in English or Master of Science in Chemistry, for example — are available at almost any university that offers graduate programs. Oftentimes, these programs can look virtually the same on the surface, and that’s where the hard work comes in.
Figuring out if a program is the right fit for your goals, interests and circumstances means wading through a sea of information, including specializations and potential career pathways, differences in program timelines and pacing, and options for hands-on learning experiences.
It’s a lot to wrap your head around. On the bright side, with so many options out there, you’re bound to find the ideal program for you.
In this step-by-step guide, we’ll walk you through the top six areas to consider when deciding on a graduate program, with stories from real Waterloo graduate students about how they chose their path.
1. Dig into the details
When Taylor Kurta decided to turn her passion for music therapy into a doctoral research project, she wasn’t looking for just any health sciences program. The musician and neuroscience grad had worked in long-term care and seen the ways that music therapy programs for people living with dementia focused too heavily on medicalized outcomes. Instead, she wanted to explore how music can enrich lives.
In Waterloo’s Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies, she found a program and supervisor that offer a unique, holistic understanding of aging and dementia care.
“Coming from a neuroscience background, I had never done qualitative research before, so this program was a big shift,” Kurta says. “But the focus on aging, health, and well-being challenged me to think about the holistic needs of individuals — not just as patients or clients, but as people with unique experiences, needs and desires.”
Kurta’s journey is a great example of how finding the right fit for your unique interests may require a bit of digging. Grad programs of the same name may seem similar across different universities, but there are often substantial differences in the actual curriculum and theoretical approach. Take time to understand the nuts and bolts of the program — and even widen your search to include adjacent disciplines. Understanding the content, focus and specializations available is key to finding the right fit.
Next steps
- Review the course titles and descriptions for details about the subjects, theories and perspectives the program covers. Do they align with your interests and career path?
- Get to know the various program streams and specializations. How can these help you differentiate and find a niche?
2. Research the research
For many future students, especially those on a research path, finding the right supervisor is the deciding factor when it comes to choosing a grad program and school. It’s important to do your research before you start your academic research to make sure the faculty expertise suits your needs.
After studying in Dublin and Oxford, Isabel Jorgensen chose to do her PhD at Waterloo so that she could stay on with her master’s supervisor, Dr. Dustin Garrick, who had just accepted a research chair position in the School of Environment, Resources, and Sustainability (SERS). The chance to continue her master’s research with Garrick, along with the interdisciplinary focus in SERS, were a perfect fit for the international student.
“What I like about SERS is that they don’t try to emphasize disciplinary alignment; they emphasize some level of disciplinary breadth,” Jorgensen says. “And then you still have expertise in certain things, but you approach a problem from multiple angles. It was always an approach that I'd been taking, so it was exciting.”
Even if you don’t have a supervisor in mind or aren’t pursuing a research-based degree, faculty fit and expertise are an important piece of your graduate experience — whether your focus is interdisciplinary like Jorgensen or highly specialized.
Next steps
- Read through the faculty profiles on the program website and make a list of people whose research and experience resonates with you and your research interests.
- Reach out to a few professors to introduce yourself, express interest and ask questions about their work and availability.
- Explore current research opportunities for graduate students to get a sense of what’s out there.
3. Do it on your own time
When thinking about applying to grad school, it’s normal to wonder, How will it fit into my life? The beauty of many graduate programs is that they’re designed to do just that. Many grad students have careers, families and other life commitments. Depending on your circumstances, studying full-time might not be an option. Fortunately, many course-based and professional graduate programs offer part-time and/or online streams.
For Chinazom Uwaoma, the option to study part-time in the Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology gave him the breathing room he needed to juggle multiple projects and priorities. Even with two young kids at home and a full-time job as a program manager at a local tech company, Uwaoma found the time to get two startups off the ground while working toward his graduate degree.
Next steps
- Look into the timeline and pacing options available for the programs you’re interested in. What’s the time commitment for each option?
- Consider how much bandwidth you have available for grad school given your other responsibilities and interests — and what you’re willing to shift.
4. Make it hands-on
Are you thinking about rolling up your sleeves and gaining some real-world experience while you study? That was key for Nadine Ghanem when choosing a grad program in psychology. The option to work in the field while immersing herself in graduate research was one of the main reasons why she chose to complete her master’s at Waterloo.
Ghanem, whose research investigates problem-solving and independent learning in early childhood, spent six months completing a community practicum with Oak Bridge Academy as part of her Master of Applied Science requirements.
“I love being able to have hands-on experience with children, and not just in research settings,” she says. “Oak Bridge was a very rewarding place to work because it offers different strategies to help students live up to their potential.”
These days, many graduate programs offer co-op, internships or other work experiences to complement your studies and help you build up your resume before you hit the job market.
Next steps
- If work experience is non-negotiable, narrow your search to include only programs that incorporate co-op or work-integrated learning (WIL).
- Understand how the work component of your degree will impact the timing, pace and structure of your studies.
- Explore what career-related resources and supports are available to graduate students, such as resume advice, interview practice, career counselling and co-op placement support.
5. Tune into the conversation
Reputation matters — both for your future job prospects and your graduate school experience — so it’s important to understand what people are saying about the program’s quality. There are a few different sources you can consult when evaluating your options. One avenue to explore is alumni outcomes, whether by reading alumni stories, connecting with graduates in your discipline, or comparing data that many universities share about employment rates after graduation.
Another option is to consult university rankings, such as those published by Times Higher Education or Macleans, to see the overall prestige of the schools you’re interested in attending. Keep in mind that, while rankings can help you understand how a given degree might be perceived by potential employers, they may not be as important for you personally as finding a program that meets your specific goals, needs and interests.
Knowing that Waterloo has a world-class startup ecosystem and a reputation for supporting creators were key factors for Benjamin MacLellan when he was deciding on where to do his PhD in physics. During his master’s, he was part of a start-up that commercialized some of his research in quantum communication. With Waterloo’s unique creator-owned intellectual property (IP) rules, bringing the research here meant he could maintain his relationship with the company and explore other commercial applications during his doctorate.
Next steps
- Visit the program website to read alumni stories and even connect with graduates who may be willing to speak to you about their experiences.
- Check the annual university rankings, specifically in the graduate studies and research categories.
6. Find your happy place
If your preference is to study in person, going to grad school could mean packing up your life and moving to a new city. That kind of life change introduces a whole host of other factors that you need to weigh when making a decision about where to study.
Your living environment can have a significant impact on your social opportunities, leisure activities, mental health, finances and more. When choosing a school, think about the kind of lifestyle and activities you enjoy. What’s important to you outside of school or work? What’s the culture of the school and city? How can the setting enrich or take away from your learning experience? How will the location affect your living costs? And how much bearing will you give these factors when making your final choice?
Part of what brought Joe Villanueva to Waterloo for his PhD was the culture of hockey in Canada. After connecting with Dr. Ryan Snelgrove, a professor in Recreation and Leisure Studies at Waterloo, the hockey researcher and enthusiast, decided to leave Long Beach, California, to pursue his doctorate. Embedding his research in a rich hockey culture has been the perfect backdrop for his investigation into the positive community impacts of the sport — and an ideal way to nurture his lifelong love of hockey.
Next steps
- Visit the school and take a tour. Exploring campus in person can give you an instant read of the university’s culture, community and overall vibe. But if it’s not feasible to get there, a virtual campus and city tour will also support your decision-making process.
- List what’s most important to you about your living environment. Do the schools you’re considering check off all the boxes?
- Calculate the approximate cost of living in each location you’re exploring to ensure your final choice stays within budget. You can check out housing and living costs at Waterloo and use our graduate student budget calculator to help with your planning process.
Conclusion
Choosing a graduate program and school isn’t just about getting the degree and landing the job. Perhaps most importantly, it’s about your happiness, both during grad studies and after. By taking time to explore the many facets of a program and school — academic, professional, social and cultural — you can land on the choice that helps you thrive in all ways.