Master's programs - questions

ali-1411

I want to get my Masters.  Specifically, I think I want to do a Masters of Science in Information Systems.  But I have so many questions and I don't even know where to start.

- How do you pick a school?  The only feasible option for me here in Temple is Texas A&M Central Texas.  Anyone know anything about that school?

- I'd like to have more about their program before I start.  Their website isn't all that informative...do advisors usually meet with non-students?  Should they have information sessions or anything? 

- My undergrad is in Finance so there will likely be prerequsites I need to take before I can really start.  Do I need to take those before I apply to the program?  Should I study for and take the GRE before doing anything else?

- I want to try for Financial Aid and scholarships as much as I can.  I need to be accepted before I can apply for any of that, right?

I feel like an idiot but I haven't even thought about school since I graduated in 2004.  I'm not even working right now, so I'm completely out of the  professional loop.  Any insights will be helpful, thanks

AustinMimi

ali-1411:

I want to get my Masters.  Specifically, I think I want to do a Masters of Science in Information Systems.  But I have so many questions and I don't even know where to start.

- How do you pick a school?  The only feasible option for me here in Temple is Texas A&M Central Texas.  Anyone know anything about that school?

 Sorry, but I don't know anything about the school. The way that I went about picking schools was first reading publications by various people in the field in which I was interested and then finding out where they teach. I asked my undergrad advisor for advice too. 

- I'd like to have more about their program before I start.  Their website isn't all that informative...do advisors usually meet with non-students?  Should they have information sessions or anything? 

Many graduate programs will have a graduate coordinator who is a non-faculty staff member. They are often a great source of information. Otherwise, I would contact the department's admin. assistant or the graduate advisor (faculty member who advises grad students). Potential advisors in my field very frequently meet with prospective students. 

- My undergrad is in Finance so there will likely be prerequsites I need to take before I can really start.  Do I need to take those before I apply to the program?  Should I study for and take the GRE before doing anything else?

 You would need to ask the graduate coordinator about the prerequisite classes. I would start practicing the GRE and try to take it this summer if you are going to start applying next fall. Give yourself some lead-time in case you want to take it again. 

- I want to try for Financial Aid and scholarships as much as I can.  I need to be accepted before I can apply for any of that, right?

Sometimes you apply for financial aid as you are applying for the program and sometimes you apply after you are accepted. This is another question for the graduate coordinator. If you want outside grants, you will probably have to file a FAFSA, which is due the spring before school starts.

I feel like an idiot but I haven't even thought about school since I graduated in 2004.  I'm not even working right now, so I'm completely out of the  professional loop.  Any insights will be helpful, thanks

 

HTH! 

Devil_Ducky

ditto mimi.  and dont be afraid to make personal appointments with people in the department so that you can meet them, see the school, ask questions and them get to know you.  Having a face to put a name to really helps in the application process.

ali-1411

Thanks!  I called the dept today and got some answers. 

Good to know about making appts, and getting known in the department.  I will definitely do that, I got the name of the dept head, too.