Should You Get a Master’s Degree?

A Masters degree is the next level of higher education above a Bachelor's degree. This type of degree is sought by individuals who feel that a Bachelor's degree is insufficient for their chosen career.

A typical masters degree is a form of graduate education, commonly known of as postgraduate studies. The general length of time it requires to obtain a Master's Degree is approximately two years in most fields of academics.

Eligibility to Apply For the Masters Degree

In order to apply for this degree, the individual will need to have completed a Bachelor's degree. The student in question must also have completed a total of sixteen years of formal education. This would include primary school, secondary school and an undergraduate degree. In many states, it may mean 17 years of education because kindergarten is a pre-requisite for entering primary school.

For most prestigious universities, it is required that you have a certain grade point average, generally 3.0 or above, in order to be accepted for a place within the Master's Program. Personal statements and letters of recommendation from teachers or employers are also required for the graduate application process. Note that certain universities will require two copies of your transcripts.

International Students

International students do not have to have completed their undergraduate education and degree in the US to be eligible to study a postgraduate degree in the US. What they will need to do is send over their transcripts and a copy of their Bachelor's degree to the university; the grade point average will be calculated during the application process.

For international students who have not completed their Bachelor's degree in an English speaking country, an English proficiency test is required to determine their language capability. These tests include TOEFL and IELTS. There are examination centers for these two proficiency tests in almost all major cities around the world. Also, some foreign coursework may not be eligible for transfer. In those cases, the international student will need to complete the prerequisites here in the United States prior to gaining entrance to the program.

Tests and Examinations

Certain tests and examinations are required for all students who wish to apply for a graduate degree, both US and foreign students. This is because of the overwhelming competition for graduate places within the US's finest institutions. To apply for a graduate degree in a law school, it is required for applicants to pass the LSAT exams.

The GMAT exam is required for those applying to graduate management courses. The USMLE is the entrance exam for applying to graduate medical courses. The GRE exam is required by most universities for applicants wishing to study most other graduate majors. Here again, it is a matter of contacting the graduate program prior to applying to get an understanding of what must be accomplished in order to gain entry.

Because of the high level of academics required for a Master's degree program, it is vital to keep grades as high as possible throughout the previous four years of education. Competition for these programs is fierce, and a tiny .01 difference in GPA can make or break your eligibility.