Are you one of the millions of Americans aiming to earn a masters degree? If so, you might be wondering how to ensure that you’re eligible for the program in which you’re interested.
These five steps can help you make sure that you’re ready to apply as well as ensure that your application will be reviewed by your desired school in a timely fashion.
1) Check if You Have the Required Undergraduate Degree
If you have not earned your bachelor’s degree yet, then you will need to complete at least half of the required undergraduate credit hours and earn at least 60% of the total credits needed.
If you are in the middle of earning your undergraduate degree, then you will need to complete all requirements and graduate with a GPA above 3.0 or higher before applying.
Find Out What Type of Undergraduate Degree:
The type of undergraduate degree you have from an accredited university is crucial to getting accepted into a masters program.
Some programs only accept applicants who have completed degrees within their specific area of study.
If you do not meet these qualifications, but still want to pursue a master’s degree in that field, contact the school to see if they offer any other programs that fit your background.
2) Check if You Meet the English Language Requirements
To be eligible for a masters degree, you must meet the English language requirements. This means you have been studying English in school or living in an English-speaking country.
If not, there are other ways to get your degree but it may take longer.
Check if You Have Enough Qualifying Credits:
To be eligible for a masters degree, you need enough qualifying credits from high school or previous degrees.
The only exception is if you will be working towards a PhD in one of the STEM fields of study and want to continue working on your master’s degree after finishing your undergraduate degree.
There is no set number of hours for the hours needed for this requirement so consult with the university about how many hours qualify.
You should also find out what type of grades count as qualifying credits because some schools may not accept all grades earned from online courses.
3) Research the Institution and Program
There are several factors you need to consider when deciding if you are eligible for a masters degree. These include the institution, program, and degree requirements.
There are also the minimum requirements that have been set by the Department of Education.
If you want to apply for an online graduate degree program, find out what the specific requirements are before applying.
For example, some programs require your undergraduate degree in order to be eligible.
Other programs only allow students who have completed their bachelor’s degrees within the last five years.
Still other programs may not offer degrees past the master’s level or they may only offer PhD degrees.
Be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully before applying so that you know what is required from you prior to enrolling.
4) Get Recommendation Letters
Obtaining recommendation letters is one of the first steps in ensuring you are eligible for a masters degree. Talk with your professors and ask them if they would be willing to write you a letter of recommendation.
They may also require that you have completed at least three classes with them, or that you have an A average in their course.
When writing your professors, make sure to outline why you want the letter and how it will help your application.
If you know someone who has gone through the process before, reach out to them for advice on what worked best when they applied.
You can always do this by emailing them or visiting their office hours.
Don’t Be Afraid to Reach Out: Asking professors for recommendations isn’t as hard as some people think it is; there’s no need to feel awkward about approaching them!
5) Start Applying Early
Start applying early! The earlier you apply, the more likely you are to get into your desired program.
Apply in your junior year of college, if possible.
If not, apply as soon as it’s possible, and then contact your advisor or the admissions office of the school you want to go to with any questions.
The application process will take some time and effort on your part.
That is why it’s so important that you start this process early.
Make sure you do your research on schools before deciding which ones to apply to, which includes looking at their website, talking with people who have attended or graduated from those programs, and researching rankings.
Once you’ve done that, figure out what kind of graduate degree you want: Master’s? Doctorate?
Professional? All three types can be valuable in different ways! Once you know what type of degree suits you best, fill out an application.
Final Thought
In order to be eligible for a masters degree in the United States, you will need to have your bachelor’s degree and meet the following requirements:
1. Complete 60 semester hours of undergraduate coursework with at least 18 hours in upper-division coursework.
2. Earn an undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent from an institution where all courses are being graded on the same scale.
3. Earn a score of 550 or higher on either the verbal or quantitative sections of the GRE General Test.
