By Kathleen Trayte
Asst. Director of International Programs
Drexel University

Graduate education in the United States is diverse and offers many opportunities for students from Taiwan.
"Graduate" education includes all programs leading to a master's degree, doctorate or a postgraduate certificate. A master's degree program follows completion of a bachelor's degree program. Most American universities will require students to complete a four-year bachelor's degree program before they are permitted to enroll in a master's program, although some American universities will consider three-year bachelor's program graduates for admission into a master's program. A master's program can lead to many degrees, for example: Master of Arts (M.A.), Master of Science (M.Sc.), Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.), Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) or Master of Science in Nursing (M.Sc.N.). A master's program is 1 to 3 years long; program length depends on the individual university program and the student's previous education. For example, a Master of Science in Computer Science at one university may only be 1 1/2 years long, while it may be 2 years long at another university. Many M.B.A. programs have a "fast-track" program for students who have completed a bachelor's degree in business administration in which the students can complete the M.B.A. in about one year.

There are many reasons why students decide to enroll in a master's program. Some students want to continue advanced studies in their undergraduate major. Some students are interested in beginning a new career, and some want to advance their careers with graduate education.

A doctoral program usually follows a master's program, although some Ph.D. programs admit students directly after a bachelor's program. A doctoral program can lead to several degrees, for example: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Doctor of Business and Administration (D.B.A.), among others. A doctoral program is 5 to 7 years long. The program usually includes 1 to 3 years of classwork, followed by research for the dissertation. A dissertation is a written summary of intensive research in the student's major.
Some Ph.D. programs do not require a dissertation.

Post-graduate certificate programs are designed for students who have completed a Master's degree and want more advanced study, but do not want to enter a doctoral program.

Exams required for graduate admission: Most graduate programs in the United States require several standardized examinations for admission. All students from Taiwan will be required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The TOEFL exam tests your competency in the English language, including grammar, vocabulary and listening comprehension. Most graduate programs require the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) which tests your knowledge of math and English language. Some graduate programs will also require a GRE Subject Examination for admission. This examination will test your knowledge of a specific subject area, for example: math, physics, sociology. Most universities require the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) for admission to MBA programs. Students who wish to enter law schools in the United States must take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and medical schools require the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) for admission.

Requirements for applying for graduate admission. Every graduate program has different requirements for graduate admission. The first step in applying for admission to a graduate program is to complete an application for graduate admission. Some graduate programs will require an essay, some will require letters of reference, some will require standardized tests such as the GRE or GMAT, but every graduate program will require a copy of your undergraduate transcripts sent directly from your college or university. If you are applying for admission to a doctoral program, you must also submit transcripts from any graduate program in which you have studied, even if you did not complete the program.

The graduate admissions process. Once the graduate admissions office has determined that your application for admission is complete, the office will send your complete file to the department in the university where your program is located. Departments usually have a graduate admissions committee that reviews the applications for admission and makes the final decision for or against admission. Admission to a graduate program is based on several factors, including undergraduate (or graduate) grade point average (GPA), results on standardized tests, letters of recommendation and the essay (if required).

Choosing a graduate program. There are thousands of graduate programs in the United States, so it can be very difficult to choose the program that is right for you. Some students use rankings to select a program, but you should also consider other factors such as location, size, number of students and program length. Do you prefer the East Coast, West Coast, the south, the north or the Midwest? Do you prefer a large university or a smaller university? Do you prefer a program with many students or a program with fewer students? Do you want to live in a big city or a small town? Do you want to be with many students from your own country or do you prefer fewer students from your own country. Do you want to complete the program as soon as possible or do you want to take as many courses as possible?