Now that you have given careful thought to graduate school, it’s time to start your research. This is an important part of the process to help you compile a short list of schools and programs to apply to. Identify an organizational system that helps you explore programs that meet your interests and needs; contact schools to learn about admissions and prerequisite requirements, visit campus and connect with current students, alumni, and faculty, and look for options and opportunities to help fund your education. In addition to school and program pages like this, here are some other angles to consider.
Web search
After talking with your faculty mentors about schools that best address your research areas of interest and considering your location needs, begin research on the graduate schools on your shortlist. At the very minimum you will find necessary admissions requirements and prerequisites. It is at this point that a spreadsheet, or similar organizational tool, can help you keep track of the multiple schools’ requirements and deadlines. Make sure to view the graduate application webinars that many schools provide. HAS offers a research checklist that might be helpful here.
Visit campus
If you have the financial means, it is very revealing to make a visit to the campuses you are interested in. That allows you to potentially sit in on sample graduate classes and meet current graduate students, staff and faculty. Making those personal connections, seeing the community dynamics can be powerful evidence that will help with your final decision. You can also ask to talk with recent alumni from the program you are interested in.
Finances
The general wisdom, in this economic climate, is to make sure you have funding for any Humanities graduate program. That funding often comes in the form of teaching assistantships, research assistantships or fellowships. There are many sources for graduate loans, but in the Humanities, unless you are independently wealthy (which most aren't), you will want to be cautious about how much debt you take on.
A fantastic resource at UW that allows you to talk to real people about your funding questions for future grad study is the Graduate Funding Information Service (GFIS) hosted through the libraries network, but the UW Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships, and Awards (OMSFA) also has a searchable funding database that you can use to filter and sort for programs that support graduate study. Remember: not every funding opportunity requires that you have an admissions decision in hand before you apply, so it may be possible to apply to funding sources before you start your grad program.
Test scores
Finding out in advance which test scores are required for each of your graduate programs allows you to study, take practice tests and retake a test if need be. These exams include GREs, world language requirements, and language proficiency tests to name a few.
Faculty recommenders and mentors
Your faculty mentors are invaluable to this process, not only will they write your critical letters of recommendation, but they can help you revise your statement of purpose, perfect your writing sample and portfolio, help guide you towards the programs best suited for your needs and be a necessary contributor to your conversation while making your final decision. They are also in community with the scholars in your field, providing sometimes necessary insight and potential connections with those scholars.
Critical essay, Statement of purpose and Portfolio
Besides having your faculty mentors read your application materials, you will want to workshop them with your peers both in and out of your area of expertise. Also make sure to use professional writing tutor centers like UW’s Odegaard Writing and Research Center. The UW's own Graduate School has extensive resources on getting ready for applications, available here.
Location and Cost of Living
Location is one of the most important elements to consider in making a successful decision about graduate school programs. Even if you have funding or tuition is lower, what are the costs of living for 2-8 years in a given location? Are you an outdoors person? Do large urban centers give you energy? Do you have strong political beliefs that some regions might not share? Is there a place in the world you have always wanted to explore? Graduate programs can be that perfect way in. Through your program, you will have a beginning community in a strange new place. Remember, if you are applying for an MA/PhD this town/city will be your home for years, not months.