Thinking about graduate school? Maybe you haven't even started college yet, but you've already thought once or twice about going on for advanced training. Or, maybe your parents or an encouraging teacher have urged you not stop with that B.A. or B.S. Perhaps you want to enter a field like law or medicine and know you'll need graduate or even post-graduate training to do so. Whatever your situation, it's never too early to start thinking about your graduate school application. Check out some basic facts that will help you succeed in academic life
after Maranatha.
Essential Ingredients for Acceptance
A bachelor’s degree from Maranatha is a good foundation for graduate or professional education. The key criteria for admission to these graduate school programs include the following:
Good college GPA
- Good recommendations from college professor attesting to the student’s academic ability, work ethic, writing and research skills record
- Good to excellent scores on required entrance examinations
Maranatha graduates with strong academic records have been very successful in entering professional and graduate programs. The fact that Maranatha is a “Bible college” factors very little if any in an admission decision. Contrary to popular belief, a “university degree” is not an advantage over other regionally accredited colleges like Maranatha. The following is a selection of the most common graduate degrees with descriptions of their characteristics.
Kinds of Graduate Degrees
Master’s Degree
Master’s degrees usually consist of 30-36 semester credit hours in length. These would be degrees like M.B.A, M.P.A., M.A., M.S. or M.Ed. It is common for these degrees to build on the undergraduate program. Some require a bachelor’s degree that is directly related to the master’s degree or one can take a larger program which includes additional classes added to make up for undergraduate deficiencies. Some master’s degrees do not require a particular undergraduate major. Entrance requirements are generally spelled out in graduate catalogs of the university you are planning to attend.
Tweeners
There are some degrees specifically designed for practitioners in a discipline. These fall between the master’s degree and a research doctoral degrees. These would include E.Spec. (education specialist), or a 45-60 hour M.F.A. (master of fine arts).
First Professional Degree/Professional Doctorate
These programs are much larger than the traditional master’s degrees. First professional degrees are the expected for certain professions: M.Div. (ministry), M.D. (medicine), D.D.S. (dentistry), or J.D. (law). First professional degrees usually require three to four years of post-bachelor studies. Programs average from 96-128 credits. A D.Min. (Doctor of Ministry) degree is a practical program designed for serving ministers. Credible D.Min. programs build on the M.Div. degree and ministerial experience and are distinct from research doctorates and first professional degrees.
Research Doctorate Ph.D., Ed.D.
These doctoral degrees usually require successful completion of a related master’s degree. Course work ranges from 35-60 semester hours of classes plus comprehensive examinations and a formal dissertation which can take 1-4 years to complete after class work is finished. These degrees require a high degree of formal scholarship and usually have rigorous admission standards.
Strategies for Success
1. Know expected prerequisite course work for the program you are considering. This can be determined by examining graduate catalogs or websites for colleges or universities offering the program you are interested in pursuing. For example, an M.D. degree does not require a “pre-med” degree (only 25% of University of Wisconsin medical school students had an undergraduate degree in pre-med) but does require a bachelor’s degree and a set of science and math classes (all offered in our Humanities/Applied Science program). Every medical school requires the same prerequisite science and math classes. Likewise, J.D. written communication business programs (law degree) require more history, English, and literature classes. Students aspiring to a professional program (medicine, law, dentistry) need to make sure that all undergraduate prerequisites are taken either in your program or added as electives.
2. Know the admission testing that is required. Medicine and law require specific tests targeted at the field of study. Other master’s programs only require tests which measure your general ability to do graduate-level research & writing. These would include the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and/or the Miller Analogies Test. Again, these requirements for entrance are in the catalog of the college you are considering. These nationally administered examinations can be found on the internet along with dates and places of administration. Your independent ability to research, schedule, and satisfy admission requirements are in and of themselves a method of screening applicants. Do not expect too much hand-holding as you make application for admissions.
3. Know “other requirements” – for selective programs like medical or veterinary admissions. Other criteria often tip the balance. These selective programs are looking for character (yes, 
demerits and deportment records do matter) and commitment or passion for the discipline. Admission committees often look for distinguishing traits. One Maranatha graduate who was successful in being admitted to medical school showed a track record of medical mission trips and Christian camp work as well as an array of extracurricular experience (choir, athletics, etc.). Many professional schools are looking for more than a book worm—even the world respects passion or heart for service!
4. Find a mentor. An excellent way to find out helpful hints and information is to locate a mentor in the field—especially one who has graduated in the last ten years. It may be especially helpful if the mentor is a graduate of the institution to which you would like to apply. Volunteer to work as an intern or be willing to work at low pay in the summer and then show your stuff! If you are bright, hard working, and possess positive character, these will emerge. A mentor can help you understand the culture and values a college is looking for in its applicants. A mentor also can explain admission procedures and provide a powerful reference.
5. Know the proper timing. Will Maranatha Baptist Bible College do the job? Yes, it will. If you hear “They didn’t accept me or my credits,” it is probably for factors other than their Maranatha credits. Gaining admittance into some programs is not easy. Perseverance is highly related to success. Maranatha graduates consistently report being well-prepared and competent when their skills, ability, and character are matched to their aspirations.