Making Your Master’s Degree a Reality: 50 Must-Have Online Resources

From applying and acceptance to finances and social life, learn how to prepare for your grad school experience. Get insight and advice from a higher ed expert and stay on track with our downloadable grad school checklist.

Your GRE test score is a primary component of your admissions application, and you’ll want to get the highest score possible. Check out this guide that focuses on the general test; you’ll find plenty of study tips, test resources, and strategies to do your best.

Transferring during grad school can be complicated. Our guide will walk you through the trickier portions of the process and offer insights to make the switch less painful.

An interview with a graduate school is an opportunity to form a personal connection. Our expert panel of admission professionals will provide the best sample answers, and our tips and resources will leave you well-prepared.

Use OMD’s start-to-finish guide to plan, execute, and defend your master’s thesis on your way to graduation.

We identify some programs that make it easier for you to get a master’s degree with fewer life or professional disruptions.

Active military personnel and veterans need extra support when pursuing a master’s degree. An online program can provide tailored financial and academic assistance while service members pursue their degrees wherever they are based.

Your life during your master’s program is going to be different from your undergraduate experience. Idealist.org provides actionable advice on how to handle time management, budgeting, finding work, and more.

Headed back to school for a master’s degree but keeping your day job? The University of Washington offers ten tips for working professionals to manage their studies while keeping up with their careers.

Test-maker ETS provides prospective master’s and doctoral students access to online GRE practice tests and test-taking strategies.

The Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education offers a look at the differences between the two types of programs and descriptions for the types of students most likely to excel in each.

Duke University provides tips on what to look for in a graduate program, a checklist of essential characteristics of good master’s programs, advice on submitting a strong application, insights on how applications are evaluated, and an admissions FAQ section.

Franklin University offers eight tips for successfully completing your master’s degree. Learn how to avoid common pitfalls, take advantage of your campus resources, and mentally prepare for your program, even before it starts.

Studying for the GMAT can be a big part of preparing for a master’s program. Learn the strategies you need to tackle the GMAT and gather valuable resources to help you along the way.

MIT’s Career Advising & Professional Development Center offers a list of important points to consider as you prepare for graduate school. Use these resources to explore your academic interests and choose the right degree.

While not a requirement for all master’s programs, admissions interviews are a common step before you enroll. Idealist.org provides some excellent tips for prospective master’s students looking to make a positive impression.

Is remote learning for you? Get valuable information and tips on learning online, then find out how to try some classes.

Need to get your academic juices flowing again? Warm up your brain with recorded lectures for entire classes at Yale. Taught by distinguished teachers and scholars, classes are available in video, audio, and text transcript formats.

For grad school students, now is the opportune time to network and establish connections to help you further your career. Our guide gives you the tools to expand your circle.

Women have made significant gains in science, technology, engineering, and math but still are vastly under-represented. Find tips to close the gender gap and resources to help you during your master’s degree studies.

More universities and colleges recognize that graduate students face mounting pressures while pursuing their master’s degrees, leading to mental health issues. Learn how to best manage your mental health during graduate school by understanding the condition and recognizing the symptoms.

It might seem obvious, but practicing self-care is essential to your success in grad school and beyond. Provided by the University of Texas San Antonio, this article provides some quick yet valuable tips and links to other sources for more useful information.

The Virginia Tech Graduate School offers this list for quick reference for master’s students trying to make the most of their programs and resources.

As a master’s student, technology should be one of your best friends. Offered by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, this list of student-centered phone apps can help you save time and energy as you strive to meet the demands of grad school life.

LGBTQ students can learn about a variety of health issues that commonly affect college students and how to get support if needed.

Regular Google is a valuable tool, but Google Scholar will help you find more credible information from scholarly sources. Instead of sifting through ads, blogs, and sites of questionable credibility, Google Scholar helps you locate accurate information for your best master’s-level papers.

Want to take a closer look at self-care practices and how your academic and personal life can benefit? The University of Buffalo’s introductory guide features detailed explanations and links to valuable related resources.

Find out if earning a master’s degree will be a worthwhile investment in your profession and discover the fields where a master’s degree makes the biggest impact.

This thorough guide offers information on finding campus resources, healthcare providers, scholarships, student organizations, and more for those who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community.

From financial aid and self-care to thesis writing and job advice, NAGPS offers a great list of resources for master’s-level learners in all majors.

Purdue’s award-winning writing lab isn’t just for Purdue students. Anyone with an Internet connection can access these writing resources and instructional materials. Get help with research, citations, ESL challenges, and more.

If you’re a master’s student who is struggling with housing or food insecurity, here’s a list of great resources to help you keep progressing toward graduation despite those challenges. There’s also information here on scholarships and financial aid for unhoused learners.

Even though master’s students are experienced learners, new technologies are created every day to help you do your best in school. Check out this list of valuable tools for learners with disabilities.

Provided by Northeastern University, these eight strategies will help you meet the unique challenges of remote learning.

Students with Native American heritage can apply for scholarships and fellowships through the center. Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited degree program and provide the necessary documentation of their tribal affiliation.

Cappex’s site offers easy-to-use tools to locate sources of funding at nearly every academic institution in the U.S. The site includes special search criteria for specific demographics, including first-generation students, non-U.S. citizens, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and more.

Chegg provides an excellent list of resources, including how to save money on textbooks by renting, where to find internships and tutors, and a subscription service for writing assistance. You can even use their online plagiarism scanner to make sure you’re citing sources correctly in your papers.

These part-time jobs, which are typically on campus, help students in financial need pay for school. Check with your school’s financial aid office to see if they participate in this program.

Dr. Teresa A. Sullivan, president of the University of Virginia, provides concrete suggestions on how to manage graduate school expenses, financial aid, and a budget while in your master’s program.

The GoingMerry site provides a great list of 20 scholarships, many of which are available to graduate students. A free account matches you with other scholarship options, too.

From fellowships and tax credits to employer tuition assistance and assistantships, this guide helps you consider the best avenues for paying for and saving money during your master’s program.

In addition to paying your tuition bills and expenses for school supplies, you’ll have rent, utilities, food, insurance, and more. This guide will help you make the best financial preparations before you enter school so you can be ready for anything that life or school throws at you.

Provided by GradResources.org, this tool allows you to connect with a current or former graduate student for advice on financial aid, navigating the academic field, study tips, and more. You may also be able to access local community resources to help you.

Out to Innovate provides scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community. These awards are for students in a STEM field.

Northeastern University’s guide lays out the essential steps to locate and secure financial aid for graduate school. This list will help you cover all your bases and not overlook valuable opportunities.

A graduate assistantship, which is typically offered through your department or graduate school, is one of the best ways to fund your education. Assistantships usually require 10-20 hours of work per week in exchange for covering your tuition costs. In some cases, assistantships also come with a small stipend to help you pay for living expenses. These tips can help make it happen.

This list from Scholarships360.org includes funding opportunities for minority students, including many that focus on providing money for students in particular areas of study.

One popular way for graduate students to fund their education is through federal loans. While loans need to be repaid with interest, you’ll get a better interest rate than with private loans.

Use The Balance Careers’ resume writing, cover letter, and interviewing guides will help you make sure your application materials are in top shape. You’ll also find help on work-life balance, obtaining leadership and management experience, and more.

Not sure which industry you’d like to work in? Looking for a job in a particular location? BLS’s industries at a glance can help you zero in on a rewarding career that fits your skills and desired location.

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, CareerOnestop is an excellent search engine and exploratory tool. Whether you’re looking to find an in-demand career in a particular area, find jobs that meet your salary requirements, or locate a new field for a career change, CareerOnestop can help.

If you’re a veteran of the U.S. armed forces, dedicated job search tools are out there for you. Military.com features an easy-to-use search engine, links to upcoming job fairs, a military skills translator, and free employment master classes.

From full-time positions to summer internships, Handshake is a great platform for undergraduate and graduate students to locate employment opportunities. This site is highly favored by campus career services offices across the U.S.; all you need is a “.edu” email address to open an account.

Northeastern University’s suggestions will help you highlight your soft and hard skills and specialized knowledge. You’ll also learn how to make the most of your hands-on experiences and transferable skills so you’ll get noticed by hiring managers.

Besides having one of the most active and diverse job boards on the web, Indeed.com offers “The New Graduate’s Guide to Job Search” for first-time job seekers. You’ll get tips on researching companies, salary trends, and how to make the most of the time you spend looking for employment.

In late 2020, the career-focused online network LinkedIn released a new feature to help graduates and professionals find new jobs.

MIT provides a list of resources to help you learn more about industries and major employers in those areas. You’ll find information on creating and maximizing your network, securing internships, and bolstering your job application materials.

Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s Career and Professional Development Center provides an excellent list of ways to get ahead in competitive job markets.

Narrow your job search with this valuable career services page. Wittenberg offers a list of resources by industry so you can locate great opportunities quickly.