Unlike other countries, U.S. programs do not require a background in the discipline being studied. A Master’s in Law (LL.M.), for example, often welcomes graduates from a variety of disciplines, allowing them to study the subject without prior experience. However, it is still important to consider your interests and strengths when choosing a program, you don’t necessarily have to be a professional at it.

As you can see, there is a lot to take into consideration when choosing a master’s program. But the most important thing is that you must choose a program that goes according to what you want to specialize in, there are all kinds in different universities, you just have to be patient and we know you will find it.

The first step to studying a master’s degree in the United States is to research and review your options to find a program that meets your expectations and fits your future career interests.

If you are considering studying a master’s degree at a university in the United States, you should be very prepared and aware of what you want to specialize in. Unlike an undergraduate degree, in a master’s program you are interested in the program rather than the university. Not all universities offer the same types of programs, so they are aware that their graduate students are more interested in finding a program that suits them, rather than a university that suits their needs.

There are over a thousand universities offering different master’s degree programs, so you will need plenty of time to review the prospective universities and their graduate programs and choose the ones that interest you the most. Ideally, start the application process at least 12 to 18 months before the start of the academic year you are planning to attend.

Remember that to pursue a postgraduate degree you must have at least a completed bachelor’s degree, if you want to know more about this we invite you to read the following articles. “What is a Master’s Degree“ and ‘The Bachelor ’s Degree”. There are some programs that do not require previous studies in the area of interest, however, it is expected that there is some coherence with what you have done and want to do in the future.

The schools expect you to be an asset to the program, to be able to deliver knowledge about what you have studied. They are also interested in knowing what you have to contribute from your previous experience with conversation and discussion in class.

Define your options

When you are in the process of looking for a graduate program in the United States, you should keep in mind what your individual priorities are in order to find the program that best suits you. These may change over time, but they will help guide your search. We invite you to ask yourself the following questions:

• Why do I want to study in the United States?
• Why do I want to study for a Master's degree?
• What are my short and long term goals?
• What am I passionate about?
• Am I looking for a master's or doctoral program, a professional degree or a professional certificate?
• What would be my ideal job and what do I need to learn to get it?
• Where do I envision myself to be as a professional in the future?
• Is this the right step to specialize in my career?

Research and narrow down your options

After you have the answers to the above questions and have done some research on the programs you are interested in, it is essential that you identify what is most important to you and begin the journey of narrowing down your options. Here are several ways to do this:

• Review profiles of students in the programs you are interested in.
• Search university websites for information.
• Attend webinars and education fairs.

Reviewing these pages may help you narrow down your options and find the ideal program for you. However, the result may not be exactly what you want or need, they serve more as a guide than anything else. Here are a few sites for you to check out:

https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/

https://www.gradschools.com/masters

https://www.princetonreview.com/grad-program-search?ceid=nav

Other points to consider

In addition to the above, you should not forget to consider the financial cost. Universities vary in prices, but you should keep in mind that master’s degrees are not cheap. There are scholarships that you can apply for, so you should investigate if this is a problem for you. Remember: Don’t just think about tuition fees, but also accommodation and living expenses. You can review more about this in the following articles: “Postgraduate: Cost” and “Postgraduate: How to finance your studies”.

Considering the duration of a master’s degree is also important, as this varies depending on your previous experience, your qualifications and study objective. Although the normal duration is between one to two years, there are courses that can last between 6 months and five years.

Unlike other countries, U.S. programs do not require a background in the discipline being studied. A Master’s in Law (LL.M.), for example, often welcomes graduates from a variety of disciplines, allowing them to study the subject without prior experience. However, it is still important to consider your interests and strengths when choosing a program, you don’t necessarily have to be a professional at it.

As you can see, there is a lot to take into consideration when choosing a master’s program. But the most important thing is that you must choose a program that goes according to what you want to specialize in, there are all kinds in different universities, you just have to be patient and we know you will find it.