<p>So, do you have to pay for grad school? Does going to a top college make admissions easier? Can someone explain to me the ins and outs of grad school? Thanks!</p>
<p>Yes you pay for grad school. Some grad schools "recruit" more heavily at top schools so it can be an advantage but there's also a large amount of people at top grad schools who are NOT from "top tier" schools.</p>
<p>professional programs (law, med, etc) you pay. Masters, generally you pay. PhD, at most they pay; you actually earn money going to grad school! Specifics depend on where you go. Yale, for instance, says
[quote]
Of the approximately 530 Ph.D. students entering the Graduate School in the fall of 2006, all were offered a financial aid package consisting of four years of full tuition, at least four years of stipend support (minimum $19,000 in 2006-2007), and comprehensive health care coverage.
[/quote]
Naturally not everyone goes to Yale! At many schools there are combinations of stipends and work. You are a TA or RA. And if you're lucky or in a well-paying area such as engineering you may get money directly from a corporate sponsor or indirectly from a sponsor who hires your advisor who then hires you.</p>
<p>Also if you go for a Masters of Business Administration (aka MBA) alot of companies will pay for it but in return you usually have to promise to return to work for them for a couple years. Most MBA programs require 2-3 years of work experience between undergrad and the MBA program, and the company you work for is the one that will pay. But not all will pay for it for you.</p>
<p>Here's a pre-grad advising website that I've found very helpful in sorting out a confusing process.</p>