<p>I've been confused about this for a while. Do graduate programs/jobs/law, business, med schools care if you wrote a thesis while an undergrad? Someone said that it is important to have one, but I have a hard time believing that since many schools don't have theses for many majors. Help?</p>
<p>In the social sciences and humanities, a thesis is a plus when it comes to graduate admissions. A thesis demonstrates that the applicant can research, formulate and sustain a complex scholarly argument. </p>
<p>A chapter from a thesis is often an excellent choice of writing sample to submit in your graduate school applications, because it will (hopefully) demonstrate your facility with method and theory in the discipline, as well as illustrate your particular academic interests.</p>
<p>The absence of a thesis will not count against an applicant, however. We know that theses (or senior projects, or honors theses) are not an option in every undergraduate program.</p>
<p>I have no firsthand knowledge of jobs, business schools, medical schools, or law schools and their positions on this issue, but I doubt that most jobs or business schools would care at all. Medical schools might look favorably upon a thesis, and I'm guessing law schools certainly would. But that's just an impression on my part, and not certain knowledge.</p>
<p>So a perk to have, but by no means necessary, and mostly useful for grad school admissions. Is that the consensus?</p>
<p>I think so. I also noticed that in the design disciplines it can give you a big boost, because so many of the projects in your portfolio reflect assignments given that you may or may not have actually been interested in, advice a critic gave you, or work you did for clients who frequently reject the best ideas presented to them. Interviewing for programs, my thesis project and the accompanying paper were a big talking point because they gave people more insight into my interests and choices when unencumbered by a lot of that stuff.</p>