GRE and other questions

polarscribe
Wed, 29 Dec 2010 14:54:41 +0000

I think you misunderstood the reply. “Make him do his own research!” is directed at his interest in graduate studies.

Your son needs to be the one investigating programs, figuring out how to be a competitive candidate, reaching out to professors and building a c.v. and statement of purpose. Graduate school is deeply specialized and personalized study and research, and the only person who’s going to know the right fit is him.

Self-direction is key in graduate school. Getting a master’s/doctorate is not like two or four more undergraduate years - it’s designed to develop scholarly capacities for independent research. That means no hand-holding. If he can’t articulate his interests and rationale for pursuing advanced studies, he’s not going to be accepted anywhere.