- The debate on the value of a graduate degree in the humanities rages on, yet according to a recent Daily Pennsylvanian article, interest in the programs and enrollment is still high, particularly at Penn. University of Pennsylvania’s School of Arts and Sciences reported a 13% increase in Ph.D. applications; 2,300 of those applicants were humanities students. More Penn statistics show that 25% of the class of 2009 chose to pursue high degrees; 11% of those students were studying “arts and humanities.” Also, one shouldn’t think that a poor job market is a grad school deterrent. On the contrary – students tend to view graduate education “as the alternative to the job search.”
- According to a New York Times article, as Japan’s population decreases, the number of graduate schools on Japanese soil increases. The number of professional graduate programs (including law and business) has skyrocketed from practically none in 2003 to 130 in 2010. The article, “Students Scarce for Japan’s New Graduate Schools,” reports that with law school as an exception, nearly half of Japan’s professional-oriented graduate programs have yet to fill their spots. This is particularly true for education programs. “Japanese universities tend to roll out programs without having a good grasp of the needs in the marketplace,” explains Kenichi Yoshida, an executive senior consultant at the Japan Research Institute in Tokyo. “When they start a program, they assume there will be students.” Finding highly qualified teachers has become a problem in Japan, which explains the boom in teaching programs, but more must be done to get the word out about what these program are and how they can help current and future teachers.
- An Inside Higher Ed article, “What Motivates International Students?” cites data from the British Council’s recent Student Decision Making Survey to answer its title question. Here is a sampling of the findings:
** When choosing a country for study abroad, just over a half of students say that quality of education is one of their top three priorities.
** 26.3% say the reputation of a country’s schools is a key factor.
** 59% of students who chose Britain as their top destination said that quality of education was the top priority.
** 38% of students aiming to study in the U.S. said their focus was on enhancing their career prospects.
** 25% of those who saw Germany as their ideal destination mentioned low tuition as a priority.
** 24% of students seeking abroad options in Canada or Australia mentioned the importance of working during their studies.
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Read the full article: A Round Up of College and Graduate School Admissions News
