Compare graduate programs and plan my application
A side-by-side comparison of MBA or master's programs against your goals, plus a realistic application timeline and checklist.
The prompt
Help me compare graduate programs and plan my applications.
Degree and focus: [e.g. MBA with a finance focus, master's in data science]
Programs I'm considering: [LIST]
My background: [degree, grades, work experience in years and type, test scores if taken]
Career goal after the program: [target roles, industries, locations]
Constraints: [budget, full-time vs. part-time vs. online, location, start date, visa needs]
Give me:
1. Comparison table - for each program: format and length, admission requirements (tests such as GMAT/GRE, work experience, prerequisites), core and elective courses for my focus, experiential options (labs, treks, internships), career outcomes for my target roles, total cost estimate, scholarships, and location. Mark every figure I should check on the official website as [CONFIRM] - do not state scores, fees, or employment stats as fact.
2. Fit assessment - how my profile compares with each program's typical admit, my strengths, and gaps to address.
3. Return on investment - a simple framework: total cost (including lost salary) vs. expected career outcomes, using figures I provide.
4. Application plan - a month-by-month timeline back from the deadlines: test prep, essays, recommendations, interviews, financing.
5. Essay angles - 2-3 themes from my background that answer "why this degree, why now, why this school".
6. Questions to ask current students, alumni, and admissions.
Be honest if a program is a long shot or a poor fit for my goal.
Highlighted [brackets] are blanks to replace with your own details.
Fill in the blanks and use this promptMore Career & Job Search prompts
What to fill in
- e.g. MBA with a finance focus, master's in data science
- LIST
- target roles, industries, locations
- CONFIRM
How this prompt is built
This prompt follows the RTF structure (Role, Task, Format). RTF tells the model who to be, what to do and what shape the answer should take. It is the quickest structure that still gives noticeably better results than a bare request.
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