By Jaci Schneider, Opinion Editor

For some students, graduation is not the end of education; some will continue on for several more years in various graduate schools.

Thirteen students will begin medical school later this year, said Dr. Perry Reeves, professor of chemistry. Eighty-five percent of students who applied to medical schools were accepted, he said, although the national average acceptance rate is only 37 percent.

“We have good students who prepare themselves,” Reeves said.

Also, five students will attend dental school, four will go on to physical therapy school, two to veterinary school, two to optometry school and one each to physician’s assistant school and chiropractic school.

Reeves said the number of students continuing in health profession graduate school is about average compared to most years.

Neal Coates, assistant professor of political science, said students who applied to law school will not know for sure if they have been accepted for another few weeks.

“I have some students who are picking from among schools,” Coates said. “Students at this point are waiting to hear from schools.”

He said about 25 percent of students who applied know for sure where they are going, but by May almost all will know.

Some students are looking outside of Abilene for graduate school, but many will stay here.

Carol Williams, dean of the Graduate School, said the department has received 241 applications so far.

“We’re hoping to break 600 students total this fall,” she said.

Although the application deadlines for the Marriage and Family Therapy Department and the communication disorder program have passed; the other graduate programs have rolling deadlines.

However, she said, the earlier students apply, the greater their chance to receive financial aid.

Graduate enrollment has been steadily increasing for the past few years, Williams said, and the trend looks to continue.