Tips for Applying to Graduate School

Researching grad programs

There are many sources of information to help you identify and research graduate programs. Start by speaking with faculty in your field of interest. If you want to study in a field different than your undergraduate major, contact that department's faculty representative. Faculty provide some of the greatest insights into what it takes to be a successful graduate student, offer information about the differences among various programs, and challenge you to think more clearly about your longer-term goals and how to achieve them.

Peterson's Guide to Graduate Study (in the Career Services Library or online) is a comprehensive listing of universities and graduate programs, organized by field of study and discipline. Peterson's Guide provides a brief overview of each program, along with admissions contacts, entrance exam requirements, student-to-faculty ratios, and other useful information. Contact each school that interests you and request college and department catalogs which detail specific information about the university and the particular degree program(s) in which you are interested.

Some graduate admissions offices may supply you with all the information you need, but it is a good idea to correspond with a university's four major offices to guarantee you will receive all you need: (1) graduate admissions office; (2) departmental office to which you are applying; (3) financial aid office; and (4) housing office. Ask for the graduate catalog, specific information on your department (its curriculum, faculty profiles and research interests), application forms for admission, financial aid, housing, and information about scholarships, loans, fellowships, and assistantships. (Note that most of this will probably be online, but typically you can request hard copies as well.)

Several magazines publish special guides to graduate and professional school study, including their rankings of programs. While there are many different opinions about the value of the rankings, these publications can also help identify graduate programs. Professional associations within your field of interest (e.g., American Political Science Association, Modern Language Association) can often help you identify programs that are accredited, well regarded in the profession, and so on.

 

Obtaining Recommendation Letters

Applications usually require 2-3 letters of recommendation. Each institution will have its own preferences regarding who should write the letters, and many won't specify a preference. Some universities are even beginning to request that letters be submitted online by your recommenders.

It is usually best to have a strong letter from someone who knows your capabilities well rather than from a prominent individual who doesn't know you well. Admissions committees are trying to evaluate how successful you will be in their academic programs, so academic references are important; however, it can be acceptable to use work-related references in many instances. Follow each program's instructions; if the instructions are not clear, contact the program directly for clarification or consult with someone in Career Services for advice.

Be sure to ask faculty members at least one month in advance for any letters you might need. You may wish to establish a confidential credentials file in Career Services to consolidate the process of providing each school with letters of recommendation from your professors. This service may prove especially convenient to those planning to apply a few years after graduation, as it allows you to get letters from current professors on file now, for use in the future.

Writing Effective Personal Statements & Application Essays

You will need to write some form of goal statement or essay as part of the graduate or professional school application process. The requirements for these essays will vary from program to program, but some general rules apply.

Personal statements give you an opportunity to explain parts of your personal, educational, and professional background that have influenced your decision to pursue an advanced degree at a particular institution. Admissions committees rely heavily on these essays, as they paint a more three-dimensional picture of you than do test scores or GPAs. It is critical for you to reflect on the uniqueness of your background and to be specific about your goals, to help the committee feel like they would be gaining a valuable new member to their program. It's also critical that you answer the question they ask!

The personal statement should be focused - you should be connecting your experiences, education, and motivations to the program you have selected. What has prepared you for this program? What do you hope to gain from it? Where do you see yourself after completing the degree? Depending on what they ask you to write, you will likely have to address these types of issues in a relatively concise framework.

Effective essays need to say a lot in a fairly limited amount of space. Some tips that might help you in crafting your essays:

  • Be concise and selective. Focus on common themes and specific goal statements, rather than providing a biography or a list of accomplishments.
  • Give specific examples that are unique to you - don't generalize. For example, if applying to a program in social work, the following statement (while true) may be read as cliche: "I want to become a social worker because I like to help people." A stronger statement would include a specific example of volunteer work you performed, and how that experience influenced your decision to enter this field -- this will convey genuine enthusiasm and motivation.
  • Emphasize that the information you are providing demonstrates your potential for this kind of advanced study (just as you must do in a job search, don't forget to "sell your skills").
  • Follow instructions! Answer the question, and all parts of each question, put forth.
  • If necessary, explain or address any discrepancies or perceived weaknesses in your record. Consult with advisers on whether or not this is a necessary strategy in your situation.
  • Proofread, proofread, proofread! Be sure to have a counselor in Career Services, advisers, and others read your essays.

Useful books in the Career Services library—Graduate Admissions Essays: What Works, What Doesn't and Why and How to Write a Winning Personal Statement for Graduate and Professional School—can help you get started.

Application timetable

Once you have narrowed your choice of programs, initiate the application process as early as possible. While researching schools, you probably discovered that application procedures and deadlines vary from institution to institution. Generally speaking, you want to start this entire process one and a half years in advance of when you wish to enroll; this will give you plenty of time to do everything you need to in preparation for graduate study.

Application deadlines can vary widely, but most schools have deadlines between January and March. Applying early can be an advantage especially at schools with rolling admissions and can sometimes affect the amount of funding still available.

At least 18 months in advance of desired month of enrollment:

  • Research institutions and programs of interest. Use Peterson's Guides in Career Services or online.
  • Consult with faculty/advisers regarding interests and the nature of graduate study you might like to pursue.
  • Obtain application forms, graduate school catalogs and financial aid information. Note deadlines.
  • Open a Credentials File at Career Services and begin to approach faculty for recommendation letters.
  • Register and prepare for appropriate graduate admissions tests; register with national application services, if appropriate (e.g., LSDAS for law school).

One year to 15 months in advance of desired month of enrollment:

  • Take required graduate admission test(s) - (GRE, LSAT, GMAT, MCAT, etc.) - Be aware of deadlines and minimum time needed for scoring.
  • Request applications, handbooks/bulletins, and financial aid information from all schools of interest.
  • Visit or talk to admissions staff, current students and faculty at programs of interest. Be sure to investigate the faculty research interests.
  • Begin drafting application essays, so you have time to get feedback from Career Services and your adviser(s) before applying.
  • Gather information about financial aid resources -- scholarships, fellowships, teaching and research assistantships

One year in advance of desired month of enrollment:

  • Obtain additional letters of recommendation from faculty and/or professionals with whom you have worked (e.g., internship supervisors).
  • Submit request for Credentials (recommendation letters) to be mailed AT LEAST THREE WEEKS in advance of any application deadline, to ensure they are processed by the time of your deadline (processing time can take up to 10 working days, before the letters are mailed).
  • Mail completed application materials, including financial aid packages, which typically include: Admissions test reports—you must request that score reports be sent to schools of choice. Transcripts—you may request that these be sent directly to the institution or you may get copies issued to you and mail them with your application. Letters of Recommendation—submit request to Credentials Service well in advance of application deadline. Application Essays/Personal Statement—Counselors in Career Services can provide feedback/critiques of your essays. Portfolios, Auditions, other materials as requested.
  • For financial aid, be sure to complete the necessary applications. Check with each school for financial aid application requirements and forms.

Approximately 6 to 9 months in advance of desired month of enrollment:

  • Wait for admission decisions - follow-up to check on the status of your application.
  • Visit institutions of interest (optional). Evaluate your options.
  • Interview, if necessary.
  • Choose among schools. Be prepared to consider multiple offers - how will you decide? Also be prepared for the possibility that you might not get any offers - what is your contingency plan?
  • Once accepted to a program of choice, be sure to notify other institutions of your choice.
  • Send thank you notes to those who wrote your recommendation letters, informing them of your plans.

 

PAYING FOR A GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAM

Financial support does exist for graduate study, but obtaining it demands persistent and comprehensive research as well as follow-up on your part. The best sources of information about financial aid are often the universities to which you are applying; every institution has its own resources and procedures for allotting aid. Write to your prospective department about assistantships, fellowships, and scholarships, as well as to the financial aid office about work-study, student loans, and other assistance options.

Many schools use needs analysis, such as the Graduate and Professional School Financial Aid Service (GAPSFAS) - be sure to check with EACH school's financial aid office for appropriate forms and procedures for that institution, along with applicable deadline dates.

Some sources of aid that graduate students should be aware of:

Grants and Fellowships - These are awards that do not require any service in return. Grants are usually provided to those with the greatest financial need. Fellowships are frequently rewarded to those on the basis of past academic merit or as a selective/prestigious award. An active fellowship database is available for information on fellowships of different disciplines.

Research and Teaching Assistantships - These are service-awards, usually requiring students to work (by conducting research or assisting with teaching duties) 10-20 hours per week. Assistantships may vary, though, in time commitment and pay scale, so all options should be thoroughly investigated. Most include tuition assistance, as well as an hourly or weekly pay rate. Assistantships may be available within your department, as well as throughout other university offices; large universities may have separate assistantship offices, so don't rely just on your department for offerings.

Subsidized Loans - There are a variety of federal and other loan programs for which you may qualify. Contact the financial aid offices at the universities to which you are applying for information regarding these loans and application procedures. Web sites like Fin Aid provide useful descriptions of loan options and how to apply. While application deadlines are sometimes as late as Feburary and March, it is important to complete financial aid forms and materials as early in the year as possible, to ensure full consideration for all options available to you.

To launch your research, refer to guides in the Career Services library or on the Internet, which identify strategies and sources for financing your education. Contact national, state or local chapters of professional associations, unions, corporations, banks - many of these organizations offer financial assistance to students. Some web sites that can provide additional information about scholarships, grants and loans are: