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The road to graduate school is long
– and can be complex and sometimes confusing. To help
keep you on track, here's a calendar of what grad school
applicants should be doing, and when.
Be Aware of Early Deadlines: One of the key
aspects of applying to graduate school for many
applicants is obtaining teaching and research
assistantships. Many schools have early deadlines for
scholarship consideration. Thus, use the remaining
summer months to thoroughly review all the scholarship
and funding opportunities that may be available to you. Jump start your application process this summer so that you may possibly capitalize on these funding opportunities.
School Selection:
In order to present a confident message to the admissions committee reviewing your application, it is
imperative that
applicants demonstrate that they have completed their research for each respective school.
Therefore, it is helpful to narrow your focus by researching specific programs that may be of interest.
To help keep you on track, create a list of criteria
that encompasses your overall needs and objectives. Here is a list of factors that many applicants tend to consider:
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Academic Qualifications. As
you consider your school choices, make sure that one of the first items you
look at in a program's profile are the academic qualifications
for admission. You will save yourself a lot of time
and frustration by choosing the programs that best fit your academic profile.
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Specialty. It is important to decide on your academic focus and research interests before you begin researching schools and programs. Make sure you look into the job market in your chosen field to better understand how your choice of degree and field may affect your professional opportunities. Once you have defined your interests, you can start researching specific programs.
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Finances.
As stated, many graduate programs offer fellowships and scholarships based on either financial or academic qualifications. However, the number and dollar amount of these awards are often quite limited, and there are always a large number of qualified students competing for the same awards. It is important that you conduct thorough research to determine which schools offer the best financial incentives for your situation. You should also create a back-up financial plan in case you do not receive an adequate award.
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Location. Keep in mind that your commitment to a graduate program may keep you in one place for up to 6 years, depending on the degree you are seeking. That's why it is imperative that you consider location as part of your school selection. Think about what kind of environment you (and your family, if your spouse or children will accompany you) will be happiest in – i.e. a rural, urban, or suburban setting. Don't forget to look beyond the campus to the community that surrounds a school.
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Prospective Faculty Advisors.
Research work is a major element of the graduate
school experience. Master's students are often
required to complete a thesis based on original
research, and most doctoral programs require a
dissertation. Having helpful faculty who will mentor
you through this process is essential. Thus, you
want to identify potential faculty advisors whose
research interests are similar to your own. To
better assess a faculty member's interests, it is
helpful to read some of their published works and to
speak with them directly.
GRE:
The
research component associated with the application
process is not the only time consuming issue to
consider. It is also important to reserve enough time to
prepare and register for the Graduate Entrance Exam
(GRE) that is required by most U.S. graduate programs.
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Take the Test. If you haven't already taken the
GRE General Test<, register for it now and begin
reviewing test material. Check the application
deadlines for the programs you're applying to and
make sure that your test scores will be reported to
the schools in time for those final deadlines.
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Subject Tests. Some programs
require GRE Subject Test scores. Check the
requirements for the programs you're applying to and
make your test plans accordingly.
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Not sure whether you need a GRE prep course? Call us at 703.242.5885 to discuss your situation. We're here to help you!
Defining Your Profile:
Submitting
a successful application requires the incorporation of a
well rounded profile which can attest to your
determination and capability.
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Alternative Transcripts.
Summer is a good time to take additional
courses at a local college or
university if you need to build an alternative transcript
to mitigate weaknesses in your official transcripts. Good
performance in graduate-level courses could reassure
admissions committees of your academic ability and
of your commitment to graduate study. See if the course
instructor would be willing to write a letter of
recommendation for you when the time comes.
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Extracurricular activities
can enhance your grad school applications. Think
about the activities you participate in and the
organizations you belong to. Will those
activities and memberships support your case for
graduate study? Would you benefit by getting
involved in additional groups or activities?
(Beware, however, of starting a number of new
activities at the same time. Doing so could leave an
impression that you joined the groups in question
out of expediency rather than out of genuine
interest.)
Strategic
Positioning:
Consider Your Application Strategy. Before you begin work on your
actual applications, it is useful to create an application strategy. By outlining
your strategy ahead of time, you'll find it easier to keep focused and on
track. A key part of devising your strategy is to identify the story themes
and 'wow' factors that you want to incorporate into your applications.
Remember that a confident and well-crafted application will take account of both your strengths and
your weaknesses. Once you have those
pinpointed, you can create a winning strategy that will mitigate your weakness
and capitalize on your strengths and achievements. -
Highlighting the 'Fit' Factor. Make sure your
application strategy addresses the issue of your fit with each school and
program you apply to. You will need to sell the admissions committees not only
on your
achievements but also on your confidence, your academic promise, and your
ability to make significant contributions to the school and the program. Securing an admissions offer
works both ways: candidates are looking for programs that will cater to their
needs and schools are looking for impressive future alumni who will work to promote
the school.
Applications:
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"Most of your application will come down to the telling your story. It's
critical that you communicate to the admissions committee your motivation and readiness for graduate study. That's
why it's important to provide strong letters of recommendation and essays that detail the unique skills and
experience you can bring to a graduate program. These are the elements of an application that often have the
biggest impact in admissions decisions."
– Senior Admissions Consultant
Heather MacNeill. |
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Order Your Transcripts. Request copies of your official transcripts
for your own use. Make sure you remember to get one
from every institution you've been enrolled at. You'll use
your copies of the transcripts to refresh your memory about your school performance
and decide how to position yourself for grad school admission.
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Review Your Resume.
Determine whether you should take the coming months
to obtain additional work experience. You may want to
consider taking on another project at work or
joining a professional organization, as these can
also help
strengthen your credentials. By starting early, you
have enough time to further build your professional
profile if need be.
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Start Drafting Your Personal
Statement. Think about the issues or topics you
might want to include in your statements of
purpose or personal statements. Ask yourself how well
each one would serve to promote your candidacy at
your targeted schools. Oftentimes, you'll want to use different personal statements
for different schools or programs. After all,
different programs seek different qualities in their
graduate students. A well-crafted personal statement
is often the factor that makes the difference
between being accepted to a graduate program and
being denied.
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Start Thinking About Your Recommenders. Start thinking about who you would
like to ask to write your recommendation letters. Take a moment
to double-check your recommendation strategy.
Identify recommenders who will be able to best
articulate your strengths and potential. Once you have chosen your
recommenders, be proactive and tell
your recommenders which points they need to make to
give your applications your best chances of
admissions success.
Our Graduate School Admissions
Timeline page will be updated on September 1.
Do you have questions about any of
the items you see here? Please call us at 703.242.5885
or
email
us if you do. Our consultants can help you with school
selection, application strategies, application and
interview preparation, and all other aspects of the
graduate school admissions process.
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