So you want to go So you want to go to Graduate to Graduate

School?School?

Graduate school admissions are fundamentally different than any other admissions process you

may have witnessed or endured. This process is not like applying to college; Grades, Scores, and Recommendations are only the

beginning.

What programs/schools What programs/schools are you interested in?are you interested in? Grad school is not a place to “find” Grad school is not a place to “find”

yourself, have a clear goal.yourself, have a clear goal.

Talk to others that have pursued a Talk to others that have pursued a graduate degree in your interested area. graduate degree in your interested area.

Also talk to professors in that area of Also talk to professors in that area of study. They tend to have a wealth of study. They tend to have a wealth of knowledge on that subject.knowledge on that subject.

Most schools require Most schools require GRE’s, but not all GRE’s, but not all The GRE measures skills that you've The GRE measures skills that you've

developed during high school and college. developed during high school and college. It consists of three sections: Verbal, It consists of three sections: Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical. Quantitative, and Analytical.

Based on a departmental basis, contact Based on a departmental basis, contact depts at grad schools, see if they require it.depts at grad schools, see if they require it.

GRE application booklets, available from GRE application booklets, available from

CDC office. CDC office.

GRE’s: how to gain GRE’s: how to gain experienceexperience

PRACTICE! Lets face it, its not a cheap test, PRACTICE! Lets face it, its not a cheap test, $115 bucks is a $115 bucks! Get some $115 bucks is a $115 bucks! Get some study guides. study guides. Barnes and Nobel, Amazon.com. Barnes and Nobel, Amazon.com.

http://www.lmunet.edu/students/carplan/http://www.lmunet.edu/students/carplan/gre/GRE%20practice%20Exam.pdfgre/GRE%20practice%20Exam.pdf

Check out www.gre.org Check out www.gre.org

GRE’s: what to expectGRE’s: what to expect

Takes 6 weeks to receive scores. If you Takes 6 weeks to receive scores. If you take the test in October scores will not be take the test in October scores will not be ready until November.ready until November.

Schools like to see scores above 500 on Schools like to see scores above 500 on each section, possible 800pts…. Like a each section, possible 800pts…. Like a fancy SATfancy SAT

Grad School Search Grad School Search Do not be afraid to go out of state, pick a Do not be afraid to go out of state, pick a

place where you have always wanted to place where you have always wanted to go. Many times there is money available go. Many times there is money available through assistantships/fellowships. through assistantships/fellowships.

Attend a Grad School Fair Attend a Grad School Fair Get as much information from schools as Get as much information from schools as

possible. Use yellow post cards available possible. Use yellow post cards available in CDC Library in conjunction with in CDC Library in conjunction with Peterson’s Guide Peterson’s Guide

Things to think about Things to think about when choosing a schoolwhen choosing a school ReputationReputation CompetitionCompetition Location & DistanceLocation & Distance RecommendationsRecommendations # of students# of students Urban/RuralUrban/Rural Research InterestsResearch Interests Academic ResourcesAcademic Resources

Curriculum ChoicesCurriculum Choices Social LifeSocial Life Job PlacementJob Placement Rate of AttritionRate of Attrition AccreditationAccreditation Well known FacultyWell known Faculty Age of FacultyAge of Faculty Funding PossibilitiesFunding Possibilities

What do you want in a What do you want in a grad school?grad school? Email departments at grad schools, do not be Email departments at grad schools, do not be

afraid to ask hard questions.. ie, what makes afraid to ask hard questions.. ie, what makes your program stand out from other your program stand out from other institutions? What can I expect as a Grad institutions? What can I expect as a Grad Student in this program? Student in this program?

Visit websites: www.gradschool.com Visit websites: www.gradschool.com www.petersons.com www.petersons.com gradschool.about.com gradschool.about.com

Making a ChoiceMaking a Choice When receiving information from grad When receiving information from grad

schools develop a way to keep track of it all. schools develop a way to keep track of it all. Make an excel spreadsheet of all Make an excel spreadsheet of all information. This will help make your information. This will help make your decision easier. decision easier.

Visit schools that you are interested in. This Visit schools that you are interested in. This is where you’re most likely going to be for 2 is where you’re most likely going to be for 2 years, and the program should really fit you.years, and the program should really fit you.

A sensible application A sensible application strategy will include schools strategy will include schools in three general categories: in three general categories: 1.1. dream schools - places you'd love to dream schools - places you'd love to

attend, but where your chances of attend, but where your chances of acceptance are up in the air or even acceptance are up in the air or even unlikely unlikely

2.2. good possibilities - programs you'd like to good possibilities - programs you'd like to attend and where your grades and GRE attend and where your grades and GRE score are close to the medianscore are close to the median

3.3. safeties - schools where your numbers safeties - schools where your numbers make acceptance likely.make acceptance likely.

Research FacultyResearch Faculty

Find out their research interestsFind out their research interests Read some articles they publishedRead some articles they published Which ever professor interests you most, Which ever professor interests you most,

contact them (email or mail). Ask them contact them (email or mail). Ask them about the program, and to gauge your about the program, and to gauge your credentialscredentials

Include their name in your personal Include their name in your personal statementstatement

Application Process Application Process So you have narrowed your search down to So you have narrowed your search down to

the 4 best schools. Now what?! the 4 best schools. Now what?!

Get applications out, if your applying for Get applications out, if your applying for grad school for fall try to have applications grad school for fall try to have applications out by January 1out by January 1stst (even if they aren’t due (even if they aren’t due until Feb/March). The sooner you get your until Feb/March). The sooner you get your applications in the better chance you have applications in the better chance you have at receiving assistantships/fellowships.at receiving assistantships/fellowships.

Different Schools ask for Different Schools ask for different thingsdifferent things

STAY ORGANIZED! They could need:STAY ORGANIZED! They could need: Application (paper/computer)Application (paper/computer) ResumeResume Personal StatementPersonal Statement Letters of Recommendation (confidential)Letters of Recommendation (confidential)

They may request forms to accompany the letterThey may request forms to accompany the letter

Official Transcript (may need more than 1)Official Transcript (may need more than 1) A writing sample (besides your statement)A writing sample (besides your statement)

Personal StatementPersonal Statement

Can never be read over too many times or Can never be read over too many times or by too many eyes!by too many eyes!

Don’t be cliché, find your own angle.Don’t be cliché, find your own angle. Focus on your opening paragraphFocus on your opening paragraph Make it specific to the school. They also Make it specific to the school. They also

may ask specific questions.may ask specific questions. Tell a story. You don’t want to bore the Tell a story. You don’t want to bore the

reader if you’re the 30reader if you’re the 30thth statement they statement they have read today.have read today.

Personal Statement Personal Statement cont…cont… Strive for depth rather than breadth. Focus Strive for depth rather than breadth. Focus

on being specific with 1 or 2 ideas.on being specific with 1 or 2 ideas. Proofread carefully for grammar, syntax, Proofread carefully for grammar, syntax,

punctuation, word usage, and style punctuation, word usage, and style Do not submit an expository resume; avoid Do not submit an expository resume; avoid

repeating information found elsewhere on repeating information found elsewhere on the application.the application.

Do not incorporate technical language or Do not incorporate technical language or very uncommon words.very uncommon words.

Credential folders…Credential folders…

Career Development Center can handle the Career Development Center can handle the complete application process. Credential complete application process. Credential folders hold references from your folders hold references from your professors/employers, resumes, cover professors/employers, resumes, cover letters, and copies of transcripts.letters, and copies of transcripts.

Make sure you waive your right to view Make sure you waive your right to view references. Grad schools usually require at references. Grad schools usually require at least 3 least 3 confidentialconfidential letters of letters of recommendation. recommendation.

Credential FoldersCredential Folders

Remind writers of what you have Remind writers of what you have accomplished. Give writers a copy of your accomplished. Give writers a copy of your resume. resume.

Keep track of letters; never assume people Keep track of letters; never assume people will do what you ask of them. will do what you ask of them.

Follow requirements for how each item Follow requirements for how each item should be submitted to your folder. We should be submitted to your folder. We need to know transcripts and letters of need to know transcripts and letters of reference are official.reference are official.

You applied… Now What?You applied… Now What?

You have to just waitYou have to just wait

……and wait…and wait…

……and wait!and wait! Many graduate schools will have you Many graduate schools will have you

interview but the process varies with each interview but the process varies with each school. Either phone interview or in person, school. Either phone interview or in person, or you could have 1 to 15 interviews.or you could have 1 to 15 interviews.

Then get ready to wait some more!Then get ready to wait some more!

Acceptance Acceptance

So you have been accepted by all of your So you have been accepted by all of your grad schools… AWESOME! now make grad schools… AWESOME! now make your final choice. your final choice.

When you plan for success When you plan for success that’s what you’ll get! that’s what you’ll get!

What to think about What to think about before acceptingbefore accepting Can I get a scholarship or assistantship?Can I get a scholarship or assistantship?How much will it cost without help?How much will it cost without help? Do I like the university? The students? The Do I like the university? The students? The

Faculty?Faculty? Do they have a doctorate program?Do they have a doctorate program? What is the average standard of living in the area What is the average standard of living in the area

around the school? around the school? (You could get into a cheap school but what if you have (You could get into a cheap school but what if you have

to pay 3x as much for housing and food because you to pay 3x as much for housing and food because you chose a school in an expensive city?)chose a school in an expensive city?)

YOU’VE CHOSEN!YOU’VE CHOSEN!

Now send letters to all schools, either Now send letters to all schools, either accepting their offer or rejecting it.accepting their offer or rejecting it.

Pay your holding fee (commitment)Pay your holding fee (commitment) Search for housing (maybe sign an Search for housing (maybe sign an

apartment lease)apartment lease) Make various other plans for the following Make various other plans for the following

year.year.