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Graduate School Opportunities

Graduate School: Step by Step


by Erica Lepley '09

depart of comm - EricalepleyHave you ever thought about going to Graduate School?  Don’t stop reading just because you think, “I have plenty of time until I need to bother with this!” Trust me, the more time you put into thinking about your future plans now, the less stressed you will be as a senior. So where do you start? Follow this list of suggestions to get on the right track!

1. Talk with advisors, professors, and other mentors who have a background in your field of interest

  • Ask them about their educational experiences. What did they do right/wrong or what they would change?
  •  Build a relationship with them! Your recommendation letters will be much better if they know more about you than just your GPA.

2. Go to the Internet

  •   The internet has a wealth of information. From scholarship opportunities to student perspectives on the school you are considering, the internet has what you need.

3. Contact graduate programs that interest you

  • Keep a list of the ones that stand out.
  •  Read reviews about programs and talk to alumni for advice.

4. Keep your resume updated

  • I know you have heard this a thousand times, but it is TRUE! When it comes time to apply to schools or get a job, you will be glad you don’t have to try to remember what you did when you were a freshman/sophomore etc. You get the picture.
  • Go to the Career Center and have them edit your resume. They have seen many resumes and it helps to have someone else’s opinion.  Another set of eyes can scan your resume for mistakes you might have missed.

5. Go to any career/graduate school fairs that you can

  • Often graduate schools will waive your application fee if you speak with them at a fair.

6. You must take the GRE’s for most graduate programs

  • Prepare for this early so that you don’t put any unnecessarily stress on yourself!  The GRE’s are expensive too, so start saving now!

7. Be aware of deadlines

  • Although this may seem like common sense, college students are busy. Applications are just one more thing to put off.  Many schools have rolling admission, but if you want to be considered for assistantships and scholarships you must apply early (check the school’s website for details).      

8. Get good grades

  • You may be able to graduate from college with average grades but that will not suffice when it comes to getting into graduate school.
  • Graduate programs are competitive, so keep your GPA up and work hard to show your program of interest that you are a dedicated student.

9.  Start the dreaded purpose statement early

  • What sets you apart? You can get excellent grades, have stellar recommendation letters, and ace your GREs, but you will not stand out among hundreds of applicants if you don’t have a good purpose statement.
  • Answer the following in your statement—Why do you want to be a part of their program/attend their school? What do you want to research? What professors at their institution draw you to their school and why? Why is this a good time for you to study at the graduate level?
  • Be sure to tailor you statement to your specific institution’s criteria.
  • If you do not plan to apply to graduate school for a while, just write down random thoughts about what you enjoy about your major, questions you may have that you would like to answer through research, positive things you have heard about certain graduate programs. Nothing is irrelevant. You will thank yourself when you sit down senior year and have a place to start rather than staring at a blank computer screen for hours on end.

 10.  Request transcripts and recommendation letters as soon as you decide where you want to apply

  • When you are a senior, many people will be doing this, so your professors and the registrar will be innundated with requests. You do not have control over these parts of the application, so be sure to keep track of these materials to insure that your application gets in on time.
  • Write a thank you letter to your professors for taking the time to help you!

If you follow these suggestions, your application process will go a lot more smoothly and you will be confident that you did all you could to get into your program of choice. Good luck with your graduate school searches, applications, and  decisions!