GRADUATE SCHOOL

Time Line

Application deadlines vary for each institution.  Most deadlines for fall entry are between January and March.  Plan to meet all formal deadlines.  Be aware that many schools with rolling admissions encourage and act upon early applications.  Applying early to schools with rolling admissions is usually advantageous.

You may not be able to adhere to this timetable if your application deadlines are very early or if you decide to attend graduate school at the last minute.  In any case, keep in mind the application requirements for each institution and be sure to meet all deadlines.

Three - six months prior to applying:

  • Investigate financial aid options and research programs and institutions of interest.
  • Register and prepare for appropriate graduate admission tests.
  • Contact institutions for application materials and verify application deadlines/admissions policies.
  • Write your application essay (also called statement of purpose, personal goals statement)
  • For medical, dental, osteopathy, podiatry, or law school, you may need to register for the national application or data assembly service most programs use.

Fall/Winter (one year before matriculation):

  • Obtain letters of recommendation.
  • Take graduate admission tests.
  • Send completed applications and materials.

Spring (before matriculating in the fall):

  • Follow up with the institution before deadlines to verify your file is complete.
  • Visit institutions that accept you and send a deposit once you've decided on the institution to attend.
  • Notify other institutions that accepted you so they can admit students on their waiting list.
  • Send thank-you notes to people who wrote recommendation letters, informing them of your success.

Admissions Decisions

At most institutions, once the graduate school office has received all of your materials, your file is sent to the academic department.  A faculty committee (or the department chairperson) then makes a recommendation on graduate school admission. 

Primary Factors Considered:

  • Undergraduate grade point average.
  • Letters of recommendation.
  • Graduate admissions test scores.

Also Taken Into Account:

  • Appropriateness of the undergraduate degree.
  • Interview or audition.
  • Essay (personal statement, statement of purpose, etc).
  • Resume.
  • Work experience/internships/co-ops.

Normally the student’s total record is examined closely, and the weight assigned to specific factors fluctuates from program to program.  Few, if any, institutions base their decisions purely on admissions test scores or grade point average.

Common Reasons Applicants Are Rejected:

  • Inappropriate undergraduate curriculum.
  • Poor grades or lack of academic prerequisites.
  • Low admissions test scores.
  • Weak or ineffective recommendation letters.
  • Poor interview, portfolio, or audition.
  • Poorly written essay.
  • Lack of extracurricular activities, volunteer experience, or research activities.
  • Missing deadlines and incomplete applications.

Evaluating Graduate Programs

Listed below is criteria you should consider as you evaluate graduate programs:

Admissions

  • What are the admissions requirements? What criteria are used to evaluate and select students?
  • How important are GPA and test scores?
  • Will it be easier to get accepted after gaining work experience?

Programs Offered

  • Does the program provide real work experience such as practicums or internships?
  • Is the curriculum structured or flexible?
  • What is the average length of time spent in the program?
  • Do opportunities exist for specialization?

Faculty

  • What are their credentials?
  • What have they published? What research projects have they conducted?
  • What is the faculty/student ratio?

Reputation

  • Is the university accredited?
  • Is the program nationally ranked in terms of excellence?

Cost

  • What are the tuition and fees?
  • What financial aid is available (loans, scholarships, work study, assistantships)?

Geographic Location

  • Consider weather and political/social climate.  Do you want to live here for several years?
  • Does the area offer cultural and recreational activities?
  • What kind of impact will this location have on family and friends?
  • What are the employment opportunities in the area?

Faculty Recommendations

Who should you ask for letters of recommendation?  At least one letter should come from faculty members in your major.

Keep faculty up to date on your achievements, verbally and in writing – provide them with an updated copy of your resume or any other documentation that will be helpful as they write your recommendation letters.

Determine who will be your best advocates.  You want somebody who will “sell you” to the institution and graduation program.

Discuss references with your recommenders.  Inform them of any points you particularly want to get across.  Ask them to use specific examples, if possible.

Give your recommenders ample time to write the reference – to be your best advocate, you don’t want them to be rushed.

Let the recommender know when you plan to submit your applications.