Planning Your Grad School Application

There are a number of components in an application to graduate school – applications forms, GRE scores, essays, undergrad transcripts, recommendations.  You need to know how to create a compelling application and represent yourself well on paper in order to win an interview and acceptance.

Once you have decided where and when to apply, your next step is to obtain application forms from the various schools you've selected. Get put on the mailing lists of the schools you are applying to by calling the admissions office. Also check the schools’ websites for downloadable applications. Once you start receiving the applications, you'll notice one thing quickly: no two applications are exactly alike. But despite their differences, most follow a general pattern of the same kinds of questions with slight variations.

You are “the product” when it comes to applying to graduate school. Think of yourself as this and produce an application which is your marketing document. Marketing yourself doesn't mean that you should lie or even embellish the facts. It simply means that you need to make a lucid and convincing presentation. Everything you include in your application should contribute to an overall picture of yourself that clearly demonstrates that you belong in the class and can make a solid contribution to the learning of your peers. Make sure you sell yourself.

Ensure your application is as clear as possible. It should be typed or very neatly printed. Use your full name on everything, even on the small cards and other trappings that schools request.

Admissions Essays

Personal Statement... Statement of Purpose... Candidate's Admission Statement... These terms can seem daunting.  However, think of the personal statement, as an opportunity to show admissions officers what you're made of. They want to know why you want to attend their grad program and this is your chance to tell them as clearly and compellingly as you can.

Two Basic Purposes

Personal statements can serve two basic purposes. Firstly, they indicate whether or not you can write a clear and coherent essay that's logically and grammatically correct. Students' writing ability is often presumed deficient unless proven otherwise. Secondly, they provide you with the chance to present the admissions committee with a "three-dimensional" portrait of yourself as a deserving candidate. Giving admissions teams far more than grades and test scores possibly can. What you choose to write sends clear signals about what you value and find important. You can explain the career path you wish to pursue and why pursuing grad work will enable you to follow this. Your essay also enables you to explain things like a bad grade or term in an otherwise creditable record.

Gathering Recommendations

One of the most important items in your admissions file is the recommendations. So start thinking about them as soon as possible. The whole process of identifying good recommenders, lining them up, and then making sure they provide winning letters can take a great deal of time. If you're still in college or a recent grad, your college professors are likely to make the best references. This is especially true if you wish to study the same subject in grad school.

Out of School for a While?

If you've been out of college for some time, it can be harder to find someone to write a letter of reference. The majority of grad schools will make a reasonable accommodation for older students and accept letters from bosses or colleagues who can attest to your intellectual abilities and suitability for grad school. But it can be a challenge to get a boss or work colleague to attest to intellectual abilities that specifically relate to graduate study. A good solution can be to take a college or grad-level course and ask that teacher for a reference.