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Getting into the grad school of your choice can be difficult. Many popular grad schools only accept a small number of its applicants. This page offers some tips on how to make your application stand out and general suggestions on how to get into grad school.
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Getting into the grad school of your choice can be difficult. Many popular grad schools only accept a small number of its applicants. This page offers some tips on how to make your application stand out and general suggestions on how to get into grad school.
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Introduction
- Grad schools vary in their admission procedures and requirements. You should always apply to more than one grad school in case you do not get accepted to your top choice. Make sure that you tailor each application to the specific program. To get some ideas on how to pick schools to apply to and eventually which one to attend, consult Mahalo's guide on How to Choose a Grad School.
Step 1: Planning Ahead
- The process of preparing for grad school should begin before you start researching different grad schools.
- Study well in undergraduate school and get good grades.
- Make personal connections with teachers who might help you later by writing your letters of recommendations. If you plan to change your field of study after undergraduate school, make connections with teachers in the field you plan to focus on.
- Working in a job related to the field you want to study can help you later by showing an interest in the field. This is especially helpful if you will not study the same topic as in undergraduate school. If you cannot find a job in the field, consider volunteering or joining relevant organizations.
- Get research experience in the field before sending your applications out. This will be necessary for some schools and will give your application an edge for other schools.
Step 2: The Basics
- Regardless of which school you apply to, there are some requirements that will be similar.
- Most schools require you to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), a standardized test. The importance of your result will vary depending on the school. For more information, consult Mahalo's guide on How to Study for the GRE.
- Depending on the school you apply you, additional tests might be required.
- You will usually need several letters of recommendations. It's best if they are from faculty teaching subjects related to the field you will study in grad school.
- An interview might be required before the school makes a decision on your application.
- An passion for the field you will study is important and you should focus on demonstrating it in your application.
Step 3: Consult the School
- Different grad schools will have different requirements for acceptance. Even if the schools you apply to have similar basic requirements, they place different value on the components. For example, some grad schools emphasize research experience more than others. They might also take into account things that are not spelled out in the application instructions. Although you should demonstrate a potential to excel in each field, finding out what the school emphasizes can help you to better tailor your application. The best way to find out the importance of each factor is to ask. While the application information will give you a general idea of what the school places importance on, you should contact the school to find out more specifics.
Conclusion
- There is no guarantee that you will get into the grad school of your choice. The number of applicants, your grades and the relevance to your previous experience will all play a role. To increase your chances and make your application stand out, plan ahead and consult the specific program for recommendations.
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