Tips and Tips

What

Admission

Committees

Want:

How to be an Elite

Contender for Graduate

School

How Can I Be a Competitive Applicant?

● Determine what you really want – is Graduate

School your best option?

● Think of the Application Process in three phases:

► Before Applying

▶ Applying

▶ After Applying

Before Applying:

What you want vs. What schools look for

Before Applying:

What you want

Ask yourself the “hard” questions:

- What do you want to do when you’re done with school?

- Why do you want a specific program? Are you willing to make

a long commitment to this field of study?

- Are you prepared to make some of the sacrifices that come

with pursuing graduate study? (Possibly taking on more

student debt, cutting back on hours where you work etc.)

-Do you feel you have something to offer in a graduate

program? What do you hope to accomplish?

Before Applying:

What schools look for

-Graduate schools are looking for students who:

- are highly self-motivated

- are able to take constructive criticism and apply

what they’ve learned

- can work independently

- is not afraid to work hard

- will thrive in the program

(usually by presenting papers, publishing etc.)

- are going to be leaders in their fields someday

Before Applying:

How to Prepare

● Research the School, departments and faculty

-Admissions and school departments always want

to see that you’ve done some research on the

institution

- Faculty are always looking for students to support

their research and conduct new projects

- Ask yourself:

Is this school a place where I can become

an expert?

Are the faculty open / skilled to my area

of interest?

What do I have to offer the program?

● When is the deadline? (Rolling vs. Set deadlines)

Applying

General Application Components

General Application Components

♦ Application Form

♦ Application Fee

♦ Personal Statement

♦ Resume or Curriculum Vitae

♦ Official Transcripts

♦ Letters of Reference /...