Graduate or Professional school can be a requirement for a career field and other times individuals choose to pursue additional education for person growth. Taking time to research programs, learn about admission requirements, and complete the application process can be overwhelming. The resources on this site offer tools to assist in the process to guide you through the decision making and selection.
Getting into Grad School in 5 Steps
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- Goals, interests, reasons for attending, and consideration of time and funding investment
- Utilize Various Resources: faculty, professionals in the field, current graduate students, career center, internet, program guides, and admission information visits
- Program Comparison: reputation, recognition, institution, and student support resources
- Model (i.e., accredited, academic, professional, practitioner)
- Delivery type (i.e., full-time, part-time/cohort)
- Outcomes (i.e., success rate, loan-debt data, placements)
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- Check on Application Requirements:
- Grad Exams and Test Prep (i.e. GRE, LSAT, GMAT, etc.)
- Admissions Essay or Statement of Purpose
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae
- Letters of Recommendation (may require templates and sent directly by Recommender)
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- Submit required application forms, test scores and transcripts
- May be requested to interview or auditions for entry and/or to present a portfolio
- The Review Process: Rolling admissions or deadlines, decisions, notifications by/to program
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- Financial Aid: Apply for FAFSA, Loans, Scholarships, and pursue other sources
- Fellowships/Graduate Assistantships (for possible partly- or fully-funded tuition and wages)
- Employer Tuition Reimbursement or Waivers
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- Consider your goals, needs and expectations, then finalize and thank those who helped!
Tips for the Application Process
- Preparing early for Grad School pays off in meeting the requirements and gaining admission to a program of choice—plus, possibly locating funding and reducing stress!
- Applications with admissions test results may be due a year prior to starting classes, in late Fall and early Winter.
- Form relationships and/or participate in research with faculty, in preparation for reference requests.
- Check details on various standardized tests required for admissions.
- Create a resume for admission applications and interviews, along with other on-campus academic posts.
- Be aware, degree programs which are practitioner-based and/or lead to licensure, may involve a national application and/or unpaid/paid intern-ships.
- Visit the campus and attend an information session; ask questions that demonstrate you did your homework and take every opportunity to show you want to attend.
- Include a short, upbeat cover letter with your application stating why you are interested and hoping they decide to admit you.
- Notify and thank every program where accepted, plus your Recommenders.