Many applicants to graduate school seek to change careers rather than simply continue their undergraduate education. Do you need a bachelor's degree in the field in order to apply to graduate school?

Many graduate students complete their studies anticipating a career in academics, as researchers and professors. That's how grad students are socialized. Typically faculty seek to prepare students to take on roles very similar to their own. This is particularly evident in doctoral programs. However, you are not limited to academic careers. Given the scarcity of academic jobs in some fields, you will be well served to consider the skills that you have developed in graduate school. You may not realize it but you have a host of skills that employers seek.

Well, maybe not easy, but it can make writing the graduate admissions essay less overwhelming. Engage in a bit of self-evaluation -- simply set aside some time to think about who you are, what makes you special, what challenges have you experienced, what you have overcome, what you want in life, how you are prepared for graduate study, and what the program directors can expect from you. Easy. Actually these are difficult questions and it will take hard work, time, and honesty on your part, but the payoffs are tremendous. Spend time time alone with a journal to consider these questions before writing your graduate admissions essay.

Applicants to graduate school sometimes become so concerned about the more challenging aspects of the application, like recommendation letters and admissions essays, that they forget the easy stuff, like transcripts. Transcripts usually must be sent directly from the registrar's office at your school to the admissions office at the program to which you're applying. Request transcripts early because your school may take a week or more to process them. You don't want your application to be rejected because your transcripts didn't arrive on time.