Letters of Recommendation
The GRE and GPA components of your application portray you as just a bunch of scores. The letter of recommendation is what permits the committee to begin thinking of you as a person. The quality of your letters rests on the quality of your relationships with professors. Make a good impression on professors, make research contacts with faculty, and seek out experiences that will set your apart from other students.
Take care and choose appropriate letter writers. Remember that a good letter helps your application tremendously but a bad or even neutral letter will send your application into the rejection pile. Do not ask for a letter from a professor who knows nothing more about you than the fact that you got an A - such letters do not enhance your application, but detract from it. Be courteous and respectful in asking for letters and provide enough information to help the professor write a helpful letter.
Letters from employers can also be included if they include information on your duties and aptitude relating to your field of study (or your motivation and quality of work, overall). Examples of letters NOT to include are those from: friends, spiritual leaders such as ministers, and public officials. Such letters are a poor attempt to impress the committee members who instead look for students who have proof of a real passion and involvement in work pertaining to their field.
Admissions Essay
The admissions essay is your opportunity to speak up for yourself. Carefully structure your essay. Be creative and informative as you introduce yourself and explain why you want to attend graduate school and why each program is a perfect match to your skills.
Before you begin writing, consider your qualities. First think about who will be reading your statement and what they are looking for in an essay. Not only are they committee members. They are scholars who are searching for the kind of motivation that implies a dedicated and intrinsic interest in the matters dealt with in their field of study. And they are looking for someone who will be productive and interested in their work.
Explain your relevant skills, experiences, and accomplishments into your essay. Focus on how your educational and occupational experiences such as research led you to this program. Don't rely only on emotional motivation (such as "I want to help people" or "I want to learn"). Describe how this program will benefit you (and how your skills can benefit the faculty within it), where you see yourself in the program and how it fits into your future goals. Be specific: What do you offer? Some programs require students to complete one or several admissions essays on specific topics, such as addressing questions to illustrate applicants' critical analysis skills. Always answer the question.
Interview
Although not part of the application, some programs use interviews to get a look at finalists. Sometimes what looks like a great match on paper isn't in person. If you're asked to interview for a graduate program, remember that this is your opportunity to determine how well a fit the program is for you. In other words, you're interviewing them, as much as they are interviewing you.
