Applying to Graduate School
By Tara Kuther, Ph.D., About.com Guide to Graduate School
Applying to graduate school is no easy task. Below is what you need to know about applying to graduate school, including information about how to get recommendation letters, write admissions essays, and assemble a competitive application.
- Overview and Timetable for Applying to Grad School
- Choosing Graduate Programs
- Recommendation Letters
Overview and Timetable for Applying to Grad School
What can you expect when you're preparing your graduate school applicatoin?
- Graduate School Admissions 101
- What Do Graduate Schools Want?
- Timetable for Applying to Grad School: What to Do When
- What's the Role of GPA in Graduate School Admissions?
- Frequently Asked Questions About Applying to Graduate School
- What's the Role of GPA in Graduate School Admissions?
- Admissions Outcomes: Acceptance, Rejection, and Wait-Listed
- Applying to Graduate School with a Low GPA
Choosing Graduate Programs
The most important step in applying to graduate school is choosing the programs to which to apply. How do you approach this big decision?
- Where Should You Apply for Graduate School?
- What is the Difference Between a Master's Degree and a Doctoral Degree?
- What Does a Master's Degree Entail?
- Should I Apply to Graduate School at the Same University Where I Earned My BA?
- How Do I Find an Online Graduate Program?
- You've Been Accepted: How to Choose?
- Can You Change Fields from Undergrad to Grad?
Recommendation Letters
Solid recommendations are a critical ticket to graduate school. What is a letter of recommendation? How do you obtain helpful letters of recommendation? How do you approach faculty?
- All About Letters of Recommendation
- Get a Letter of Recommendation: A Step-By-Step Primer
- Who Will Write Your Recommendation Letters? Choosing Referees
- Requesting a Recommendation Letter: Proper Etiquette
- Experiences that Lead to Good Recommendations
- Midlife Applicants: How to Get a Letter a Few Years Out of School
- Sample Recommendation Letters
- Thanking Your Letter Writers
Admissions Essays
The admissions essay or personal statement is your chance to present yourself to the admissions committee as a person rather than just a GPA and standardized test score. Take advantage of this opportunity and sell yourself to the admissions committee by writing an excellent admissions essay.
- Preparation and Your Graduate Admissions Essay
- What Do Admissions Committees Look for in Admissions Essays?
- What are Common Topics for Graduate School Admissions Essays?
- Questions to Ask Yourself Before Writing a Personal Statement
- How to Organize Your Personal Statement
- What to Say (and Not Say) in Your Admissions Essay
- Do's and Don'ts for Writing Admissions Essays
Admissions Interview
If you're invited for an interview you have a leg-up over the competition. Prepare for your graduate admissions interview and you'll be more likely to impress the admissions committee as well as learn about the program.
- Interviewing for Graduate School Admissions
- Graduate School Interview: Dos and Don'ts
- Common Interview Questions
- The Interview Process: What You Need to Know
- What to Ask During a Graduate Admissions Interview
Standardized Admissions Exams
Stanardized tests are no fun, but they're a critical component to your application to graduate school and can even determine whether you get financial aid. Learn about the GRE, MCAT, GMAT, and LSAT.
