Getting in to Graduate School

By Tara Kuther, Ph.D., About.com Guide to Graduate School

Applying to graduate school is a complicated and challenging task involving preparation, motivation, and a great deal of work. The essentials of applying to graduate school are covered here, including standardized admissions tests, letters of recommendation, admissions essays, interviews, and how to prepare while in college.

1. Overview and General Advice
2. Recommendation Letters
3. Admissions Essays
4. Admissions Interview

5. Standardized Admissions Exams
6. Applying to Medical School
7. Applying to Law School
8. Applying to Business School

Overview and General Advice

What does applying to graduate school entail? When should you begin preparing?

• Graduate School Admissions 101
• Should You Apply to Graduate School?
• Selecting a Graduate Program
• What Do Graduate Schools Want?
• Senior-Year Timetable for Applying to Grad School
• Your Transcript: Your Grad School Application Goes Nowhere Without It

• Applying to Graduate School with a Low GPA
• Waitlisted for Graduate School Admission
• You've Been Accepted, Now What?
• What to do When Rejected from Graduate School
• You've been Rejected: How to Deal

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?

• How To Get a Letter of Recommendation: Step by Step
• All About Recommendation Letters
• Recommendation Letters: Choosing Referees
• Getting Good Letters of Recommendation; Experiences that Matter

• The Right Way to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation
• Letters of Recommendation for Midlife Applicants
• 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
• Writing Your Admissions Essay: Trouble Starting?
• What are common topics for graduate school admissions essays?
• Should you explain a low GPA or poor grades in your personal statement?

• Questions to Ask Yourself Before Writing a Personal Statement
• The Structure and Organization of a Personal Statement
• Personal Statements: What to Include, What to Leave Out
• Do’s and Don’ts on a Personal Statement

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.

• About Standardized Admissions Exams
• Guide to the GRE: How to Ace the GRE
• Get Acquainted with the GRE General Test
• GRE Analytical Writing Section
• GRE Subject Tests: Overview and Content Material for all 8 Exams
• GRE: Verbal Section Strategies
• Introduction to the GMAT

• GMAT Verbal Section Strategies
• Tackling the GMAT Analytical Writing Assessment
• Law School Admission Test: About the LSAT
• LSAT Tips
• MCAT Primer
• MCAT Writing Sample

Applying to Medical School

Medical school applications contain many of the same components as graduate school applications, but the process is a little bit different.

• Is Medical School for You?
• Timeline for Applying to Medical School
• What You Need to Know About Medical School
• Frequently Asked Questions about Medical School
• MCAT Primer

Applying to Law School

Although graduate and law school applications share similarities, the process of applying to law school occurs on a different timetable and entails a few other differences.

• Preparing for Law School Admissions
• Timeline for Applying to Law School
• Law School Admission Test: About the LSAT

Applying to Business School

Hopeful MBA students will need this advice on applying to business school, including an overview and info on the Graduate Management Admissions Test.

• Applying to Business School
• Introduction to the GMAT