Apply to Graduate School
By Tara Kuther, Ph.D., About.com Guide
- Overview of the Grad Admissions Process
- Choosing Graduate Programs
- Recommendation Letters
- Admissions Essays
Overview of the Grad Admissions Process
What can you expect when you apply to graduate school?
- Graduate School Admissions 101
- Timetable for Applying to Grad School: What to Do When
- Grad School Admissions: What to Do During Your Junior-Year
- What Do Graduate Schools Want?
- How Graduate Admissions Committees Evaluate Graduate School Applications
- What's the Role of GPA in Graduate School Admissions?
- Frequently Asked Questions About Applying to Graduate School
- Applying to Graduate School with a Low GPA
- Should I Apply to Grad School with Less Than Perfect Credentials?
- Top 5 Graduate Admissions Advice Books
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?
- Can I Switch Fields and Go to Graduate School in a Different Area?
- Is It Too Late for Grad School?
- How Do I Find an Online Graduate Program?
- What Should I Consider When Choosing an Online Graduate Program?
- How to Choose Among Graduate Programs
- Select a Graduate Program
- 12 Things to Know About a Graduate Program Before You Apply
- Choose the Right Graduate Program by Considering Your Personal Life
Recommendation Letters
Successful applications to graduate school are accompanied by several excellent letters of recommendation. Good recommendation letters are challenging to earn but make the difference between acceptance and rejection.
- All About Letters of Recommendation
- Get a Recommendation Letter: A Step-By-Step Primer
- Frequently Asked Questions About Recommendation Letters
- Who Will Write Your Recommendation Letters? Choosing Referees
- How to Request a Recommendation Letter
- 12 Don'ts for Getting Letters of Recommendation
- What Is a Good Recommendation Letter?
- Characteristics of a Poor Letter of Recommendation
- Experiences that Lead to Good Recommendations
- Nontraditional Applicants: How to Get a Letter a Few Years Out of School
- How Do I Get a Letter of Recommendation When I Attend an Online University?
- What to Do When Your Recommendation Letter Doesn't Arrive
- Sample Recommendation Letters
- Thanking Your Letter Writers
- Should You Write Your Own Recommendation Letter for Graduate School?
- Letters of Evaluation for Medical School
Admissions Essays
The admissions essay or personal statement is your chance to present yourself to the graduate 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.
- Do Your Homework to Write a Helpful 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
- Beat Writer's Block to Complete Your Graduate Admissions Essay
- Trouble Starting Your Admissions Essay?
- Graduate Admissions Essay Checklist
- Do's and Don'ts for Writing Admissions Essays
- 7 Common Admissions Essay Mistakes
- Avoid Writing an Overly Personal Graduate Admissions Essay
- All About the Graduate Admissions Essay
Graduate Admissions Interview
If you're invited for a graduate admissions interview you have a leg-up over the competition. Carefully prepare for your interview and you'll be more likely to impress the admissions committee. Also consider your interview as an opportunity to learn about the graduate program.
- Interviewing for Graduate School Admissions
- Graduate School Interview: Dos and Don'ts
- Common Interview Questions
- What to Ask During a Graduate Admissions Interview
- Admissions Interview? Be Prepared to Interview with Graduate Students
Standardized Admissions Exams
Standardized 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.
- Guide to the GRE: How to Ace the GRE
- Get Acquainted with the GRE General Test
- GRE Verbal Section: Tips and Strategies
- Graduate Record Exam (GRE) Verbal Subtest Questions
- GRE Quantitative Section
- GRE Analytical Writing Section
- Understanding Your GRE Scores
- What to Do About Poor GRE Scores?
- Top 4 GRE Test Prep Books
- About the GRE Subject Test
- GRE Subject Test: Overview of all 8 Exams
- Introduction to the GMAT
- Tackling the GMAT Analytical Writing Assessment
- Law School Admission Test: About the LSAT
- MCAT Writing Sample
- MCAT Primer
Graduate Admissions Outcomes
By the end of the graduate admissions process you can expect one of two outcomes: Acceptance or rejection. Here’s what to do when you are accepted to a graduate program and how to manage if you are rejected.