{"id":4730,"date":"2023-03-23T09:11:10","date_gmt":"2023-03-23T14:11:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.graduateprogram.org\/?p=4730"},"modified":"2023-03-27T13:00:42","modified_gmt":"2023-03-27T18:00:42","slug":"preparing-your-graduate-school-application","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.graduateprogram.org\/blog\/preparing-your-graduate-school-application\/","title":{"rendered":"Preparing Your Graduate School Application"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many students don\u2019t realize that finding your dream graduate school is easy; the hard part is making sure you get accepted into your program after applying! It can be extremely disheartening to apply for a graduate school program<\/a> that you\u2019re passionate about, just to find out that you haven\u2019t been accepted. Thankfully, there are a lot of things you can do to ensure your graduate school application stands out from the rest. Read on to find out more about how you can ace the application process and better your future with a graduate degree!<\/p>\n

What Does a Graduate School Application Consist Of?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The requirements for a graduate school<\/a> application differ from school to school, and even sometimes from program to program. Some schools will require a much more intensive application process than others, so it\u2019s important that you research the school ahead of time, so you know what to expect.<\/p>\n

Most graduate school applications have at least a few common requirements. They are:<\/p>\n

Personal Statement<\/em><\/h3>\n

This is a great way to demonstrate your professional personality. Discuss your background, your goals for the program as well as for the future, and why you think you are a good candidate. A personal statement shouldn\u2019t be a novel, so just stick to the main points, but try to include aspects of your personality such as your interests and non-academic hobbies.<\/p>\n

Letters of Recommendation\/References<\/em><\/h3>\n

You\u2019ll want to choose recommenders<\/a> who know you well, but who aren\u2019t related to you. I\u2019ll list more tips for this section below!<\/p>\n

Resume<\/em><\/h3>\n

Most schools will ask you to submit a resume<\/a> along with your graduate school application so they can get to know more about your professional employment background.<\/p>\n

Official Transcripts<\/em><\/h3>\n

Just as a resume helps explain your employment background, your official transcripts will tell the story of your academic background. More tips on this below!<\/p>\n

Essay\/Writing Sample<\/em><\/h3>\n

This is different from your personal statement although the content may be similar. Some schools will give you a prompt to follow. Make sure you pay attention to the specific guidelines they request, such as length and subject matter. And of course, choose your BEST work. There should be no typos or grammatical errors.<\/p>\n

Tips for a Graduate School Application<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Start Your Application Early<\/h3>\n

Don\u2019t wait until the last minute to complete your graduate school application! Most graduate school<\/a> applications require more than just filling out a few forms (see the heading above). You want to give yourself enough time to address each requirement thoroughly so you can demonstrate why you\u2019re a good candidate for the program. Applicants who procrastinate often make mistakes, and their applications appear hurried and sloppy. This will not impress your admissions committee who may then make the inference that if you procrastinate on your application, you\u2019re likely to do so in your classes as well.<\/p>\n

Check Deadlines<\/h3>\n

Many graduate schools have deadlines to apply, as well as for payment plans and to request\/receive financial aid<\/a>. You don\u2019t want to miss out on an important aspect of the application process because you didn\u2019t do your research ahead of time.<\/p>\n

Request Your Transcripts First<\/h3>\n

Transcripts can take a long time to arrive at your college or university, and they\u2019re one of the most essential documents. Schools generally will not accept you into a grad school program without them, so don\u2019t delay in ordering them. This is the first thing you should do after you put in your application; some schools take as long as six to eight weeks to send them out. Others will allow you to request them electronically, but it still takes time for the university to receive and process them.<\/p>\n

Choose Strong References<\/a><\/h3>\n

Make sure you choose someone very familiar with your skill set, and who can speak strongly regarding your professional background. Give them plenty of time to write the reference and make yourself accessible in case they have questions. It\u2019s also better to choose someone with whom you\u2019ve worked closely with recently, as opposed to way in the past.<\/p>\n

Address Any Weaknesses<\/h3>\n

Weaknesses in your application, such as a poor GPA or a gap in your education or employment history, don\u2019t necessarily mean you\u2019ll be rejected. But it\u2019s much better to address these weaknesses in your personal statement or writing sample (or in an interview, if one is required) as opposed to ignoring them. Explain to the committee why they exist, what you\u2019ve learned from them, and how you\u2019ve grown. No one is perfect and you\u2019ll be respected a lot more for addressing what could potentially be an uncomfortable topic.<\/p>\n

Show Your Passion and Personality in a Professional Manner<\/h3>\n

What makes you stand out? Graduate schools<\/a> receive hundreds, if not thousands, of applications a year. Why should they choose you over someone else? You may have excellent grades, or be a talented writer, but that doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019ll necessarily be successful in a graduate program. Make sure you convey your passion for the subject matter. Show the committee how excited you are, and how committed you are to learning more about your chosen field.<\/p>\n

Proofread Your Application<\/h3>\n

Proofread, proofread, proofread. There is no excuse for errors in spelling or grammar, or for forgetting about any sections of the application. You can avoid all of these issues by making sure you give yourself plenty of time to complete the app and review it thoroughly prior to submitting it. Don\u2019t be afraid to ask for help from a friend or colleague<\/a>; a second set of eyes never hurts, especially if you feel like writing isn\u2019t one of your strongest qualities.<\/p>\n

Ask For Feedback if You\u2019re Rejected<\/h3>\n

Even if you follow all these tips, acceptance is never a guarantee. If you\u2019re rejected, don\u2019t be afraid to reach out to the admissions director to ask why. Use their feedback to make improvements on any future applications. You\u2019ll be accepted into a program before you know it, and the fact that you didn\u2019t give up after a rejection will show your passion and tenacity.<\/p>\n

Teachers never stop learning; check out <\/strong>our available graduate degree programs <\/strong><\/a>\u00a0to hone your skills and promote lifelong learning and academic excellence.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Many students don\u2019t realize that finding your dream graduate school is easy; the hard part is making sure you get accepted into your program after applying! It can be extremely disheartening to apply for a graduate school program that you\u2019re passionate about, just to find out that you haven\u2019t been accepted. Thankfully, there are a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":4731,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[114],"tags":[272,525,240,1100,859],"class_list":["post-4730","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-masters-doctoral-resources","tag-doctoral","tag-graduatedegree","tag-graduateschool","tag-graduateschoolapplication","tag-masters"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nPreparing Your Graduate School Application - Graduate Programs for Educators<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Ensure your graduate school application stands out; find out more about how you can ace the application and better your future with a grad degree!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.graduateprogram.org\/blog\/preparing-your-graduate-school-application\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Preparing Your Graduate School Application - Graduate Programs for Educators\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Ensure your graduate school application stands out; 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