The Personal Statement
Letters of Recommendation
Transcripts
Interviews & Campus Visits

When applying to graduate school, your goal is to demonstrate what you will contribute to the program and what you hope to gain. Here are two basic guidelines to help your effort go smoothly:

1) Start early.
Early applications have a better chance of being accepted. Although application deadlines vary, most are near the beginning of the spring semester. Many schools with rolling admissions encourage early applications. Begin the process a full year and a half before the date you plan to begin graduate study. This is necessary to allow time to gather information, take admissions examinations, and complete the necessary application materials.

2) To obtain the application materials you need, send an email or neatly typed letter requesting an application, catalog, and information about the department or program.
Most schools have this information online and many allow you to download applications. You might also ask for the range of grade point averages and test scores for students accepted the previous year, as well as the number of applications received and accepted. This request should be sent to the admissions office of the program in which you are interested. Be sure to keep a file noting admissions requirements and deadlines for each school.

Graduate schools generally require a non-refundable application fee, typically between $35 to $75. Sometimes the fee may be waived if you meet certain financial criteria. Contact the schools to which you are applying to determine whether or not you qualify for the waiver.

The Personal Statement
Most schools ask for a general personal statement describing your interests and future plans. Since this is unlike the typical college paper or essay you should seek help and advice before you begin. We highly recommend Donald Asher’s Graduate Admissions Essays: What Works, What Doesn’t, and Why. Also, be sure to ask faculty advisors and Career Services staff to review your essays and personal statement.

The personal statement should not be taken lightly. It indicates your writing ability and expresses your desire to become a professional in the field to which you are applying. Some programs request only a short statement, while others might request several separate essays on a variety of topics.

Your goal is to write a clear, succinct essay that highlights your strengths, explains any weaknesses, and presents a positive image of yourself to the admissions committee. Tailor your essay to each particular school’s philosophy and requirements. Make sure your essay reflects your enthusiasm for the field, your writing abilities, and the clarity and depth of your thinking. Above all, your personal statement must be individual and sincere without being too “gimmicky”.

Also, don’t attempt to write your finished personal statement during one sitting just to “get it over with”. Certainly, that would be appropriate generating a draft, but plan on revising, adjusting and modifying regularly as additional thoughts come to you. It should be a work in progress that could take you a few weeks or an entire summer to prepare. You may have to tailor your personal statement for different schools. Make sure you are answering the question they ask!

Letters of Recommendation

Most graduate schools require two or three recommendations.  While faculty are in the best position to comment on your academic abilities, some graduate schools also seek non-academic recommendations, particularly from professionals in the field.  Make sure you are clear on the type of recommendations required (academic vs. professional), and don’t flood the admissions office with brief testimonials from people who may only know you or your family tangentially. Three meaningful, well-written and thoughtful letters carry more weight than ten superficial endorsements from influential people.

Here are some guidelines for seeking letters of recommendation:

      Requesting the Letter

·     Choose wisely:  Request letters from faculty who know you very well and can attest to your academic abilities and other qualities.

·     Make an appointment to meet with the professor to describe your plans and the programs to which you will apply.

·     If you are not on campus, call or email the professor with detailed information about what you have been doing and your graduate plans.

·     Do not assume that the professor will write the letter:  Ask politely if he or she can write a positive letter for you.

·      Ask at least 2 - 3 weeks in advance of the deadline.

Providing the Materials 

·     Give the writer all the information he or she needs to know about you:  a resume, a current transcript, a draft of your personal statement, and some information about the work that you did for/with that professor (papers, research, committees).

·     Provide information about the programs to which you are applying and details about how and where the letter goes (to a person, on line submission).

·     Sign and complete any special forms (such as waivers) that need to accompany the letter.

·     Provide stamped, addressed envelopes.

Appropriate Follow Up

·     Follow up with your writer to make sure that the letter was sent by the deadline.

·     Send a thank you note to the professor.

·     Let the professor know the results:  Where were you accepted?  What choice did you make?

Transcripts & Other Materials
Order official transcripts from the Registrar’s Office well in advance of the deadlines. For law and medical schools you will need to submit a transcript to an application service (LSDAS, AMCAS) which will forward copies to your schools. Include supplementary materials with your application only if they support your candidacy. Some schools will require a writing sample, research paper, music tape or art portfolio. Take time to prepare these materials so that they best present your strengths.

Since you will not have direct control over when they arrive at the graduate admissions office (letters of recommendation and official transcripts) it will be necessary to follow up on these requests to make sure your file is complete. You may not be notified that a key letter or document has not been received; it is your responsibility to make certain your file is complete.

Interviews & Campus Visits
An on-campus visit can provide insight into programs, the campus, and the community. A first-hand look is essential for your top programs, and recommended for your second and third tier schools. If at all possible, make arrangements to talk with faculty and other students when you are there to get a feel for what the school is really like, and ask to sit in on classes and explore the campus and surrounding area. In general, get a feeling for what your life might be like there as a graduate student.

There is some debate about the role of interviews. Few programs require one, and the official rhetoric is that interviews play no part in admission. To a large degree, then, interviews are solely for the benefit of the applicant. If the school doesn’t require an interview, request one. If the school doesn’t allow interviews (some will interview by invitation only), arrange for a campus visit to speak to faculty and students. A positive interview can do nothing but strengthen your application. Use this time to demonstrate that your interests, goals, and skills are compatible with the program, will enhance the program, and will be furthered by the program.

Here are some additional tips about the interview:

Interview early.
Write a brief letter to the director and each professor you would like to meet, giving a range of dates that you will be in the area. Say when you will call to settle plans, giving the professor a week to receive and read your letter.

Prepare.
Research the faculty, perhaps reading articles they have published. This gives you solid ground during your interview, helps you decide if you would enjoy studying with this faculty, and improves your written application by allowing you to demonstrate common interests. Study the program and develop a list of questions. Be ready to discuss your goals and interests, how the program fits into your plans, and what you can bring to the program.

Meet with students.
If you can’t, ask for names, addresses, and phone numbers. Make sure you talk to several for a well-balanced view.

Follow up your interview with a thank-you letter. Mail it no later than the morning after your interview.