Graduate School Admissions Information

If you are like most students who are considering graduate school in the near future, you probably have numerous questions about the whole application process. The following section addresses some commonly asked questions about applying to graduate school, reviews the eligibility standards expected by most graduate schools, and outlines the steps students should take to apply to graduate schools. Please note that more detailed information about applying to graduate schools is available in the advising offices.

 

Can I afford graduate school?
The good news is that most people who attend graduate school receive financial aid. Unlike undergraduate students who pay tuition, graduate students typically receive a tuition waiver and an annual stipend of $8,000 to $12,000 to support themselves. In return for the stipend, most graduate students work roughly twenty hours a week as a research or teaching assistant in addition to taking courses full-time. In general, we encourage you to apply to schools that have good track records of offering their new students financial aid. Some of the very best students will receive fellowships that do not carry a work requirement. The National Science Foundation, for example, will award approximately 1,000 new Graduate Research Fellowships to support graduate study. You might want to check their website at http://www.ehr.nsf.gov/dge/programs/grf , or e-mail the organization at nsfgrfp@orau.gov for more information.

 

When should I apply to graduate school?
You may decide to go to graduate school immediately upon completion of your undergraduate degree, or you may decide to defer application to graduate school for a year or more. Either way, you should begin the process of applying to graduate school at least a year before you hope to attend. Although some programs do admit students at the beginning of the spring semester, there are good reasons to apply to enter a graduate program in the fall. Generally, course offerings will be better sequenced and you will be part of a larger, more supportive graduate student cohort if you begin in the fall. Plan to submit all your applications by the end of December if you hope to attend graduate school the next September. Although some graduate schools will have early spring deadlines (February or March), many admissions committees begin meeting and making decisions earlier. Students who apply later are clearly disadvantaged. Another reason for completing all your applications by the end of December is psychological. All the hard work of applying for graduate schools can be behind you by the end of the fall semester and spring semester can be devoted to receiving good news from admissions committees and deciding where to go. Taking the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is an important part of the process of applying to graduate school. For more information about this test, check the website at: www.gre.org

 

What are graduate schools looking for?
All graduate schools are interested in students who have a background in and a career orientation toward research, and all schools require students to master a certain level of research skills as part of their graduate curriculum. Thus, a strong research paper, such as one you might write in a 400-level course, can be one of the most important parts of your application file. Graduate schools vary a great deal in the extent to which they are interested in students who do not have research as a major career orientation. Some schools expect all students to be strongly oriented toward research. Other schools have a broader focus and are also interested in students whose primary career orientation is to obtain professional employment after graduation or teaching undergraduates. These students will need some research skills in their careers but do not see research as a major career orientation. In applying to graduate schools, it is most important that you match your own career orientation (research vs. teaching vs. employment) to the orientation of the school.

 

How are admission decisions made?
Unlike law schools which often use rigid GPA and LSAT score cut-offs, graduate admissions committees generally look at the total package of an applicant’s admissions information. Graduate schools will review your undergraduate grades, GRE scores, an application essay, a sample of your written work, your research and teaching experience, and several letters of recommendation from faculty to determine whether to accept you and give you financial aid. Consequently, weak parts of your background can be offset by other stronger experiences. For example, if you have strong grades, strong letters of recommendation, and an excellent writing sample, these may combine to offset weaker GRE scores in the eyes of some admissions committee members. Finally, many graduate schools are seeking to increase the diversity of their student body by admitting more graduate students from traditionally under-represented groups.

 

How can I become an attractive applicant?
During your junior and senior years of college, seek opportunities to gain research and/or teaching experience. If paid positions as research and teaching assistants are not available, consider working in exchange for academic credit. Or, consider working as a volunteer in order to gain experience. Many students who have begun working as volunteers often end up finding paid positions through their volunteer experience. Some students take a year off before entering graduate school in order to gain more experience. Talk with faculty members and tell them you are interested in acquiring teaching or research assistant experience. Many times opportunities can be created for you when faculty members know that you are interested. Try to get to know three or more faculty members well and seek their advice about other steps you can take to become a strong applicant. Work closely with the advisers to select courses that will be taught by program faculty.