What Else to Expect when Applying to Grad School
While every graduate program has its own specific set of application requirements, most schools require prospective students to provide some combination of the information described below. Along with completing the program application and required tests, remember that these materials could take a significant amount of time to gather.
Official Transcripts
Almost every program will require you to send official copies of all of your undergraduate and graduate transcripts. You can request these documents by contacting the Student Records offices at your former schools. Check with your programs to see if they prefer to receive your transcripts directly from you or from your former schools.
Letters of Recommendation
You will most likely be asked to provide at least three letters of recommendation with your application. These letters will have to come from your previous academic and professional relationships.
Identify your strongest contacts, and ask them for help. After they agree to write your recommendations, provide them with plenty of background information about yourself. Include copies of your past work with them, your resume, and any information about your purpose for pursuing graduate education. Finally, make sure that you give your contacts plenty of time to complete and mail your letters, and be aware of any specific accompanying forms that the programs may require as well.
Statements of Purpose
Programs may request applicants to send a statement of purpose or a letter of intent that briefly discusses their past and present academic goals. These statements are usually limited to two pages or less, and while that length may not seem that bad at first, you could end up having a difficult time fully explaining yourself in such a short amount of space.
Treat your statement of purpose very seriously. Put your best foot forward by ensuring that there are no grammatical or spelling mistakes included. Write with confidence and outline any academic projects that you may want to pursue. Use this opportunity to show the program that you are ready to start working as soon as you arrive.
Writing or Portfolio Sample
Along with a statement of purpose, many programs will ask you to provide a writing sample or some type of portfolio sample of your past work. Choose your absolute best efforts from past projects and make any necessary updates or improvements. You may also want to have a colleague look over your final draft materials to offer any last objective advice before you send them.
Updated Resume or Curriculum Vitae
Update your resume or curriculum vitae to show your most relevant and recent work. Include any projects, conferences, writings, or awards that show your academic or professional abilities. Clearly specify your contact information and make sure your final document looks clean and consistent.
Finally, be prepared to spend. Along with your time, plan on investing a lot of your money in the application process. The fees for submitting applications vary by school, but they typically range from $30 to $150 each. Depending on your number of applications, this expense can escalate quickly. Also, most schools charge a fee for releasing your official transcripts, possibly as much as $30 per request. Standardized tests present another significant cost, and they may also charge you to send your test scores to multiple schools.
Anticipate and budget for these expenses as you proceed through your application process; otherwise, you could be in for a rude awakening.
