APPLYING TO GRADUATE SCHOOL
Before you begin to apply it is important for you to know why you want to attend graduate school and what you intend to accomplish by gaining an advanced degree. There are two excellent articles we recommend you read by Jane Levy, Going on to Grad School or Pursuing the M.B.A. Both articles are worth the time it takes to read them!
Graduate level applications ask you to clearly define your interests leading to your area of specialization. Gaining work experience relevant to your interests before entering graduate school can lead to a more effective graduate program, help you to clarify your goals, and most importantly, enhance you chances of acceptance to your program of choice.
Application requirements differ greatly among institutions. Read each school’s materials carefully to make sure you file a complete and timely application. Application deadlines vary from as early as August before your senior year (for medical school) to July before matriculation in the fall (for schools with rolling admissions).
THE APPLICATION FORM
Many graduate school applications can now be submitted electronically as well as the tradition paper format. Which ever you choose, be sure that each application is complete and accurate before submitting it by the deadline. Many schools have the application on their web site. Two online websites that provide online applications are http://www.gradadvantage.org/ and the other is http://www.gradschools.com/search.html. One of the most comprehensive college home page search sites with a data base of more than 3,000 colleges and universities is: http://www.mit.edu:8001/people/cdemello/univ.html
No matter what program you apply to, four factors will impact the
admissions committee’s decision:
UNDERGRADUATE GPA , COURSE SELECTION AND TRANSCRIPT
GRADUATE ADMISSIONS TEST
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATIONS
PERSONAL STATEMENT
Official transcripts of your undergraduate work must be sent to the graduate schools by contacting the UVI Registrar’s Office. The admissions committees will take note of the rigor and type of courses, course load per semester, and your grades (including any trend in your marks). Most graduate schools expect a minimum of a 2.7 to 3.0 at least in your major. Sometimes a GPA is pulled down by a semester or year that was negatively effected by personal problems (health, family, financial). In these circumstances, include a short note of explanation.
GRADUATE ADMISSION TEST Schools generally require a graduate admission test, which you should plan to take approximately one year before your anticipated matriculation date. The tests vary by type of graduate study. There are the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), and the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) to name a few. The schools’ catalogs will specify which test you need and may give some indication of the score needed to be competitive for the program. The Career Planning and Placement Office can assist you in obtaining the appropriate admission test bulletin and can advise you on preparation strategy.
Take a diagnostic test. ETS sells ”used” exams as practice material, and they come with score conversion charts that allow you to compute your scores. Click one of these online services for a free diagnostic test: www.ets.org, www.gre.org, www.kaplan.com, or www.princetonreview.com.
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION Graduate programs require several letters of recommendation from professors and/or employers. The schools will specify who should write the letters and what issues should be addressed. Professors in your major are ideal recommenders as are employers or faculty sponsors of your internship or volunteer service because they can attest to your talents and expertise in the area of your proposed study. Provide recommenders the school’s recommendation forms with stamped, address envelopes at least 4-6 weeks before the application deadline. The Career Planning and Placement Office will initiate a file for you where you can have letters placed for future applications or reference purposes. Successful letters are above all specific and positive so you will want to discuss your goals and intensions with those recommending you. It is also a good idea to provide recommenders with a transcript, resume, research paper, a copy of your application essay or any other documents that will assist them in writing on your behalf.
Follow-up to be certain all letters have been sent by the deadlines. Be sure to thank them and keep them posted on your plans.
There will be a space for you to write an essay or statement on your background and interests as they pertain to study in the field. This is your chance to speak for yourself and to help the admissions committee see those intangible qualities that make you a strong candidate. Don’t be afraid to state directly why you consider a program to be right for you. Back it up with evidence. Part of revealing why you’re right for the program involves demonstrating that you understand what the program is and where it will lead you. Matching your interests and talents to the program is a quality that admissions committees are looking for. Real-world work experiences ca reveal your commitment or insight into your field. Feel free to acknowledge personal challenges you’ve faced, but focus on facts and on the future. Some personal statement topics are open-ended – “Tell us anything about yourself that you think we need to know." Others are more specific. Whatever the format, you want to leave the reader with a strong, positive impression of what you have to offer and why you are a good candidate for the program. Begin thinking about your essay several months before you fill out your application. First, compile information about your personal history, personal life, academic life, and work life. Notice any trends or depth of engagements. Choose a topic and be as specific as possible with examples. Most applicants include a resume, so there is no need to waste your essay space by recounting your work history. Keep the focus on the why and the how of the experience you write about, not so much on what you accomplished. After completing your first draft, put it aside for a couple of days. The break will allow you to review the essay with a fresher perspective. What impression does this essay leave with the reader? After editing and revising your draft, get some feedback from a couple of people who know you well. Does this essay speak to your strengths or describe a quality that makes you unique? Your final draft needs to reflect your best writing, reveal your attitudes, feelings, personal qualities, imagination, and creativity. For the admissions staff, the personal statement adds an important piece to the puzzle because it distinguishes you as an individual, different from any other applicant.
For more information about Counseling and Placement, please contact Doris Farrington-Hepburn at (340) 692-4187 or send email to dfarrin@uvi.edu. For more information about the University of the Virgin Islands, contact the Public Relations Office at (340) 693-1057.