Top Five Things NOT to Do in Applying to Grad School
October 14th, 2009
Applying to graduate schools is similar to applying to a college or university, except the stakes are higher and the competition fiercer. Set yourself apart from the other candidates by avoiding the following pitfalls.
5. Apply without researching the program.
Reviewing the information on the website is a good start, but go the extra mile and contact faculty members. Get to know the people with whom you’d be studying under and along side for 3 to 7 years of your life! The more you know about the program, the better you’ll be able to demonstrate your qualifications for being a part of it.
4. Ask for letters of recommendation the day before the application is due.
It’s disrespectful to impose a last minute request upon a professional reference. Treat their time as precious, and give them plenty of advance notice to complete the reference form or write the letter. The idea is that they would be able to speak favorably on your behalf.
3. Cram for the GRE the night before the exam.
Give yourself several weeks to prepare for the GRE. Scores usually take somewhere between four to six weeks, so keep this in mind when you schedule to take the test and allow plenty of time for your scores to arrive before the deadline.
2. Address your cover letter to a competing school or program.
Having worked as an admissions counselor, I can’t tell you how many times I reviewed applications that were addressed to a competitor. Review your materials thoroughly before sending them off.
1. Submit an essay with spelling and grammar errors.
You are applying to a graduate level program. They are evaluating you based on your academic ability, and written expression is a measurement of your aptitude to succeed in their program. Such errors may be interpreted as lazy or incompetent. Ask a friend or advisor to help proofread and edit your essay.
Graduate school is a challenging and rewarding experience. The process is selective for a reason. Those who are able to withstand the pressure demonstrate the tenacity and ambition to start and finish strong. May you be one of them!
By Angela J. Doty, MA, GCDF