Mark Schappert Office of Career Services Graduate Studies Admission 5 Tips for Getting In 5 Tips for Getting In How To Strengthen Your Applications

Mark Schappert Office of Career Services Student Learning Objective  Students will be able to identify three ways to strengthen their graduate school applications when applying. –List three ways that students can strengthen graduate applications WHEN APPLYING

Mark Schappert Office of Career Services Tip #1 Write STRONG Graduate Admission Essays  Common complaint of admission representatives regarding graduate admission essays: –“So many of the essays seem almost the same”

Mark Schappert Office of Career Services STRONG Essays are Unique!  Be unique, different, unusual!  Can include some personal background or family info  If possible, create an interesting opening. Something different for the readers…  Upbringing, travels, college, area of country, hometown….  A challenge you faced in your life

Mark Schappert Office of Career Services STRONG Essays Identify Influences  Writers  Articles, books  Professors, class(es)  Favorite paper or project  Play, article, movie that influenced you in an important way  Most interesting theory or concept you learned in college

Mark Schappert Office of Career Services Of course address career goals!  Why are you planning to pursue xxx as a career area? What attracts you? What do you hope to gain?

Mark Schappert Office of Career Services Brainstorm your background  Why are you planning to pursue xxx as a career area? What attracts you? What do you hope to gain?  Personal attributes that will help you succeed.  Biggest accomplishment to date  Things you are proud of…  Research you were involved in…

Mark Schappert Office of Career Services AND  Renown thinkers, writers, theorists you admire…  EXAMPLES of drive & perserverance  Demonstrate that you are well acquainted with the program and school  Consider something about the city or region where the grad school is located. Have you visited, do you have friends, relatives there?  IMPORTANT – RTGDQ!

Mark Schappert Office of Career Services Key Ingredients of STRONG Essays  Great opening lines or paragraphs  Convey some of appl. personality, preparation, knowledge of subject area, demonstrate awareness of challenges & rewards of career goal.  Suggest maturity, stamina, teamwork skills, leadership potential, general likeability, INDIRECTLY  Name professors of interest and hoped for direction of studies

Mark Schappert Office of Career Services TIP #2 Get STRONG Letters of Recommendation  Get to know faculty in your department. Help them to get to know YOU!!  Make a good impression. Show motivation, initiative and interest to them.  Seek out faculty in other department if necessary.  Do the same with internship site supervisors!

Mark Schappert Office of Career Services TIP #2 STRONG Letters of Recommendation  Ask writers if they know you well enough to write a strong letter of recommendation  Give writers all the information on you they need. (resume, transcript, info on papers, projects, your assessment of strengths, skills, examples…accomplishments, etc  Ask for letters EARLY!

Mark Schappert Office of Career Services Grad Admissions Tip # 3 - Apply Early-  It can help increase you admission chances  It can increase your chances for financial aid.  It can increase your chances for graduate assistantships

Mark Schappert Office of Career Services Graduate Admissions Tip # 4 Connect with Faculty! Graduate Admissions Tip # 4 Connect with Faculty!  Research the (graduate program) faculty. Find out what they specialize in and have written. Find one who might be a possible mentor. Try to connect with one of them through or a letter.

Mark Schappert Office of Career Services Graduate Admissions Tip # 5 Visit & Interview Well!! Graduate Admissions Tip # 5 Visit & Interview Well!!  Visit the school in person. Set up an interview even if not required.  Prepare for the interview.  Send a follow-up thank you note.

Mark Schappert Office of Career Services Grad. Admissions - Review  Five ways that students can strengthen graduate applications WHEN APPLYING – ________________________________ –_________________________________

Mark Schappert Office of Career Services Good Luck!! Mark Schappert Office of Career Services 344 Reilly Hall

Mark Schappert Office of Career Services Great opening line  “My uncle, for whom your library is named…”