1. Applying to Graduate School
IMMERSE 2018
June 20, 2018
Jeff Goeders
Brigham Young University
Provo, Utah, USA

2. Outline What should I do to get in? What schools should I apply to?
Your application package
Grades
GRE
Personal Statement
Letters of Recommendation

3. Application Timeline (Fall 2019)
Fall of Entrance to Graduate School
Spring of Admission decisions received
Nov 15-Mar Admission deadlines
Fall Work on application
Sum/Fall Take GRE
Early Investigate graduate schools
Before Decide to go to graduate school
You are already behind!

4. Lets start at the end…
You have been admitted into a Masters or PhD graduate program:
Two models:
The department admits a pool of applicants. During your 1st year you take courses and find a faculty advisor.
A faculty member must agree to take you on before you are admitted.
Less common for Masters. Very rare for PhD.
You get a letter from the Department admitted you. PS. Professor XXX will be your advisor. YOU MUST HAVE CONVINCED PROFESSOR XXX TO ACCEPT YOU.

5. Your faculty advisor admits you…
What does that mean?
You have convinced your advisor:
That you are capable of doing research
To pay you for 2-5 years
You are more or less tied to a research area
Research potential advisors at the schools you are applying to:
Look for and build connections
Check if they are looking for students

6. Top Factors in Getting Admitted
You have done research for your faculty advisor
You have worked with someone your advisor knows.
(They can personally vouch for you and your research potential)
Your application package
Publications
Letters of Recommendation
Grades, GRE, Personal Statement

7. Outline What should I do to get in? What schools should I apply to?
Your application package
Grades
GRE
Personal Statement
Letters of Recommendation

8. Where Should I Apply? Consider: But don’t ignore…
Research programs and prospective advisors
University ranking and reputation
Location (personal circumstances)
But don’t ignore…
Chances of being accepted (Avg. GRE, GPA, etc.)
Funding support (grants, TA/RA, tuition, etc.)
Job opportunities/Alumni networks
Opportunities for further growth

9. Outline What should I do to get in? What schools should I apply to?
Your application package
Grades
GRE
Personal Statement
Letters of Recommendation

10. Investigating Graduate Schools
How many schools should you apply to?
Depends on personal circumstances
If you know exactly where you want to go and are confident you will get accepted, one may be okay
If you do not know where you want to go, carefully work through a list of potential graduate schools
Avoid applying to too many schools
Applications take money (usually $50-$85)
Applications will become more “plain”
Places burden on those providing recommendations
Limit applications to 6 or less
Everyone here should apply to BYU!

11. Application Strategy
The application process is tedious and cumbersome.
An important requirement for being a graduate student is to have the patience and thoroughness to complete all aspects of a graduate school application on time
It is easy to misunderstand the requirements or misunderstand the deadlines
Carefully review all application requirements for each school
Read and reread all application requirements
Application requirements vary from school to school
Graduate schools are generally not forgiving if you forget an item or are late with your submission

12. Application Strategy Create a schedule for completing each application
Application deadline
Complete application a few days before deadline
Checklist of all items needed for application
Allocate time to complete application process
Follow-up with application
Make sure you receive the appropriate confirmation s when items are submitted
Follow-up on those who are assisting you with your application (i.e., recommendations)

13. Graduate Student Selection Process
The application is reviewed by a general admissions committee
Are all components of application present? (applications with missing items are not evaluated)
Does the applicant meet the minimum published qualifications? (applicants without meeting minimum qualifications are rejected)
Applications are reviewed by a graduate committee
Review all applicant materials
Identify applicants interests
Identify potential match between applicant and advisor
Applicants are reviewed by a potential graduate adviser

14. Graduate Student Selection
The graduate school committee is actively seeking the best students who meet the following criteria:
Academically prepared in the subject area
Demonstrate ability to work hard
Interested in attending institution
Demonstrated potential for successful research
Communicate well and get along with others
For highly competitive schools, many qualified students will be turned away

15. Application Components
Transcripts/Grades
Standardized Exams (GRE)
Personal Statement
Letters of Recommendation
Resume/Sample Work

16. Transcripts and Grades
This is relatively easy – just send the school all related transcripts
There is not much you can do with your grades at this point of the application process – accept them how they are
Most schools publish average admission GPA
Many schools have minimum GPA (3.0 for BYU)
Your grades will be carefully reviewed by committee
Don’t plan on “hiding” grades (or overstating grades)
Comment on your grades in your personal statement if there is anything unusual or that deserves an explanation

17. GRE Many schools require GRE
Importance of GRE depends from school to school
Understand GRE scores of students attending schools you are applying to
Prepare for GRE and give yourself plenty of time to take and retake it
Students routinely take it at the very last moment during a stressful senior year
Consider taking it before the Fall

18. Personal Statement Answer the following questions:
Why you want to go to graduate school?
Why you want to go to the school you are applying to?
Adapt this portion for each school you are applying to
Be honest and specific
Consider listing specific faculty members you would like to work with
List specific research groups that sound interesting to you
What do you want to study as a graduate student?
What are your goals for graduate school

19. Personal Statement Include the following:
Describe how you are prepared to succeed in graduate school
Highlights from undergraduate experience (IMMERSE!)
Unique experiences that prepared you for graduate school
Discuss any research you have done as an undergraduate
Research publications are very helpful

20. Personal Statement Pitfalls Avoid long and boring personal histories
Avoid flowery, non genuine language (“I want to attend your highly esteemed university . . .”)
Do not misrepresent your academic record (“I was among the top students in my class . . .”)
Do not include controversial, political, or religious material that some may deem offensive

21. Research Focus/Interest
You should state a specific research focus or interest (even if you don’t have one)
Make one up (it is your current research interest)
Expand on your current IMMERSE work
Try to tie your research interest to the institution you are applying to
Demonstrates your initiative and your interest in the school
Avoid overly general “research focus”
“I want to study computers”
“I want to build robots”

22. Letters of Recommendation
Letters of recommendation are one of the most important aspect of your application
Indicates the depth and strength of your professional relationships
Provides external evaluation of your strengths and weaknesses from other people
Provides validation of research involvement, work experience, and technical competency
Build relationships early in your program to help you with your recommendations when you graduate
Like grades, it is too late to build new relationships when you start the application process
Three recommendations are typically required

23. Typical Recommendation
Part 1: Survey: Answer standard questions in web form on student competency
Rate student in one of many categories (research, communication, get along with others, etc.)
Indicate how long you know the student
Rate the student in a class of cohorts
Part 2: Personal Letter
Provide more depth and personal description
Focus on personal interactions and unique traits

24. Letters of Recommendation
Recommendations are carefully read and reviewed
How well does the recommender know the applicant?
Weight of the recommendation will be based on the strength of the relationships
Strong relationships: boss, advisor, research mentor
Casual relationships: co-worker, teacher of one class
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the candidate?

25. Choosing Recommenders
Those that you have worked closely with in a professional/technical capacity
Faculty members (you should get at least one recommendation from a faculty member)
Former bosses (internships, etc.)
Avoid recommendations from those who cannot comment on your technical competency
Bishops, mission presidents, roommates, parents, etc.
Successful professionals in your field
Those that you believe will actually complete the recommendation on time
Those that will write a positive recommendation
Consider an extra recommender should one of your recommendations fall through

26. Requesting Letters of Recommendation
The success of your application will depend in a large part on the quality of your recommendations
Be respectful and considerate to your recommenders
Request letters of recommendation well in advance of the deadline (months++)
Provide specific, clear instructions on the recommendation
Deadline, procedure for submitting recommendation
Provide materials to help the recommender write a strong recommendation
Resume and work experience
Transcript or ABC report
Avoid asking a recommender to submit too many letters of recommendation
Provide gentle reminders as deadlines approach
Provide a thank you /note or follow-up to recommenders

27. Letters of Recommendation
Completing letters of recommendation is one of the most difficult and frustrating part of the application process
You don’t have control of the recommender
You may miss a deadline because of a late recommendation

28. Summary of My Advice: Don’t just throw your applications out there
Find prospective advisors and build connections
Your advisor matters as much or more than your school
Don’t procrastinate – this takes time and smart planning
Do a good job in IMMERSE – you want an excellent reference letter from your advisor.