{"id":18025,"date":"2017-08-07T16:23:56","date_gmt":"2017-08-07T21:23:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/pipercenter\/?page_id=18025"},"modified":"2024-07-29T11:42:00","modified_gmt":"2024-07-29T16:42:00","slug":"grad-school-application-process","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/pipercenter\/grad-school-application-process\/","title":{"rendered":"Grad School Application Process"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Making The Decision To Go<\/a>
\nResearching Your Options<\/a>
\nRequesting and Submitting Application Materials<\/a>
\nTaking Admissions Tests<\/a>
\nWriting The Essay<\/a>
\nObtaining Letters of Recommendation<\/a>
\nInvestigating Financial Aid Options<\/a>
\nSubmitting Completed Applications<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>Making The Decision To Go<\/h2>\n

Evaluate your interests and goals and be very clear about your reasons for pursuing a particular degree. Advanced degrees are required if you are interested in areas like medicine, law, or college\/university teaching. Another excellent reason for continuing your education is that you may have an interest in specializing in a discipline where it\u2019s apparent that a higher degree would be advantageous to your career goals. Pursuing a graduate or professional program as a fall-back plan or without a specific outcome in mind can be a costly mistake. Grad school should not be an option if you are unsure of what else to do, and it does not allow for the exploring that takes place in a liberal arts curriculum.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Researching Your Options<\/h2>\n

The internet is full of sites to help you find a graduate program that will meet your educational and career-related needs. Try a few of our favorites by clicking on\u00a0searching for schools<\/a>. Once you\u2019ve narrowed your choices, viewing individual web sites of institutions that interest you is a great way to gather specific information related to each school\u2019s admission criteria.<\/p>\n

Printed materials such as the Peterson Guides, Princeton Review publications, and specialized publications list schools and programs and can be found on shelves at the Piper Center. Academic departments on campus as well as various national associations may also house specialized materials for graduate and professional programs.<\/p>\n

Asking faculty or\u00a0alumni<\/a>\u00a0for advice can give you inside information on individual programs and the qualifications required. Graduate students studying in your field may also give valuable advice, especially on the strengths and weaknesses of their particular program. If possible, visit the institutions that interest you and talk with faculty members and currently enrolled students. If a visit isn\u2019t feasible, try to make contacts by phone or email. Each program should be able to supply you with current students\u2019 contact information.<\/p>\n

Before you prepare your application,\u00a0<\/strong>brush up on\u00a0communication fundamentals<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Requesting & Submitting Application Materials<\/h2>\n

Once you\u2019ve identified graduate programs that will meet your education and career goals, request application materials or submit your application online. This can be done by linking to each institution\u2019s home page and emailing respective admission offices. As you receive materials, keep track of what each institution and program needs from you to complete your admission file, as these requirements will vary.<\/p>\n

Make sure to note deadlines.<\/b>\u00a0Most graduate school programs abide by the following rule of thumb; application materials need to be completed and submitted between the months of December and March prior to the fall you wish to start your program. Schools using a rolling application policy review applicants as they apply up until the deadline; in these cases, it is best to apply early in the cycle. Application deadlines for a winter or spring start dates vary; contact the institution(s) of your choice for specifics.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Taking Admission Tests<\/h2>\n

Graduate programs usually require at least one admission test, and some require additional subject tests. Allow ample time to prepare for and take the tests needed for admission; include in your planning the time it takes for scores to be sent to the graduate institutions of your choice.\u00a0Note registration deadlines for each test date and plan to send your registration early \u2013 Test sites fill up quickly in the fall.<\/b><\/p>\n

You can obtain application forms and booklets for a variety of graduate and professional admission exams at the Piper Center. Register online for admissions exams and learn about preparatory courses from Kaplan and the Princeton Review by clicking on\u00a0graduate exams and test prep information<\/a>. Test preparation books can be borrowed from the Piper Center or purchased from any major bookstore.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Writing the Essay<\/h2>\n

Most graduate and professional programs have a set of questions prepared for you to respond to in the form of an\u00a0essay\u00a0or\u00a0personal statement<\/a>. The essay should be a clear, succinct statement showing that you have a definite sense of what you want to do and enthusiasm for the field of study you have chosen. Your essay should reflect your writing abilities; more importantly, it should reveal the clarity, the focus, and the depth of your thinking. The Piper Center has several good books on writing a graduate\/professional school admission essay.\u00a0Feedback is one key to developing a strong essay, so seek out the various resources on campus for advice.\u00a0The<\/a><\/b>\u00a0Writing Desk\u00a0<\/a>offers in-person writing help with most kinds of writing assignments. Faculty members and the Piper Center career coaches offer writing support services as well.<\/b><\/p>\n

<\/a>Obtaining Letters of Recommendation<\/h2>\n

Most graduate schools will require two or three letters of recommendation. Recommendations from faculty members are essential for academically-oriented programs; professional programs may seriously consider nonacademic recommendations from professionals in the field.\u00a0It is important that the people you choose to write your recommendations know you well enough to compose a meaningful letter. Once you\u2019ve identified likely candidates, make an appointment to talk with them. Explain your goals and why you\u2019ve chosen the potential writer as one of your recommenders.\u00a0 Share with him\/her information about the position(s) you are applying for. \u00a0Ask whether the person is able to write a strong letter for you. Bring materials such as a copy of your transcripts, a resume, a copy of related coursework or projects, and\/or a copy of a research paper which will assist them in commenting on your strengths. Be sure to bring the official recommendation forms (if needed) along with stamped, addressed envelopes for convenience.\u00a0NEVER put a request for a recommendation in a professor\u2019s P.O. without first having a conversation about your request.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Steps you can take to ensure the success of your inquiry:<\/strong><\/p>\n