Graduate School 101: Preparing for Graduate School

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Graduate School 101Preparing for Graduate
School
Michelle Carter Director, McNair Scholars
Program
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10 Steps for Successful Graduate Admissions

• Step One Evaluate yourself
• Step Two Understand graduate education and
  admission
• Step Three Explore the many program options.
• Step Four Utilize your connections
• Step Five Prepare for Graduate School Tests

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Steps 6-10

• Step Six Write Strong Personal Statements
• Step Seven Make your nonacademic experience
  meaningful
• Step Eight Market your strengths
• Step Nine Examine the Many Ways to Finance
  Graduate Education
• Step Ten Complete the Admissions Process.

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Step 1 Evaluate Yourself

• Undergraduate Major
• Overall GPA
• GPA in Major
• Field of Graduate Interest
• Work experience related to your field of graduate
  interest
• Volunteer experience related to your field of
  graduate interest
• Research experience

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Evaluate Yourself contd

• Examine your academic experience in light of the
  expectations of particular graduate programs
• Discuss your graduate school marketability with
  your professors in your field.

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Step 2 Understand Graduate Education and
Admission
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Academic Graduate Programs vs. Professional
Graduate Programs

• The ultimate purpose of an academic graduate
  program is the discovery of new knowledge and
  ways of thinking about an issue.
• A professional school has a more focused goal of
  preparing future professionals to excel in their
  careers by exposing them to theoretical models
  and applied knowledge and skills.

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Study Programs Carefully

• Compare programs.
• Find out how prospective programs use
  standardized tests in the admissions process.
• Apply only to those programs that are compatible
  with your interests and capabilities
• Apply to dream programs and safe programs.

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Resources to research graduate programs

• http//www.petersons.com/GradChannel
• http//www.gradschools.com
• http//www.gradprofiles.com
• http//www.gradsource.com
• http//www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/grad/rankings/ran
  kindex_brief.php

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Things to consider when researching graduate
schools

• The universitys reputation
• The programs reputation
• The programs rank
• Compatibility of program to my interests
• Accreditation of the program

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Things to consider when researching graduate
schools

• Geographic Location
• Faculty research interests
• Satisfaction of graduate programs current
  students
• Financial aid available
• Cost of living

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Things to consider when researching graduate
schools

• Job placement rates
• Average length of time for a student to finish
  the graduate program
• Resources (ex. Library collections, Research
  Centers, Ethnic Culture Centers)
• My spouse/mate/familys approval
• Social opportunities
• Cultural diversity of the location
• Cultural diversity of the university/program

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Things to consider when researching graduate
schools

• My spouse/mate/familys approval
• Social opportunities
• Cultural diversity of the location
• Cultural diversity of the university/program

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Step 3 Explore the Many Program Options

• Explore beyond the handful of top graduate
  programs you have heard of.
• When available, get the profiles of the most
  recent entering classes in programs you are
  considering and compare them with your
  credentials.
• Contact current graduate students to find out
  about their experience with the department,
  faculty, staff and the university as a whole.

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Step 4 Utilize Your Connections
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Utilize Your Connections

• Your professors and mentors can serve as valuable
  contacts.
• Attending professional conferences will enable
  you to meet people with similar interests. They
  may also be able to give you a heads-up on
  various graduate programs.

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Connections contd

• Academic Contacts
• Professional Contacts
• Faculty in my field that Ive contacted
• Professional association membership
• Journals/field literature Ive been reading

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Step 5 Prepare for Graduate School Tests
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Most Common Standardized Tests

• General Record Examinations (GRE) General and
  Subject Tests (http//www.gre.org)
• Miller Analogies Test (MAT)

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Standardized Tests

• Graduate Schools/Programs use standardized test
  scores differently.
• Some programs dont even require a standardized
  test score.
• Some programs factor your score into a matrix or
  equation for admission.

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Components of the GRE

• Analytical Writing Issue Task (45 minutes)
• Analytical Writing Argument (30 minutes)
• Verbal 30 questions (30 minutes)
• Quantitative 28 questions (45 minutes)

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GRE Scoring

• Verbal reasoning reported on a 200-800 score
  scale, in 10-point increments
• Quantitative reasoning reported on a 200-800
  score scale, in 10-point increments
• Analytical writing reported on a 0-6 score
  scale, in half-point increments

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Applying to take the GRE

• http//www.gre.org
• Fee 115
• Fee Waivers for financially eligible seniors are
  available through your financial aid office.
• The McNair Scholars Program offers waivers to its
  students.

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Step 6 Write Strong Personal Statements

• Essays for Graduate School Differ from College
  Admissions Essays
• Graduate School Admissions Committees are looking
  for fit or compatibility.

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Sample Personal Statement Format

• Introductory Paragraph Express your creativity.
  Draw the reader in with a personal experience
  that illustrates why you are interested in
  graduate studies in your field of interest
• Academic/Professional Preparation Discuss
  research experience, relevant job experience, job
  shadowing, relevant volunteer experience, McNair
  experience

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Sample Personal Statement Format contd

• Illustrate your fit with their program. Why are
  you applying to their program? Discuss
  compatibility of faculty interests.
• Strong Conclusion. Tie in the narrative from
  your introduction. Explain why you will be an
  asset to their program. Write about your career
  goals and how the program will help you fulfill
  them.

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Revise!Proofread!
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Step 7 Make your non-academic experience
meaningful

• Recognize the value of your relevant work
  experience.
• Write about your relevant experiences
  persuasively.
• An impressive resume or C.V. can make a
  difference.

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Step 8 Market Your Strengths

• Dont be overly modest.
• Try to avoid exaggeration.
• Highlight what makes you different.
• Identify your strengths and call attention to
  them.

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Step 9 Examine the many ways to finance
graduate education
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FAFSA

• File your Free Application for Federal Student
  Aid form in a timely manner.
• http//www.fafsa.ed.gov/

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Categories of Funding
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Grants, Fellowships and Scholarships

• These are outright contributions from government
  programs, educational institutions, foundations,
  corporations and other private sources.

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Education-related Salaries

• Teaching Assistantships
• Graduate Assistantships
• Research Assistantships
• College Work-study programs
• Salaries for jobs in the community, unrelated to
  the graduate school you attend

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Loans

• They may come from government, institutional, or
  private sources.
• You may have to pay interest while you are
  enrolled or interest may be deferred.

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Step 10 Complete the Admissions Process
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• Request your transcripts in a timely fashion.
• Request letters of recommendation from
  professors. Provide professors with a resume or
  C.V. and summary of your research interests.
• Fill out all parts of the application.
• Proofread your statement of purpose.
• Remember that the application is YOU!

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Apply to the McNair Scholars Program

• Priority Deadline
• November 14, 2005

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Benefits of the McNair Scholars Program

• 2400 for 6 weeks of summer research under a
  faculty mentor
• 700 for research supplies
• Campus housing and meal assistance during summer
  research program
• Funds for campus visitations and conferences
• GRE Fee Waivers

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Benefits of the McNair Scholars Program

• Assistance with the application process for
  graduate admission
• Counseling, advising, and tutoring
• Workshops and seminars

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THANK YOU!