Guide to graduate school applications and evaluating your options after college
Applying to graduate school can seem like climbing a mountain; you just finished college and now have to go through another tedious application process. The process can seem very overwhelming and the first question that pops into your head is probably, “Well, where do I get started”?
The first step is to evaluate what your career goals are and determine if graduate school will be beneficial in your journey toward reaching such initiatives. What better way to evaluate such benefits for you than by speaking with current professionals who hold positions you strive for upon graduation? Another good strategy is to do a preliminary job search, which means looking at job postings for positions of interest to see if they indicate a master’s required for the opportunities.
These are not the only reasons to join a master’s program, but just some avenues to explore before you make a post-graduate decision. Some individuals plan to pursue master’s degrees but after a long journey in undergrad want to broaden their perspective on the world by traveling or studying abroad, which can be beneficial for their professional journey.
A master’s program can be a great way to build your knowledge base on your respective field and make yourself more marketable. Some individuals prefer gaining hands-on experiences in their field before continuing their education, but pursuing a master’s can make you eligible for opportunities you may not have taken full advantage of in your undergraduate studies like internships.
If, for example, you are an accounting student and decided not to do any internships, then, upon graduation, you may have a difficult task in front of you in terms of the job search due to lack of experience. Pursuing a master’s would give you your student status back and make you eligible for internships and continuous class room projects that can be put on your resume.
Now once you have evaluated your career goals and post-graduate options, the next step in the process is to gather all necessary information relating to your desired graduate program, including deadlines and requirements. It is also important to really evaluate what you value in a program which can be anywhere from career support to actual location of the school. I mean if you are born and raised in South Florida and do not enjoy the cold, then moving to Buffalo for graduate school may not be your best option.
As mentioned earlier, your graduate school process is like climbing a mountain, which means it cannot be done all in one day. You should begin planning for graduate school a year or two semesters in advance, depending on the type of graduate program. To approach the process strategically; create an Microsoft Excel document in which you can keep all deadlines, test dates, application websites and details regarding the application for certain schools such as whether or not they require a personal statement.
Once you have all the necessary information, it is time to start creating a plan of attack such as when you plan to start studying for the graduate exams like the MCAT or GRE and when you begin working on your resume or application essays. College can move by pretty quickly and if you do not map these things out or set goals for yourself, it will be very difficult to complete the application process in a way that really highlights the value you can offer the program.
One aspect of the application process that can be difficult is writing a personal statement or admissions essay. The best way to approach this is to remember one key fact about every human: that everyone no matter how old or young has a favorite TV show, movie or book. The reason this is important for you to consider when working on personal statements is that storytelling is something that can grab the attention of any reader. When done effectively, it can really deliver a strong message to the intended party.
When writing your personal statement or essay, remember to show rather than tell. The best way to do that is by identifying stories that can accomplish this. For example, if you are applying to medical school, provide vivid examples of either shadowing or working in a hospital and how it helped you confirm your passion for this field.
After you have written your personal statement or essay and have taken the time to update your resume, you should begin reaching out to potential faculty or professionals for letters of recommendation. This is why starting the process early is so key because you want to give these individuals ample opportunity to write you a strong recommendation and providing them with an updated resume and or admissions essay will go a long way in accomplishing such goals.
At the end of the day, applying to graduate school is a daunting task, but, if you follow the proper steps and take the initiative to stay organized, you will be setting yourself up for success.
