As many of our college careers are soon coming to a close, we often wonder one thing – what’s next? In a society where a college degree is practically a necessity, it is difficult to find out how to stand out while completing the application and formulating your resume. As a senior, I am now looking into graduate programs to advance my career, give me the best education possible, and provide me with new experiences. But let me tell you, applying to all of these programs is hard.
There are a plethora of things to look for when trying to find the program that is right for you: What school gives you the most money in scholarships or grants? How are their programs ranked nationally? What are their alumni doing?
While these tasks seem extremely intimidating, there are some things you can do to make your life a little easier. After applying to five different graduate schools, here is what I have learned so far about the process and how to make it go smoothly.
- Every program wants an essay that is slightly different from another, so avoid reusing your personal statements. With this being said, there are times where you can take snippets of what you have said in one submission and apply it to another, but I would recommend staying away from this so you show your strongest suits in each application. Some programs are looking for different things, so certainly take the time to read through their web pages in order to tailor your personal statement to align with their campus’s morals and values.
- Talk to the professors and faculty at your current school who work in the field you want to study in. They most likely have connections. I was able to introduce myself to faculty of the programs I was interested in because I was connected to them through a faculty member I had met during a summer job on my campus.
- Have others look over your resume. To you, your resume may seem completely fine, but a look over by fresh eyes makes all the difference. There were so many small adjustments I made after it was double-checked that ensured my resume would stand out from the rest.
- Application fees cost money for grad school – try to find fee waivers! I applied to graduate school at the college I currently attend, and as a result they waived my fee. Each university is different when it comes to the reasons they offer a waiver, but try to take the extra step and save where you can.
- Be prepared to ask for letters of recommendation. Most of the programs I applied to asked for at least two, but some wanted three. Find recommenders that can speak to different parts of your talents as well as your potential as a student. I suggest finding a professor that you really clicked with, a supervisor for a job you have that relates to your field of study or anyone that can provide insight into your abilities and achievements.
All in all – you should be yourself and be confident! You have already made it this far into your education; there should be nothing stopping you from going further. Your hard work will certainly be rewarding in the end.