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How To Be The Ideal Graduate School Applicant
What kind of students are graduate admissions committees seeking? Knowing what the admissions committee wants in a graduate student will help you make sure you can meet its requirements.
Admissions committees are looking for students who:
- Work hard.
- Are responsible.
- Can work independently and as part of a team.
- Excel in research.
- Will fit well into the program.
- Are eager to learn.
- Can accept criticism.
- Will contribute to the field.
To find the ideal students, admissions committees look at four main factors:
- GPA.
- Scores on the GRE or other admissions tests.
- Recommendation letters.
- Personal statement.
Of course, each school, and even each person, on the admissions committees, weighs these four factors differently. Still, they are all important, and understanding why this is can help you get accepted to the grad school of your choice.
GPA
Grades show your ability to stay motivated and consistently meet expectations. Your GPAs during the last two years of your undergraduate work are especially important, as they show your performance in classes related to your major field of study.
The admissions committee will look not just at your overall GPA, but also at the classes you took. A 'B' in a tough class is more valuable than an 'A' in a course that sounds easy.
Test scores
Because different schools grade differently, your GPA does not provide a good way for the admissions committee to compare your performance with those of other students. That is why your scores on standardized tests are important. They show how well you rank against other students from other schools. A good score on a GRE can offset a less-than-stellar GPA and may even be a criterion for getting assistantships.
Letters of recommendation
Letters of recommendation help the admissions committee move beyond your statistics and numbers and get a sense of you as a person. A positive letter of recommendation tells the committee how well you get along with others, whether you are motivated to work hard, and, generally, whether you are fit to be a graduate student.
Personal statement
The personal statement or essay gives you the opportunity to speak to the admissions committee, providing pertinent information that isn't anywhere else in your application. Personal statements also reveal your writing ability, motivation, and passion for the field.
