Are you looking into go into graduate school or even thinking that it could be an option for your future? Well, you’re in the right place! I am currently a senior Health Sciences major minoring in Psychology and Leadership who has already applied and gotten accepted into a graduate school program! I’m here to share my tips and advice for the graduate school application process.
Completing graduate school applications can be stressful. It is a process that can be very time-consuming and hard to manage when you are trying to fill it out during the school year and are juggling additional responsibilities. Here are some things you should know to get you through the application process and on to the next step in your academic journey!
1. Researching Schools
This process on its own will take some time because of how many different graduate school options there are across the country. Start by deciding what graduate program you are looking for and find out the schools in the country that offer your program of interest. You’ll likely have a lot of results at this point! To narrow this down, figure out what region you would like to be in. Do you want to move away? Stay close to home? After you decide on a region you should have a smaller list of schools in the area that offer your program. From there, you’ll have to find out what each school requires. Admissions requirements do vary, so this is important that you have a general sense of what courses need to be taken and other requirements needed such as a specific number of volunteer hours, internship experience, test scores, etc.
2. Graduate Record Examinations
This is an exam that a lot of graduate programs require for admissions. This exam is three hours long with a total of five different sections. Depending on the graduate school and the program that you are applying for the ideal score range can vary. Typically, a good score runs between a 310 to 315 range. I did not do as well as I hoped when I initially took the GRE exam. I took it on two different occasions but failed in reaching my goal score. Still, I still applied to schools without their minimum test scores and was able to get accepted. The test scores are important, but they are not the only aspect of the application that is considered. Your coursework, GPA, field experience, and essays are all considered too! Overall, take the exam seriously and try to get the best score that you possibly can, but it will not destroy your chances of getting offered admissions are some of your top schools. More about the GRE exam can be found in another blog post titled “What is A GRE?”
3. Interviews
A lot of graduate programs across the country have an interview in their admissions process. Interviews can be done in person, virtually, individually, or in a group! Interviews were honestly the most nerve-wracking part for me. I was nervous after submitting my application, then once I heard I had an interview I
felt that I had to be the best. The people I interviewed with are really what helped me get through it. All the interviewers were friendly and professional. Group interviews were also reassuring because I was with other students who were in the same position that I was. The best piece of advice I can give when it comes to interviewing is that you can never be too prepared. Before my interview, I looked up questions to prepare wrote down a whole list of points I wanted to remember and mention during my interview. I also had my best friend ask me questions so that I could be prepared for random questions being asked and having to quickly respond. Preparation is key as well as confidence in yourself!
4. Gain Experience
Experience is an important aspect when you are getting into any career. Experience will give you a behind-the-scenes perspective of the occupation you want to go in. It gives you a realistic idea of the responsibilities of your future career as well as skills needed to be successful in that field such as have quick thinking skills or communication skills. Interpersonal skills like those are not easily taught in a classroom. You need real life experience to develop those skills! Lots of knowledge can be gained through internships, shadowing, or paid work experiences, which is why getting as much experience as you can is a huge plus that can be added to your resume.
5. Networking
Another benefit of getting experience is the chance to network with the people you shadow or work within your desired field. Sometimes the real world is about the people you know, so make as many connections as you possibly can to learn as much as you can and help you take the next step in your career. Networking does not just start with those you work with in the field either, you can start by talking to your professors. Overall, putting yourself out there is another nerve-wracking experience but well worth it for all the connections you make and opportunities in can open.
I hope this blog post has served as a helping hand for graduate school search and the application process. No matter what you decide upon, just know that there are resources to support you and others who are willing to help you along the way. Remember to be focused and confident, believe that you can, and you will!