mark schappert office of career services graduate studies admission 5 tips for getting in 5 tips for...

Mark SchappertMark SchappertOffice of Career ServicesOffice of Career Services

Graduate Studies Graduate Studies AdmissionAdmission

5 Tips for Getting In5 Tips for Getting In

How To Strengthen How To Strengthen Your ApplicationsYour Applications


Student Learning ObjectiveStudent Learning Objective

Students will be able to identify three Students will be able to identify three ways to strengthen their graduate ways to strengthen their graduate school applications when applying.school applications when applying.– List three ways that students can strengthen List three ways that students can strengthen

graduate applications WHEN APPLYINGgraduate applications WHEN APPLYING


Tip #1Tip #1Write STRONGWrite STRONG

Graduate Admission Essays Graduate Admission Essays

Common complaint of admission Common complaint of admission representatives regarding graduate representatives regarding graduate admission essays:admission essays:

– ““So many of the essays seem almost the same”So many of the essays seem almost the same”


STRONG Essays are Unique!STRONG Essays are Unique!

Be unique, different , unusual!Be unique, different , unusual! Can include some personal background or Can include some personal background or

family infofamily info If possible, create an interesting opening. If possible, create an interesting opening.

Something different for the readers…Something different for the readers… Upbringing, travels, college, area of country, Upbringing, travels, college, area of country,

hometown….hometown…. A challenge you faced in your lifeA challenge you faced in your life


STRONG Essays STRONG Essays Identify InfluencesIdentify Influences

WritersWriters Articles, booksArticles, books Professors, class(es)Professors, class(es) Favorite paper or projectFavorite paper or project Play, article, movie that influenced you in an Play, article, movie that influenced you in an

important wayimportant way Most interesting theory or concept you Most interesting theory or concept you

learned in collegelearned in college


Of course addressOf course addresscareer goals!career goals!

Why are you planning to pursue xxx as a Why are you planning to pursue xxx as a career area? What attracts you? What do career area? What attracts you? What do you hope to gain?you hope to gain?


Brainstorm your background Brainstorm your background

Why are you planning to pursue xxx as a Why are you planning to pursue xxx as a career area? What attracts you? What do career area? What attracts you? What do you hope to gain?you hope to gain?

Personal attributes that will help you Personal attributes that will help you succeed.succeed.

Biggest accomplishment to dateBiggest accomplishment to date Things you are proud of…Things you are proud of… Research you were involved in…Research you were involved in…


ANDAND

Renown thinkers, writers, theorists you admire…Renown thinkers, writers, theorists you admire… EXAMPLES of drive & perserveranceEXAMPLES of drive & perserverance Demonstrate that you are well acquainted with the Demonstrate that you are well acquainted with the

program and school program and school Consider something about the city or region where Consider something about the city or region where

the grad school is located. Have you visited, do the grad school is located. Have you visited, do you have friends, relatives there?you have friends, relatives there?

IMPORTANT – RTGDQ!IMPORTANT – RTGDQ!


Key Ingredients of STRONG EssaysKey Ingredients of STRONG Essays

Great opening lines or paragraphsGreat opening lines or paragraphs Convey some of appl. personality, preparation, Convey some of appl. personality, preparation,

knowledge of subject area, demonstrate knowledge of subject area, demonstrate awareness of challenges & rewards of career awareness of challenges & rewards of career goal.goal.

Suggest maturity, stamina, teamwork skills, Suggest maturity, stamina, teamwork skills, leadership potential, general likeability, leadership potential, general likeability, INDIRECTLYINDIRECTLY

Name professors of interest and hoped for Name professors of interest and hoped for direction of studies direction of studies


TIP #2TIP #2Get STRONG Letters of Get STRONG Letters of

RecommendationRecommendation

Get to know faculty in your department. Help Get to know faculty in your department. Help them to get to know YOU!!them to get to know YOU!!

Make a good impression. Show motivation, Make a good impression. Show motivation, initiative and interest to them.initiative and interest to them.

Seek out faculty in other department if necessary.Seek out faculty in other department if necessary.

Do the same with internship site supervisors! Do the same with internship site supervisors!


TIP #2TIP #2STRONG Letters of STRONG Letters of RecommendationRecommendation

Ask writers if they know you well enough to Ask writers if they know you well enough to write a strong letter of recommendationwrite a strong letter of recommendation

Give writers all the information on you they Give writers all the information on you they need. (resume, transcript, info on papers, need. (resume, transcript, info on papers, projects, your assessment of strengths, projects, your assessment of strengths, skills, examples…accomplishments, etcskills, examples…accomplishments, etc

Ask for letters EARLY!Ask for letters EARLY!


Grad Admissions Tip # 3Grad Admissions Tip # 3- - Apply Early- Apply Early-

It can help increase you admission chancesIt can help increase you admission chances

It can increase your chances for financial It can increase your chances for financial aid.aid.

It can increase your chances for graduate It can increase your chances for graduate assistantshipsassistantships


Graduate Admissions Tip # 4Graduate Admissions Tip # 4Connect with Faculty!Connect with Faculty!

Research the (graduate program) faculty. Research the (graduate program) faculty. Find out what they specialize in and have Find out what they specialize in and have written. Find one who might be a possible written. Find one who might be a possible mentor. Try to connect with one of them mentor. Try to connect with one of them through email or a letter.through email or a letter.


Graduate Admissions Tip # 5Graduate Admissions Tip # 5Visit & Interview Well!!Visit & Interview Well!!

Visit the school in person. Set up an Visit the school in person. Set up an interview even if not required.interview even if not required.

Prepare for the interview.Prepare for the interview.

Send a follow-up thank you note.Send a follow-up thank you note.


Grad. Admissions - ReviewGrad. Admissions - Review

Five ways that students can strengthen Five ways that students can strengthen graduate applications WHEN APPLYINGgraduate applications WHEN APPLYING– ________________________________________________________________– ________________________________________________________________– __________________________________________________________________– __________________________________________________________________– __________________________________________________________________


Good Luck!!Good Luck!!

Mark SchappertMark Schappert

Office of Career ServicesOffice of Career Services

344 Reilly Hall344 Reilly Hall

445-4185445-4185


Great opening lineGreat opening line

““My uncle, for whom your library is My uncle, for whom your library is named…”named…”

mark schappert office of career services graduate studies admission 5 tips for getting in 5 tips for...

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