Applying to Graduate School 101

      FIRST & FOREMOST

1.      Take a Deep Breath

2.      Remember how much you want this

3.      Make sure you stay organized

4.      Keep a Sweet treat in the kitchen for those stressful days

5.      Find something to distract you from the stress/nerves like: a TV show, the gym, hanging with friends, anything you like and do this at least once a week!!! Having “Me” time is very important!

6.      Remember nothing worthwhile comes easy, and if it was easy everyone would be doing it!

Time to Get Started!!                                         

•           Look into the schools you want to apply to and make a word document with their deadlines, admissions requirements, and address! This will help you in the long run…..TRUST ME. Organization will be your best friend! Don’t be afraid to apply to schools far away or a lot of  schools depending on your financial situation and the competitiveness of your program. 
•          Research if you are required to take the GRE’s, MAT, or GMAT for your program. Register for your test early, and remember not everyone is a great standardized test taker (I personally am not). Go in with an open mind the first time and try your best. Treat yourself to drinks, ice cream, or a nice dinner after, you deserve a break.

-Tip for the GRE’s: if you know where you want to apply send your scores the day you take your test. You will save yourself $100, because you can send them to four schools for free that day. Each time you send your scores it is $25.

• .         Ask your recommenders if they will write your letters of recommendation early, you want to give them plenty of time! Make them a folder with your resume, description of what you want to go to grad school for, un-official transcripts, the schools and their deadlines you are applying to, along with envelopes with an address and stamp for the school. This makes their lives easier, which ultimately makes your life easier. Less hassle for them means the better your letter could be, the quicker they could send it out, and the more appreciative that person is of your organization. The application process is changing, more and more schools are going paperless. Keep this in mind before asking your recommender for a letter. If the school(s) you are applying to is paperless, you may want to print out instructions for how to submit your letter for them. Additionally, make your online profile for those paperless schools early, so you are already in the system and are more familiar with the system.

• .         Start writing your resume and personal statements! Proof read, proof read, and proof read these. Have your friends, parents, siblings, co-workers and so forth read your personal statements. You can read your statement 100 times but, they may find something you didn’t. Bring your letter to your schools career center to get looked at, Christy Cunningham is AMAZING at Stockton!! Go early though, September-October would be great depending on your deadline! Each school is different and will require different essays. Also be on the lookout for two essays for some schools.

Tip:  -The hardest thing to do is write about yourself, don’t get discouraged!

- Make your personal statement unique and different!

- Add meaningful experiences, research topics that interest you, and things that make you a unique candidate. Schools want to see what you can bring to their program.

- You have to think like this; if there are 300 applicants applying for 30 spots, why should they pick you?

• .         For very competitive programs like Speech Pathology, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy start the process early!! Some schools use general application systems such as CSDCAS, OTCAS, and PTCAS. Start these applications very early on. In addition, when you are submitting them, I would recommend to do so at least two months before your deadline. It can take some time for your application to be verified from them and sent to your school. Additionally, look to see if schools want your application to be completed, submitted, or verified by the deadline as these are different stages of the applicant process. The verification process takes the longest as that is the last step, keep that in mind.

Thoughts to Keep in Mind

- Stay organized

-    - Submit your best work, proofread everything AT LEAST twice. Then have someone else proofread it!

-          Take your time, do not rush through the application process.

-    Go see the schools you’re applying to! A school can look pretty and sound great online however, seeing it first-hand and speaking with faculty can completely change your mind!

-      - Apply to a random school down south or out west, do not be afraid to take a chance especially if your program is highly competitive.

-          Remember you can do this, this is step one to your dream career!

I hope you found this information helpful, if you have any additional questions about applying to graduate school (especially Stockton) feel free to comment below or email gradschool@stockton.edu.

-Jessica