Preparing Graduate School Application Forms
A. The Basics
The Basics
1. Options for
submission of
application forms
a. Faculty members individually submit recommendation letters/forms/checklists to
the university
b. Faculty members individually submit recommendation letters and complete any
forms/checklists online and submit online; students are strongly encouraged to
take this option whenever possible
c. Faculty members’ letters/forms, checklists are submitted as a group along with the
student’s application, essay, resume, money, etc. in one envelope
2. Packets & Envelopes a. Faculty Packet-a large envelope prepared by students for each faculty member who
is writing a recommendation (See Prepare Faculty Packets below)
b. Legal-sized envelope-an envelope prepared by students for each faculty member
writing a recommendation and containing the faculty member’s letter of
recommendation, application form, checklist, etc. These envelopes may be submitted
individually (See 1.a. above) or in a group envelope (See 1.c. above)
c. Group Envelope-a large envelope prepared by students for universities requiring
that all recommendations, as well as the student’s application, essay, resume,
money, etc in one envelope which will be mailed by the CDIS Department. No group
envelopes will be mailed by students.
3. Deadline
The deadline for submission of all packets to faculty is December 2!! If a school has
a deadline before January 1, please alert faculty by putting a note on the outside
of the faculty member’s packet as well as in the table on the inside (See; C.3.
below) telling the faculty member; and emailing the faculty member!!
B. The Big Picture!!
The Big Picture
1. Take GRE
a. purchase prep book
b. review math and vocabulary
c. consider putting together a study group
2. Select Schools
a. use ASHA EDFIND to choose 3 types of schools: aspirational (1-2); within range
(2-4); sure bets (2-3)
b. go online and investigate each school re: faculty and research interests---are these
similar to your own?
c. potential for Graduate Assistantships or other forms of financial aid
d. consider GRE scores; GPA;
a. three letters of recommendation, all from professors (at least one from CDIS, and
3. Select Faculty to
write Recommendations one from a Ph.D.; one from clinical supervisor is appropriate as well)
b. adult or family friends, or graduates from a specific university are appropriate as a
fourth personal letter rather than a formal letter of recommendation
4. Prepare a Resume
a. Resumes will be similar to Information Sheets (See Prepare Faculty Packets C.1.
below) but will omit the Special Notes Section
5. Prepare an Essay
6. Prepare Packets &
Envelopes for Faculty
a. See C and D below
7. Mail Group
Envelopes
a. All Group Envelopes except for those mailed to TSU will be mailed by the CDIS
Department. Students are required to provide postage. See D.3 below
C. Prepare Faculty Packets
Steps to Create Faculty
Member Packets
1. Prepare Information
Sheet for Faculty
Items to include in each packet for each recommender
a. Identification Information: name, address, appropriate contact information
b. Education: schools attended and dates; date of anticipated graduation from
MTSU; current cumulative GPA (major GPA, minor GPA, and overall GPA)
c. GRE Scores (verbal; quantitative; writing) & plans to re-take if appropriate
d. Clinical Experience, Projects: List the semester and brief summary of the clinical
cases you have worked with as well as number of hours; exceptional projects such as
an Honors Thesis or special research project
e. Relevant Work Experience: full and part-time jobs, including a brief description of
your responsibilities and dates of employment
f. Student Organizations: clubs, professional organizations, offices held, and dates
g. Community Service: place, description of activity, dates
h. Honors, Awards and Acknowledgements: include scholarships, citizenship awards,
and any academic awards or acknowledgements (don’t forget to include semesters you
were on the Dean’s List!)
i. Special Notes: Very Important!! Do include information on any special
circumstances that influenced your grades during a semester (family or personal
illness or crisis); Any information that helps to explain a change in your GPA
2. Run off a copy of
your Banner transcript
for each recommender
3. Prepare a list of
each school to which
the student is applying
This is not an official transcript and will not be sent to each school!!
For each school, include the following:
• Name of school
• Due date for application If a school has a deadline before January 1, please
alert faculty by putting a note on the outside of the faculty member’s
packet as well as in the table on the inside; telling the faculty member;
and emailing the faculty member!!
• Letter of recommendation needed (if applicable)
• Checklist (if applicable) If recommenders are required to fill out a
checklist, students must sign the waiver before submitting the checklist
to the faculty member. Unsigned waivers or forms which are not
complete will be placed in student files in the “Pit” for completion!!
•
•
NOTE: some schools require a letter, some a form/checklist, some both!! Go
online and read carefully, talk with other students to be sure you are giving
the recommender accurate information
Process for submitting letters and checklists; options include
a) Each faculty member sends their letter/checklist individually and directly
to the university
b) Faculty member submits the letter/checklist online; students are strongly
encouraged to take this option whenever possible
c) Each faculty member places their letter/checklist in a large “group
envelope” in Ms. Chalmers office---all letters and checklists from faculty
members are sent as a group to the graduate school with the student’s
application, money, official resume, essay, etc. to the university
4. Prepare and include
appropriate envelopes
in each faculty
member’s packet for
each school
5. Complete the
faculty member’s
packet
a) Each faculty member sends their letter/checklist individually and directly to the
university: Include a legal-sized self-stick envelope with a stamp and the typed
address of the university to which the recommendation is being sent. Be sure to
address the envelope to the proper person/department!! Check with the university!
Do not put a return address. The faculty member will be responsible for mailing the
letter.
b) Online submissions will not require envelopes
c) Each faculty member places their letter/checklist in a large “group envelope” in
Ms. Chalmers office---all letters and checklists from faculty members are sent as a
group to the graduate school: Include a legal-sized self-stick envelope on which you
have typed the name of the university to which you are applying as well as
“Recommendation Letter for Your Name” in the center of the envelope.
a. Write your name on the outside of each packet
b. Write a brief letter requesting a recommendation from the faculty member
c. Include a copy of your most recent Banner transcript (See C.2.)
d. Include a copy of your Information Sheet (See C.1.)
e. Include a list of graduate schools, deadlines, and instructions on submitting
letters/checklists (See C.3.)
f. Include all necessary recommendation forms/checklists for each school (complete
and sign the waiver at the top of each form! See C.3.)
g. Include envelopes for submission of recommendations (See C.4.)
D. Prepare Group Envelopes
Steps to Create Group
Envelopes
1. Prepare Group
Envelope
Items to Include in Group Envelope for Appropriate Graduate Schools
NOTE: This is but one option for submission of letters of recommendation.
You may or may not prepare a group envelope for your schools!! Group
envelopes are used only if schools require all documents to be mailed together!
(See A.2.c)
a. Type address of the university to which the letters, your application, money, resume, essay, etc.
will be sent
b. Type the return address: MTSU/Department of Health & Human Performance/Box
364/Murfreesboro, TN 37132 c. Go to the Post Office and put $1.50 worth of postage on each Group
Envelope (Exception: If you are applying to TSU, you will need to send the group envelope “Certified
Mail: Return Receipt Requested.” Do not put postage on this group envelope, but wait until your
packet is complete, get the group envelope from Ms. Chalmers, and take it to the post office for
mailing.)
c. Return the Group Envelope to Ms. Chalmers’ office and place in the Graduate School file.
2. Complete the Group
Envelope Checklist
a. Fill out a Group Envelope Checklist with the name of each faculty member who is writing a letter
of recommendation and a list of other information that needs to be included in the Group Envelope,
including the deadline for submission to the graduate school, fees, application, transcript, resume,
test scores, etc.
3. Check periodically & a. Check the envelope periodically and ask Ms. Chalmers to mail when it is completed.
mail when completed