Graduate Studies
Admission
5 Tips for Getting In
How To Strengthen
Your Applications
Mark Schappert
Office of Career Services
Student Learning Objective
 Students will be able to identify three
ways to strengthen their graduate
school applications when applying.
– List three ways that students can strengthen
graduate applications WHEN APPLYING
Mark Schappert
Office of Career Services
Tip #1
Write STRONG
Graduate Admission Essays
 Common complaint of admission
representatives regarding graduate
admission essays:
– “So many of the essays seem almost the same”
Mark Schappert
Office of Career Services
STRONG Essays are Unique!
 Be unique, different , unusual!
 Can include some personal background or
family info
 If possible, create an interesting opening.
Something different for the readers…
 Upbringing, travels, college, area of country,
hometown….
 A challenge you faced in your life
Mark Schappert
Office of Career Services
STRONG Essays
Identify Influences





Writers
Articles, books
Professors, class(es)
Favorite paper or project
Play, article, movie that influenced you in an
important way
 Most interesting theory or concept you
learned in college
Mark Schappert
Office of Career Services
Of course address
career goals!
 Why are you planning to pursue xxx as a
career area? What attracts you? What do
you hope to gain?
Mark Schappert
Office of Career Services
Brainstorm your background
 Why are you planning to pursue xxx as a
career area? What attracts you? What do
you hope to gain?
 Personal attributes that will help you
succeed.
 Biggest accomplishment to date
 Things you are proud of…
 Research you were involved in…
Mark Schappert
Office of Career Services
AND
 Renown thinkers, writers, theorists you admire…
 EXAMPLES of drive & perserverance
 Demonstrate that you are well acquainted with the
program and school
 Consider something about the city or region where
the grad school is located. Have you visited, do
you have friends, relatives there?
 IMPORTANT – RTGDQ!
Mark Schappert
Office of Career Services
Key Ingredients of STRONG Essays
 Great opening lines or paragraphs
 Convey some of appl. personality, preparation,
knowledge of subject area, demonstrate
awareness of challenges & rewards of career
goal.
 Suggest maturity, stamina, teamwork skills,
leadership potential, general likeability,
INDIRECTLY
 Name professors of interest and hoped for
direction of studies
Mark Schappert
Office of Career Services
TIP #2
Get STRONG Letters of
Recommendation
 Get to know faculty in your department. Help
them to get to know YOU!!
 Make a good impression. Show motivation,
initiative and interest to them.
 Seek out faculty in other department if necessary.
 Do the same with internship site supervisors!
Mark Schappert
Office of Career Services
TIP #2
STRONG Letters of
Recommendation
 Ask writers if they know you well enough to
write a strong letter of recommendation
 Give writers all the information on you they
need. (resume, transcript, info on papers,
projects, your assessment of strengths,
skills, examples…accomplishments, etc
 Ask for letters EARLY!
Mark Schappert
Office of Career Services
Grad Admissions Tip # 3
- Apply Early It can help increase you admission chances
 It can increase your chances for financial
aid.
 It can increase your chances for graduate
assistantships
Mark Schappert
Office of Career Services
Graduate Admissions Tip # 4
Connect with Faculty!
 Research the (graduate program) faculty.
Find out what they specialize in and have
written. Find one who might be a possible
mentor. Try to connect with one of them
through email or a letter.
Mark Schappert
Office of Career Services
Graduate Admissions Tip # 5
Visit & Interview Well!!
 Visit the school in person. Set up an
interview even if not required.
 Prepare for the interview.
 Send a follow-up thank you note.
Mark Schappert
Office of Career Services
Grad. Admissions - Review
 Five ways that students can strengthen
graduate applications WHEN APPLYING
– ________________________________
– ________________________________
– _________________________________
– _________________________________
– _________________________________
Mark Schappert
Office of Career Services
Good Luck!!
Mark Schappert
Office of Career Services
344 Reilly Hall
445-4185
Mark Schappert
Office of Career Services
Great opening line
 “My uncle, for whom your library is
named…”
Mark Schappert
Office of Career Services