Questions and Answers about Graduate School

Q: When should I take the appropriate graduate school admission test?

A: As soon as possible. Guidebooks and test booklets are available at Career Services. Also, use the Career Services Homepage on the WWW to locate education resources for your graduate school preparation.

Q: How long after I take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) does it take to receive scores?

A: Most scores will arrive about five to six weeks after the test date.

Q: To how many schools should I apply?

A: Use the evaluation criteria given earlier in this handbook to judge the various schools and then select no more than five for application. The application fees can be expensive so it is important to thoroughly evaluate each possible school before applying.

Q: What do graduate schools base the admission decision on?

A: The primary factors looked at are your grade point average, graduate test score, and the letters of recommendation. However, this differs greatly from school to school.

Q: How soon should I apply?

A: Application deadlines may range from August (before your senior year) to late spring or summer (after your senior year). Most deadlines for the fall's entering class are between January and March. Applying early to a school shows your enthusiasm for the program and gives admissions committees more time to evaluate the subjective components of your application.

Q: What do admissions committees look for in an application essay?

A: They look for motivation and commitment to a field of study, expectations with regard to the program and career opportunities, writing ability, major areas of interest, research and/or work experience, educational background, immediate and long-range goals, reasons for deciding to pursue graduate education in a particular field at a particular institution, maturity, and personal uniqueness (what you would add to the diversity of the entering class).

Q: How do I prepare for a graduate school interview?

A: You should prepare as you would for a job interview. Think about the questions you are likely to be asked and practice verbalizing your answers. Think too about what you want interviewers to know and remember about you so that you can present this information when the opportunity is given. Dress in a professional manner.

Q: How do I obtain information about a school and a specific department?

A: Career Services contains information and brochures about many graduate schools. Use Gradschool.com to locate information about graduate schools of your choice. Many now have homepages that provide a wealth of information. The Peterson's College Guides, located in Career Services Library, contains information about all graduate schools and the names and phone numbers of contact persons. A letter or a phone call can then be used to obtain more in depth information that you might need about certain academic programs, admission requirements, financial aide, etc.

Q: What should I do if I am not sure whether I should attend graduate school?

A: It is advisable to talk over your concerns with your academic advisor, the coordinator of Career Services, or the chairperson or faculty member of the graduate school you are considering. Ask them to give you an honest appraisal of your qualifications. One thing is certain, do not attend graduate school just because you don't know what else to do -- you will surely drop out!

Q: What should I do if I get accepted into the school I want and then decide not to attend?

A: Call the school and tell them you have either decided not to attend that school or ask if you can delay your entry date to a later date.