Tips on Applying by The Committee on Institutional Cooperation

APPLY EARLY

Admission and financial aid decisions are often made well in advance of stated university deadlines. Some departments in heavy demand close their application period as early as October.

If you apply late your chances for admission, and certainly for financial aid, will be greatly reduced if not eliminated altogether.

The first step is to arrange a talk with an admission officer or head of the department, either in person or over the telephone, to discuss your questions about application procedures. You may ask him or her about the graduate program, admissions criteria, and the possibility of financial aid. You will not have your admission or financial aid confirmed during the interview, but you will obtain firsthand knowledge of the department and possibly some feeling as to whether you would be admitted. You also have the chance to make a face-to-face positive impression!

Call the department or graduate school and check on the status of your application. Well meaning professors frequently forget to write that reference letter; registrar's offices can lose your transcript request. Such things happen all the time. As with a late application, an incomplete application will also reduce your chances for admission and financial aid.

ENTRANCE EXAMINATIONS

Most schools require applicants to take entrance examinations. Joint degree programs such as the MD/PhD. or JD/MA generally require test scores for both areas.

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is used by most graduate schools as one factor in making admissions decisions. The GRE includes two pages of tests which may be taken together or separately. The general test evaluates general verbal, quantitative, and analytical ability. The subject test is given in more than 20 fields and evaluates your knowledge of a particular field of study and your ability to reason with and apply such knowledge.

Some schools or departments require both the general and subject tests; others require only the general. Check the admissions requirements before signing up for the tests. If you are in doubt about admissions criteria, it is well worth the trouble to check with the school's admissions office.

The GRE application booklet, which can be obtained from Career Services, contains information and sample questions to help you prepare for the test. There are also GRE practice books, which contain old tests and test taking strategies that may be purchased for usually less than $10.00. Computer based practice test sessions can be arranged through Career Services.

The fee for taking the GRE may change from year to year. Read the application booklet for the current fee structure. There is a fee waiver plan for low-income students who are receiving financial aid. Fee waiver application forms are available at the Financial Aid Office.

TRANSCRIPTS AND GRADES

Have the registrar's office send an official transcript of your undergraduate work directly to the admissions office of the schools to which you are applying. The minimum grade-point average (GPA) required for admission at most universities is 3.0 on a scale where A = 4.0, i.e., a minimum B average. Grades are of overwhelming importance, but a GPA that does not quite meet that minimum can be offset with good letters of recommendation, high test scores and a well written statement of purpose.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

In general, letters of recommendation (or letters of reference) should be written by faculty. If you are already employed in your proposed field of study, however, a letter from your employer would be appropriate. In either event, be sure to choose a faculty member or employer who thinks well enough of you to give you a good recommendation. A teacher who gave you a "C" in a course is not likely to consider you an outstanding candidate for graduate study, nor will a supervisor who fired you be enthusiastic in his or her recommendation. The use of your minister and family friends, no matter how long you have known them, cannot reliably testify to your academic excellence.

THE APPLICATION FORM

In most instances the application for admission to graduate school is the only application needed, although some programs require a special departmental application. There also may be some departmental special requirements such as writing samples, portfolios, auditions or personal interviews. It makes sense to write or call the chair of the department or school to ask if there are any special requirements.

The Statement of Purpose is an important part of the graduate application. It should be a concise essay about your educational background and goals for graduate study. Even if you are not sure about the specifics of your program, the essay gives the selection committee a sample of your ability to state and develop an idea in writing.

If you feel uncertain as to the contents or quality of your statement of purpose (and who doesn't), ask a friendly faculty member or counselor for an expert opinion. They have seen plenty of applications, and can give you useful advice.

THE APPLICATION FEE

This can range from $10.00 to $100.00. However, some colleges and universities do not require the application fee for ethnic applicants. Check with the admissions office for application fee waiver procedures. They will probably want a letter from the Financial Aid Office verifying that you are on aid.

FINANCIAL AID APPLICATIONS

Most colleges and universities offer financial aid of some kind to all applicants. When filling out the financial aid application give your financial status. If you are financially independent of your parents complete the section on your parents' income and expense to the best of your knowledge. Also, pay particular attention to the section near the end of the application in which you may describe any special circumstances that affect your need.

APPLICATION FOR ASSISTANT SHIPS, FELLOWSHIPS, AND TRAINEESHIPS

Some colleges and universities offer special awards within certain departments or in the university at large. Submit all applications for financial aid by the deadlines dates.

REMEMBER:

1. Apply early! A late application can ruin your chances for admission and financial aid.

2. Register for the appropriate examinations. Check the registration deadlines in the application booklet.

3. Give careful thought to your statement of purpose. A good statement of purpose can sometimes make up for not so good grades.

4. Call the department or graduate school and check on the status of your application.

5. Keep copies of all documents you submit for admission and financial aid. You may need them.