Tell me more about graduate school

Black Collegian, Oct 2001 by Rovaris, Dereck J

When requesting these letters, always remember that it is just that-- a request. Approach your faculty members early and provide them with enough information so that they may effectively write about your potential. Provide them with an abstract that includes: courses taken and grades received from that instructor; a concise description of your graduate plans and plans beyond graduate school (i.e. "I plan to pursue my Ph.D. in higher education administration and later work as a student service administrator...); the mailing address for your schools (many applications provide envelopes for recommendations); and the deadline for mailing the recommendation.

4. Write a statement of purpose and have it critiqued - The statement of purpose often distinguishes between the winners and the losers. What sets a good statement apart is its overall quality and its ability to clearly articulate your potential for graduate study. A good statement will be:

a. Concise - say what you have to as efficiently as possible; most are limited to 1 - 1 1/2 pages.

b. Organized - your essay should be well thought out and structured; work from an outline.

c. Clear - it should say exactly what you want it to say; no ambiguity.

d. Honest - do not pretend to be who you are not; but do not sell yourself short, either.

e. Personal - this is uniquely yours, it is a statement about you; write about you.

f. Positive - sell yourself using positive attributes; do not dwell on negatives like low grades.

What is included in a statement of purpose varies from school to school. Be sure to read each application carefully and provide the specific information requested. Typically you are asked to include the following:

Why do you want to get a graduate degree?

What are your specific goals for graduate study?

How have you been academically prepared for these goals?

What are your goals beyond graduate study?

What tangible experiences helped prepare you (research projects, internships, professional and volunteer experiences, publications, exchange programs, etc?)

Why should you be admitted? Upon completion of your statement, show it to a friend and have him or her critique it. Make corrections and then share it with a faculty member. Inquire about punctuation and grammar. Make the necessary revisions and then have it proofed one last time. If you are satisfied you may then include it with the rest of your application. This may seem like a tedious process for a one-page statement. It is necessary, however, since you will seldom be asked to write a more important statement.

5. Complete and mail your applications for admission and financial/fellowship support - This is in fact a very important process and you do not want to leave anything to chance. Complete your application making sure it is typed. Make copies of everything! It should look nice and should be legible. Mail all materials well in advance of any stated deadline! Institutions receive hundreds of applications and most have no room for late or incomplete applications. Order transcripts and test scores early. Further remember, a completed, clean, and on-time application will not by itself gain you admission, but you can rest assured that an incomplete, sloppy, or late application will ensure rejection.