Are you thinking about graduate or professional school? If so, engage in the following activities as an undergraduate student to become an ideal graduate student candidate.
- Be engaged in your professional development by ensuring that each activity you’re involved in, such as student organizations, internships, and substantial volunteer work, maximizes your potential for graduate study.
- Be an instructional or research assistant.
- Volunteer or work as a tutor
- Attend conference presentations or collaborate on publications with a mentor.
- Write an honors thesis if you have the option.
- Make sure your undergraduate courses prepare you for graduate study – Does your program of interest require prerequisite courses?
- Join the premier professional organization in your discipline
After you graduate, keep your skills and competencies in your field sharp and well-represented on your CV/academic resume.
- Volunteer if your current employment is not related to your choice of graduate study
- Take additional coursework to supplement your undergraduate studies if necessary and/or to fulfill prerequisite course requirements.
- Build connections with professionals in your industry of interest and maintain relationships with the connections you have made during your undergraduate studies.
Have questions about the process or how to prepare? Schedule an appointment with your career coach.
Financing for Graduate School
The process of financing graduate school looks different than your undergraduate experience. Check with your Financial Aid Office at your respective university to apply for federal financial aid. Research, teaching, and graduate assistantships are often available for graduate students, but the process and allocation vary from university to university. We suggest contacting your prospective university’s Office of Graduate Studies as a starting point. Connecting with your program director to inquire about opportunities to finance your graduate education is also appropriate. When contacting professionals for the first time via email and phone, putting your best foot forward is essential. If you need support drafting an email, connect with your career coach through Handshake
Already a Graduate Student?
The Career Development Center provides all of its resources to graduate students as well! Learn what resources are available to you and how we can help.
Application Materials
You may be required to prepare a few different written items when submitting your graduate school application. These items are used to showcase who you are and how you are different from other candidates. An interview may also be requested to help the admissions committee determine who to accept. Explore the following application materials and learn how to properly prepare them.
Resumes and CVs
Graduate school applications may require a resume or a curriculum vitae (CV). Applicants are encouraged to tailor these documents to share professional and academic accomplishments, community involvement experience, research, publications, or professional presentations, etc., as relevant to their academic goals. Learn how to build a successful resume and CV. To receive individualized feedback on your resume/CV before submitting your graduate school application, schedule an appointment with your career coach.
Recommendations
A recommendation is a detailed written statement (usually from a faculty member, supervisor, employer, or mentor) of your personal and professional qualities, qualifications, accomplishments, and experiences that make you well-qualified for admission into a graduate program. Selecting and approaching your references is the first step towards receiving a recommendation. Learn how to approach your references and ask for a recommendation.
Entrance essay
The entrance essay provides an opportunity for you to differentiate your qualifications from other candidates. It can have various names, such as personal statement, letter of intent, statement of purpose, autobiographical statement, and/or objectives of graduate study. Learn how to write your entrance essay.
Admissions Tests
Admissions tests help institutions predict your academic success in their program. Tests you need to take vary by the types of programs you are applying to and can vary from school to school. Some graduate programs may not require an admissions test or may waive the requirement if you meet certain criteria.
Below are a few common admissions tests:
- GRE – Graduate Record Examination
- GMAT – Graduate Management Admission Test
- MCAT – Medical College Admissions Test
- LSAT – Law School Admission Test
- PCAT – Pharmacy College Admission Test
- MAT – Miller Analogies Test
If you are required to take an admissions test, identify a testing center located near you. Testing centers are available throughout the United States and App State students and alumni also have access to the testing center on campus. Be sure to take the exam(s) you need with plenty of time before application deadlines, as application materials will not be processed until test scores are received. We recommend at least six months before you need to send a score to allow time for scores to be processed or to retake the exam if needed.
