| Getting into graduate school can be a difficult feat to | | | | Consider using a famous quote from a person or a |
| accomplish for many, especially those who are in | | | | movie, explaining how the quote relates to your |
| very competitive fields. Many graduate schools not | | | | personal life or how it relates to your interest in the |
| only turn a lot of people away each year, but some | | | | program to which you're applying. |
| have very low acceptance rates to begin with. This | | | | Throughout the rest of the essay, you should point |
| means that you have to work extra hard preparing | | | | out strong characteristics which make you suitable |
| and writing your school resume as well as do | | | | for the program, focusing on those which are most |
| everything possible to prepare for during your | | | | relevant to your major. Writing about a major |
| undergraduate years. | | | | experience in your life which made you change a |
| Completing the Application Portion: | | | | point-of-view, or writing about how you've been |
| The first step to preparing to apply for graduate | | | | influenced by a person in your life, are two examples |
| school is filling out the application, which is standard at | | | | which you can include in your essay. End the |
| nearly all schools. This applications are pretty standard | | | | graduate school essay with a strong, persuasive |
| form, requesting that you document such things as | | | | conclusion. |
| your work history, relevant college classes to the | | | | Letters of Reference: |
| graduate program, and any extracurricular activities | | | | Perhaps one of the most important parts of |
| you took on while in college getting your bachelors | | | | completing your school resume is the letters of |
| degree. During this portion of your application, you | | | | reference. Most graduate schools require two to |
| need to make sure that you exhaust all options for | | | | three letters of recommendation that you must get |
| listing important undergraduate experiences you've | | | | from college professors, managers at work, or |
| had. Mission trips to a foreign country, research | | | | others who know about your professional or |
| experience for scientist school candidates, and unpaid | | | | college-work habits. If you're an undergraduate |
| work experience related to your chosen field of | | | | student, you may be troubled at where you'll find |
| study are all great items to list on your application. | | | | these important references. However, if you're |
| Writing the Essay: | | | | attending a typical bachelor degree program then |
| Of prime importance to a graduate school resume | | | | chances are that you've had a chance to interact |
| and application is the essay portion of the application. | | | | in-depth with college professors during your capstone |
| The essay portion is your chance to distinguish | | | | courses these professors make excellent graduate |
| yourself from all the other applicants. Even though all | | | | school references. |
| the other applicants will be writing about why they | | | | Completing your graduate school resume thoroughly |
| should be chosen for acceptance, this is your chance | | | | is of utmost importance to gaining entry into any |
| to do something different and impress the school | | | | program. By crafting an excellent graduate essay in |
| counselors. | | | | addition to your all-important letters of |
| The introduction of your graduate school resume | | | | recommendation, getting into school should be that |
| essay should introduce yourself, but it should be | | | | much easier! |
| interesting for admissions counselors to read. | | | | |