Letters of Recommendation

While some programs may permit you to submit letters of recommendation from anyone, most want to hear from a faculty member who has had you in class or with whom you have conducted research.

Ask for recommendations from professors who are familiar with you and your work, who are reliable, and will follow through. Ask if they can write you a strong, positive recommendation.

• Ask politely and far in advance of deadlines.

• Waive your right to review the letter or recommendation form. You do not have to do so, but it will likely lend more credence to the recommendation when read by the selection committee.
• Provide your recommenders with a resume and transcripts.
• Follow up with your recommenders to confirm that your recommendations have been sent prior to deadlines.
• You should always send a thank you to your recommenders expressing your appreciation for their time and support of your application.
• Keep them updated both on the outcome of your application and your next steps.

Personal Statement

The personal statement or statement of purpose is an essential aspect of the application process. Personal statements are necessary for a graduate or professional school application and provide insight about your abilities and experiences while also functioning as a sample of your writing skills.

Once you have drafted a general statement, you can tailor it to fit programs to which you are applying by talking about the reasons you chose the program and how it specifically fits your background and interests.

Here are several suggestions for writing your personal statement.

• Think of angles or viewpoints from which to demonstrate your character and potential. Your essay should be personal, accurate, forthright, and genuine.
• Use the essay to help the selection team better understand your distinctiveness/uniqueness.
• Review examples of personal statements so that you can become familiar with the appropriate tone.
• Explain how you became interested in your field of study. Use objective experiences to communicate your message.
• Describe how your interests relate to the graduate program.
• Explain any gaps between your GPA and scores on graduate school admissions exams.
• Describe how you overcame hardships or barriers encountered in life.
• Demonstrate how your leadership skills, computer skills, or writing skills were developed.
• Explain why you think you will be successful in graduate school.

Once you think you have a working draft of your personal statement, make an appointment with a trusted advisor.

Standardized Exams

GRE

The GRE's are required by many graduate programs. There are two types of Graduate Record Examinations (GRE's): The General Test and the Subject Tests. The General Test measures verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking, and analytical writing skills. The GRE General Test is administered year-round.

ETS, the publishers of the tests, have constructed the General Test assuming that people will study for it. You will be at a significant disadvantage if you don't prepare. You'll be less anxious if you start studying for the exams several (2-6) months before the test but even several weeks of preparation can allow you to feel more confident on the test date and to be better prepared to do your best.

GMAT

The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is a standardized assessment delivered in English that helps business schools assess the qualifications of applicants for advanced study in business and management. Schools use the test as one predictor of academic performance in an MBA program or in other graduate management programs. The GMAT is made up of three components: Analytical Writing Assessment, Quantitative Section, and a Verbal Section. GMAT exams are administered year-round.

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