Project: Get into Grad School

Organization is key

 

TIMELINES

There are several different timelines available online. This one is a compilation of the ones I found most helpful mixed in with my own advice. Here are few others you might want to check out:

 

Princeton Review: This one emphasizes preparing for and taking the GRE and GRE subject tests in a timely manner. Good advice if your programs emphasize high GRE scores.

 

US News: This one emphasizes contacting and visiting schools as a means of narrowing down your list. If you have the time and resources, this advice is great! If you're more like me (with limited time and funds), don't worry. There are other ways of learning about graduate programs!

 

DRAFTING APPLICATION MATERIALS

Most of the resources available online seem to underestimate the amount of time needed to write, revise, refine, and edit the personal statement and CV (and any other application materials you might need to develop). I recommend starting 9 months out -- which is much longer than most people advise. The reason I suggest giving the personal statement and CV so much time is because the first several drafts are usually too generic and cliched. 

 

You need to plan on re-writing these important documents several times. You should get feedback from people who know you well as well as people who don't know you well. You want to end up with the personal statement that only you could write. So, plan ahead. 

 

The other reason to work so far in advance is so that you can give your recommenders well developed drafts of your application materials when you ask them to write letters of recommendation fo you.

 

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

A strong letter of recommendation will have detailed examples of your brilliance, hard work, and stellar characteristics. Of course, choosing key professors and employers to write these letters is important, but how you ask them and what you provide for them can make or break the impact of those letters.

 

I recommend asking for letters 3 months in advance of your first deadline. Immediately following the face-to-face conversation, you should provide each recommender with a packet of information to help them stay organized and be able to write you glowing letters. 

 

Included in this packet should be: 

• Letter/memo thanking them for writing you a letter and explaining what of your qualities you hope they might be able to talk to in their letter

• Updated CV

• Current draft of the personal statement

• List of things you’ve done to help remind them (this may be assignments you wrote for them or little projects you did that did not make it onto the CV) 

• A list of schools you’re applying to and info about the programs

• Deadlines for each letter

• Instructions on when and how to submit each letter

• Additional materials (SASEs, specific forms, etc.)

Tip: Ask what format they prefer all this information (paper, electronic, or both). If they want hard copies, put the info in a brightly colored folder so it stands out on their desks.