By Hailey MacDonald, Editor-in-Chief
Applying to graduate school? Me too.
Not sure where to start? Me too.
Confused and anxious about it? Me too.
To me, the entire process of applying to graduate school is so much more daunting than applying to colleges as a high school senior. Now, it seems like this is going to be the deciding factor of the rest of my entire life.
I’ve always known I wanted to go to graduate school. I’ve been preparing my application essay for months, going back and forth on the topic and theme and ideas and studying and researching and putting in so much work that sometimes, my head feels like it physically cannot process any more information. Needless to say, it’s a lot of work, and it’s very, very stressful. Writing something knowing it has to display your absolute best work in order to give you the best shot of admission into your top schools is nothing short of terrifying. It adds so much stress and pressure to the writing process.
So, here are some tips from someone who’s doing it now. Of course, I’m still in the process and this is my first time applying for grad programs, but I have researched and read a lot to try to find ways to better the process for myself. Here’s what I’ve learned:
Decide on a program — or two
The specifics of your program of study may be a little different. Maybe you’re interested in pursuing a graduate degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, but there’s also one in Sports Counseling that you think could be really cool, too. Remember that applying to more than one type of program is okay! It keeps your mind open and allows you to make those decisions with lots of options. You also never know which programs you’ll be accepted into, and which programs you’ll be declined from. A few months down the road, when you’re committing to these programs, you don’t want to regret not taking that extra time to submit that one application for a different program that caught your interest.
Do your research.
There are so many grad programs across the country and the world. But first, you need to decide: will you go anywhere in the world to attend the best possible program for your degree? Or do you want to live in, say, Washington D.C., so you’re going to find the best colleges and programs in that area?
This is a very important part of applying to schools. Graduate school is the next step toward your full-time career, so maybe going to school in California when you would never, ever want to live there isn’t the best idea. It’s possible that you can land a job right out of school in the area that you live, so be confident that the location you are choosing is somewhere you’d be open to living for at least a few years.
Do research within your research
When you’re looking into different colleges, it’s a good idea to jot down some preliminary notes: when applications are due, what materials are expected, how many letters of recommendation are needed, etc. Look at the faculty members that teach at those schools, too: for my programs, I need to state faculty members that I would be interested in working with during my time at the institution. Adding in these elements to your application also shows that you’ve done your research and you care about that school, which can go the extra mile in making you stand out amongst the crowd.
Letters of Recommendation are very important!
It’s likely that your letters of recommendation are going to be from professors, staff members, bosses, or other individuals that you have worked with on a professional level. They are busy people — make sure you ask them early and they are aware of the deadlines you’re working with! I asked my professors a few months in advance to ensure that I was giving them time through an otherwise busy semester.
Save money!
Grad applications are expensive. For my programs, they’re around $100 a pop. And, depending on the competitiveness of your program, you may have to apply to quite a few of them to give yourself the best chance of being accepted into something.
As college students, money can be really tight. That’s why it is important to plan ahead and save money when you can in order to apply to the programs you want! You don’t want to hold yourself back from your potential future because you spent too much money at the mall last weekend, but at the same time, you don’t want to hold yourself back from necessary retail therapy and self care. Just be mindful and plan and save when you can!
Find what makes you, you
When it comes to applying to these programs, you want to make the admissions teams aware of who you are. They should want you just as much as you want them. Therefore, you should find the things about you that make you stand out from a crowd — have you done notable research in your field of study? Brag about it! Are you a first generation college student who has worked hard for your entire life to get to where you are today? Embrace that! Do you have interests and ambitions that you think are unmatchable? Talk about it!
Understand that the things you are doing to put yourself ahead of the bunch are worth talking about. Don’t hold yourself back from letting your true personality and intentions shine through in your application and interviews! You are one of a kind — embrace that!
The thought of grad school can be really daunting, and if you’re anything like me, the idea of not knowing exactly where you’re going to be in a year from now is terrifying. Just know that you have the power to determine the path you’re going to take — you are the pilot in your journey through the clouds. Embrace it!
