Purdue -How to Apply 7.2014

Applying to Graduate School

Pay careful attention to directions!

Application requirements vary by department. Be sure to review information both on the central graduate schoo l’s website as well as your department’s website. If there is ever a discrepancy, you should follow the departmental guidelines since they sometimes set stricter guidelines than the central graduate office. Look for the graduate contact or graduate secretary – this is the person you can e-mail or call with questions!

Deadlines

In order to be considered for admission, a ll the pieces of your application must be received

before the application deadline. Make sure you check this deadline and plan accordingly.

You should begin preparing your application and taking the necessary exams one year before your desired starting term. Some programs may have more than one deadline – often the earliest deadline is the one you need to meet to be considered for funding.

Destinations

Sometimes different pieces of the application go to different offices. Pay attention!

Common Parts of the Application

?Application form (often electronic)

?Application fee payment

?Official transcripts from all institutions attended

?Proof of English proficiency (for non-native speakers of English)

?Letters of recommendation (may be submitted electronically)

?Statement of purpose

?Standardized test scores, such as the GRE or GMAT (even if these aren’t required for admission, they may be required to be considered for funding)

?Résumé or curriculum vitae

Tips for the Statement of Purpose

?Allow time! Plan enough time to write, review, revise, and proofread.

?Follow directions. Respond to any specific questions and stay within word limits.

?Use a standard font. If the instructions don’t specify, use Times New Roman or Arial 11 or 12 pt with one inch margins.

?Keep language simple and specific. Avoid gimmicks. Talk about your experiences, your goals, and the “2-way street” of graduate school: how this specific university and

program can help you achieve your goals, and what skills you are going to bring to the

table.

?Include the “so what?”The statement of purpose is not a résumé. Don’t simply list everything you have ever done. Pick the relevant skills and experiences you want to

highlight and expound upon them. What do these skills and experiences mean for the

program you are applying to?

?Personalize. You should not be sending the exact same statement to every university.

The statement should express why you are a good fit for that particular program.

?Have an advisor/professor review your statement.

?Proofread. Proofread. Proofread.

Tips for your Letters of Recommendation

?Give plenty of notice – 2 weeks is absolute minimum, at least one month is preferred.

?Choose recommenders who can talk about different aspects of your abilities. Most graduate programs look for academic references; some MBA programs may look for

supervisor references.

?Ask if they would be able to write a “positive recommendation letter.”If they hesitate or decline, do not push the issue. Find someone else!

?Make their job easy. Provide recommenders with a copy of your résumé/CV, statement of purpose, bulleted points they may wish to highlight, and clear instructions on how the letter should be submitted.

?Follow up before the deadline to be sure the letter was submitted. Some online applications have a tracking system where you can see when your letters have been

submitted without having to email the professor directly.

?Send your recommenders a thank you note once the letter was submitted.

?Let them know when you have been accepted and where you decided to go!

Helpful Resources

Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab: https://www.sodocs.net/doc/635939763.html,/owl/resource/642/01/

Graduate Record Examinations (GRE): w https://www.sodocs.net/doc/635939763.html,

GRE Test Preparation: w https://www.sodocs.net/doc/635939763.html,/

Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT): https://www.sodocs.net/doc/635939763.html,