how do you get into graduate school? what is the process?

Answer 1

At the beginning of your senior year as an undergraduate, you need to take the GRE, the graduate records exam. Your score needs to be sent to the schools you are applying to. You also will need recommendations from professors and other professionals, and have your transcripts from your undergrad school sent to the prospective graduate schools.

Answer 2

There's a GRE exam you have to take for entrance. I'm not sure if that's some general exam for any graduate studies or not. But if it is, then there would probably also be a particular exam for whatever field you're planning on doing graduate studies in.

Answer 3

graduate with a bachelors degree and apply to the graduate school

Answer 4

get an application
meet with an admissions counselor
fill out the application (write the essays, collect your transcript(s), write the check)
take the gres or whatever other standardized test is required
report your scores (or have the college board report them)
submit your applicaiton

Answer 5

The graduate admissions process is a lot of work. Each program you'll apply to will have processes and deadlines, but if you're highly organized (which you likely are if you're considering grad school), you can successfully manage the application process (I'm assuming you'll apply to more than one program).

Here are some hints...

1.) First, do your research! One of the worst mistakes you can make is applying to programs that don't properly fit your own research interests. You'll feel frustrated and stuck in no time. Department/program websites are the most useful sources of information, but you can also look up some books in the library that are helpful (ask someone in your library for help). Ask current professors, friends, anyone you can talk to, for advice on good programs for you. Websites, however, are a good starting point and will have "research areas" or "areas of interest" listed, with associated faculty listed under each area. Try to identify programs that have a few good core faculty in your area of interest. If you choose a program based on one or two people, something could come up (i.e. one goes on sabbatical, one isn't taking new students as advisees, etc.) and you'll be stuck. Better to have a few choices.

2.) Make personal contact with programs that interest you. People are so accessible by e-mail now! Be sure that you're professional and courteous (and use spell check), of course, but most professors, staff (secretaries are often "the gatekeepers" in grad programs and know the real deal), and current students in the program will be happy to answer preliminary questions via email.

3.) Ask a lot of questions. Ask what you want to know, but only after you've looked over the whole website for answers. Don't go asking questions that are right there on the homepage! Important questions are about funding (are they going to pay or are you?), attrition rates (do people ever graduate or are they in a program for 10 years?), cohort size (how many people are accepted each year?), etc. There are plenty of books and websites that will help you craft questions. A good one for current students: "What do you wish you'd known when you were in my position?"

4.) After you choose your programs (I recommend at least 3--a dream school, one you'd be happy with but isn't Ivy League, and a safety school), gather your application materials and organize them according to the deadline of each program (they vary from December to February, in most cases). Most grad school applications require the following items: *Application form (online or hard copy) * Application fee (typically $40-60) * GRE scores (take the GRE well in advance and STUDY well--it is expensive; you don't want to take it more than once if you can avoid it!) * 3-4 letters of recommendation * Official transcripts from your undergrad career * Personal/professional statement * Sometimes they'll ask for a resume and/or a writing sample

5.) Some programs will have you collect all the materials yourself and send them as one package, some programs will have you send materials directly to the program (your letters of rec, for example). Most require you to have official transcripts sent directly to the institution you are applying to, either way. But read carefully, follow instructions precisely and get everything in EARLY. Give yourself a deadline that is at least 2 weeks prior to the actual deadline--a month is better.

6.) Don't throw together a personal statement. Take your time writing it and revising it, and take it seriously. Show it to as many people as you can and incorporate their feedback. And don't don't don't! use the same personal statement for all of your applications. Craft each one to meet the requirements set forth in the application and to address how that particular program fits your interests. FIT is key!

7.) One of the most important (and overlooked) steps in the grad school admissions process, in my opinion, is the program visit. I was accepted at all of the programs I visited, and I was denied by the one I didn't (and several grad students I met in the process said the same thing). I found out during one visit that current students weren't happy in their program, so I knew I didn't want to go there.

I wrote to the grad program directors of the programs to which I was applying and requested interviews with professors and current students. At my chosen program, I met with the professor who will be my advisor, the dept. chair, the admissions committee members, current students, the head of the certificate program I'll be pursuing outside the department, and, of course, the secretaries. It was a lot of hard work (and very nervewracking), but SO worth it. Not only did I get inside advice on the admissions process, the prof I wanted to work with put in a "good word" with the admissions committee and I felt sure about fitting in with the department and other students when I left.

8.) Be yourself and be enthusiastic. This was the best advice I got when I was applying to my PhD program. If you go into this believing that you have a lot to offer AND a lot to learn, you'll do well.

Now I'm headed to a PhD program with a phenomenal advisor, in a program that's perfect for me, with 4 years of funding. All the stress pays off (and gets you 4+ years of more stress, but hey, the application process is an accomplishment in itself!) :-)

Best of luck to you, and I could go on all day about this (as you can tell) because I was desperate for information when I was in your place, so feel free to email me if you have questions (my username @ yahoo).