Grad(ually going insane) School

For my fellow students trying to get into Graduate School, I write this to warn you, not dissuade you, about the troubles you might go through when applying to graduate school. No matter which program you are applying for, every application process is different, but each have three major parts. No one will hold your hand when applying for graduate school like advisors did in high school.

First, you must prepare for the application, which usually means examinations. Every school that I have heard of has some form of testing to get into the school. Whether that is the MCAT, the LSAT, the GRE, or the CBEST, every school requires that there be some sort of governmental testing before their application can be sent in. You will have to find the dates, testing sites, and all of this online by yourself. Luckily, most of this information can be found online, and there are plenty of forums on it. Just count your lucky stars that you have the internet to help you!

The other part of the admissions process is the physical application. Nowadays, applications are also online, so it is not completely impossible to finish them, but they are lengthy. I will also say that if you are applying to a dual program, make sure if there is only one application, rather than two.

There are many parts to an application. Usually, a lot of personal information must be written down, such as social security numbers and identification. Then usually some sort of statement of purpose is given, along with your test results that I have mentioned. There is a lot of information that you must have when applying, so it is useful to collect all of this before sitting down to being any application.

If you ever have questions about the details of these, I have found the admissions offices very helpful in answering questions. If you cannot reach them through email, which is not uncommon due to their large amounts of requests, go straight to their offices. Even if you have to go there a few days a week, it will be worth it. In addition, it will show your commitment to becoming accepted into your desired program.

Finally is the interview. Not all programs have an interview process, but most will. In this you will either have a group or individual interview. In this, you will be questioned on your abilities for this program, prior knowledge, and commitment to the academia you are going into. Focusing on your strengths, recalling past challenges, and highlighting your successes in said interviews will gain you a higher chance of admission.

The early applications for college will be due soon, and the regular applications due in spring. For sure, this will be a very difficult time for the graduation class. If you are not planning on going to graduate school soon, but you know someone who is, give them a hug. They will certainly need it.