Rissa
What are things I should do if I want to get into a Grad School?
I want to get into a Grad School later, so I want to know about things I should be doing now to help me with that. #graduate-school #admissions #grad-school #college #graduate #application
5 answers
Gabriella Grimaldo, M.A.
Gabriella’s Answer
Paul has excellent points. I would also add that depending on the field you are interested in going to graduate school for, you may need to have research experience as well. In the field of psychology, for example, they often looked for students to be part of research labs or some other type of research experience. Others will look to see if you have some sort of real world experience. For example, if you are planning on applying to occupational therapy programs schools may look to see if you shadowed an OT at one point or had experience in personal training.
Paul Gullatte
Paul’s Answer
Getting into graduate school can be more selective than getting into college so your grades are extremely important. The higher your GPA the better chance you have of getting accepted. Depending upon the school, a 3.0 GPA might not be enough so you should be aiming a lot higher. Also, you will need at least two recommendation letters from individuals who can speak to your character, work ethic and leadership skills.
Just as important, you will need to do well on the standardized test required for the type of school you are considering. Business schools require the GMAT, law schools the LSAT and medical schools is the MCAT. Again, the higher the score the better your odds of being accepted. Note that some schools are starting to waive the standardized test requirement so you'll have to look that up for each school when it gets closer to applying.
Finally, many schools may want to see some real world experience on your college application. This can take the form of internships or participation in clubs related to your major. As it relates to clubs, if you held some sort of leadership position or at least lead a community service project, that would be ideal.
Hanleigh J., MPH
Hanleigh’s Answer
Brian Goldman
Brian’s Answer
Ava O’Hara
Ava’s Answer
2) Strengthen your application by obtaining relevant certifications.
3) Complement your major with a minor or two.
4) Showcase adaptability by demonstrating awareness of diverse cultures.
5) Engage in active employment.
6) Establish connections and foster relationships with esteemed individuals for potential recommendation letters.
Getting into grad school can be very competitive. Everything you do in undergrad matters. You should not be doing the same things as the kids who are getting a job right out of undergrad, you need to put in more work than them!