Applying to Grad School
ANSWERED
20 Questions About
How many graduate programs should I
apply to?
There isn’t a magic number, but it’s a good idea to
consider applying to programs that vary in terms of
caliber. Consider factors such as program reputation and
selectivity, location, cost and funding opportunities when
developing your list of potential programs.
It’s important to be intentional and apply to the programs
that match your educational and career goals. Thoroughly
research each program by reviewing their websites
and identifying the areas of research and disciplinary
expertise of each faculty member. Consider how that
information matches with your goals and interests. You
will likely want to identify faculty who will be good,
supportive mentors, so if you’re unable to deduce that
from the website, reach out to the Director of Graduate
Programs or other contacts listed on the website to seek
more information prior to applying to the program.
1.
Applying for grad school can feel overwhelming. We get it. That’s why we at ETS have taken
your top grad school application questions to our panel of experts. With decades of collective
experience as graduate professors and deans, their answers can provide you with some
helpful guidance to make your experience a little easier.
Read on to get their best advice with regards to nding the right program, crafting personal
statements, submitting test scores, giving interviews and more.
Meet the Experts…
Terry Ackerman
Distinguished Professor of
Educational Measurement,
University of Iowa
John Augusto
Associate Dean of
Strategic Initiatives,
Georgia State University
Maureen Grasso
Professor of Textile Sciences
and Former Graduate Dean,
North Carolina State
University
Carlos Grijalva
Emeritus Professor
of Psychology and
Neuroscience and Former
Graduate Associate Dean,
University of California,
Los Angeles
Frankie Felder
Emeritus Associate Professor
of Education and Former
Senior Associate Dean of the
Graduate School,
Clemson University
THOROUGHLY RESEARCH
EACH PROGRAM BY
REVIEWING THEIR WEBSITES
and identifying the areas of
research expertise of each
faculty member.
2
Application reviewers expect to learn more about your passions,
personality and potential from your personal statement and/or
statement of purpose. Make sure you have shared your unique
strengths and background and why you feel you will be able to
successfully contribute to the program. Think and write about
what makes you a strong candidate for the program and clearly
state your educational and career goals. Articulate why you are
specically applying to their program over other programs. Finally,
share examples of how you exemplify some of the personal
attributes described above, such as goal orientation and resilience.
From your GPA and transcript, reviewers are looking to get a
sense of your experience and academic abilities. Here’s where
you can demonstrate growth over time, pursuit of challenging
coursework, passion for a particular subject matter, well-
roundedness and cross-discipline interests.
From your GRE® test scores, reviewers are looking to understand
your prociency in cognitive and critical thinking skills that extend
across most graduate programs, including verbal reasoning,
quantitative reasoning and analytical writing. Here’s where you
can cross-validate, or reinforce, the skillset exemplied by your
GPA and transcript, or balance out any shortcomings in those
areas. It’s also an opportunity to demonstrate that you have the
necessary skills to be successful in a particular graduate, business
or law program.
Letters of recommendation are unique as a third-party
assessment, and decision makers expect those letters to endorse
your skills and attributes, arm what they have gathered about you
from other submitted materials, and present concrete examples
of your skills, experiences and attributes. Ensure that your letter
writers are familiar with your achievements and can provide specic
examples. Give them a copy of your resume and plenty of advanced
notice so they aren’t rushed to meet your request.
When thinking about your application as a whole, it’s a good strategy
to have some overlap. Admissions committees see many applications
in a short period of time. So, if your personal statement/statement
of purpose, transcript and a letter of recommendation all show your
commitment to the eld, or multiple components of your application
show your perseverance and ability to overcome adversity, that’s a good
thing. If you have lengthy gaps between life experiences, provide a brief
explanation in your personal statement.
Dr. Grijalva
WHEN
THINKING
ABOUT YOUR
APPLICATION
AS A WHOLE,
it’s a good
strategy to
have some
overlap.
How can I ensure that my application paints a clear
narrative of who I am and clearly articulates my goals?
Graduate programs are seeking students with characteristics such as
passion, motivation, goal orientation, resilience and the propensity for
overcoming adversity. They are also looking for students with a clear
commitment to the eld of study. To evaluate whether your application
meets these criteria, it’s helpful to understand what admissions
committees are looking for in each component of the application.
2.
3
How can I be sure that my essay clearly articulates why I’m
applying to a specic program?
Graduate programs are seeking students with a clear commitment to the
eld of study. They want to know that you’ve thought about how you can
contribute to the eld and how this particular program can help prepare you
to do so. They also want to know that you’ve done enough research about the
program oerings and faculty expertise to feel condent that you would be a
good t. You need to convince the admissions committee that you have the
skills and drive to be successful in — and contribute to the success of — their
program. Your personal statement and/or statement of purpose will be one
of the sources of information they consider to determine whether they, too,
feel that your skills, experiences and goals t well with their program mission
and objectives.
Before you begin writing, reect on why you are going to graduate school,
why you are interested in that particular program and how that program
matches your goals. Think about how your experiences so far have
helped to shape you and how they will assist and guide you through the
graduate program. The personal statement and statement of purpose are
opportunities to share not only how this program ts what you need, but
also how you t what the program seems to be all about. Make an outline of
the points you want to make, beginning with brief bullets and then building
them into full sentences. Let the words ow and get your thoughts down.
If the graduate program to which you are applying provides essay prompts,
3.
YOU NEED TO CONVINCE THE ADMISSIONS
COMMITTEE THAT YOU HAVE THE SKILLS
and drive to be successful in — and contribute
to the success of — their program.
or instructions, make sure your essay addresses their requests. Begin each
paragraph with a main point, and support that point throughout the
paragraph, using examples as appropriate. Let your draft sit for a day or so,
and then return and reread it. Does it clearly articulate why you are applying
to the program, what you hope to get out of it and what you think you can
contribute to the program and/or eld? Does each paragraph start with
a main point and provide supportive thoughts? Read the essay aloud to
ensure it reads smoothly. Check the word count to make sure it meets the
program’s guidelines and run checks for spelling and grammar.
Once you have a strong draft, you may want to ask a professor to read it.
Alternatively, you could take it to the writing center on your campus with
the essay guidelines and ask them to review it to ensure that it is clear,
compelling and meets the requested criteria. Work with them to improve
your essay… it’s okay to ask for help.
Dr. Grasso
4
How can I show my personality in my personal statement in
a professional way?
The personal statement is a way to demonstrate your commitment to the
eld, but also your passion, values, personal qualities and experiences.
The key is to show your personality in a professional way. Programs
make a nancial and reputational investment in their enrollees, so it’s
essential that they identify applicants whose goals align with program
oerings and are motivated to complete the program even when life
presents signicant challenges. But they’re also looking for evidence of
experiences and personal attributes that will be valuable in your chosen
eld. Regardless of whether there is a specic prompt the program wants
you to address or whether the directions are open-ended, you’ll want to
ensure the essay portrays your passions and personal qualities with a level
of maturity expected of graduate students.
The personal essay is just that — it’s personal. So, it should be specic
to you — your goals, your experiences, your personal attributes. While
an essay is only one source of information admissions committees will
consider, the ability to hear from you in your own voice can set you
apart from other applicants. Write about the unique ways in which you
feel you can contribute and why you are excited about attending their
university. It’s even better if you can write about something specic
and unique to you in your essay that may not be highlighted elsewhere
in your application. Give examples, where you can, to show why your
experiences and preparation make you a good t for the program.
The essay also may be an opportunity to address unexplained issues.
For example, you may want to address a gap in your education or
specic challenges and barriers you faced in the pursuit of your
education and what motivated you to persist and overcome them.
Your tone should be professional in respect to the formality of the
application process. It is respectful to those who will read your essay
to ensure that you carefully checked the essay for relevance, tone,
grammar, punctuation, and spelling, and that you appropriately
addressed the essay instructions provided by the program.
4.
The personal
essay is just
that — it’s
PERSONAL.
!
Dr. Ackerman
5
IF THE
PROGRAM
ONLY
REQUESTS
ONE OF THESE
STATEMENTS,
they are likely
looking for a
blend of both.
How should my personal statement dier from my
statement of purpose?
Some programs request a personal statement, some request a statement
of purpose, and some request both. While both are requests for you
to submit an essay, the application instructions should articulate the
specic information they are asking you to provide. Not all programs
provide robust instructions, so don’t be afraid to ask. In addition, these
guidelines can help:
Programs that request a statement of purpose are looking to
understand your academic interests, arm your preparedness for
graduate-level work and evaluate your t with the proposed program
of study. It should include a description of your research interests,
including any subelds or interdisciplinary areas, as well as your future
career plans. It should describe what experiences have prepared you
for advanced study or research in the degree program, including the
relevant skills you gained from those experiences and any tangible
outcomes, such as publications, presentations or recognitions. It’s
also appropriate to include additional information that demonstrates
the subject-matter knowledge or general skills (e.g. leadership,
project management or communication) you have acquired through
employment, internships, teaching, service, artistic or international
experiences. Be sure to address why you believe the program to which
you are applying is best suited for you to accomplish your career goals.
The personal statement is an opportunity for you to provide additional
information that may aid the selection committee in evaluating your
preparation and aptitude for graduate study. It’s a chance for you to
describe how your unique character and experiences will enable you to
contribute positively and eectively to not only the department, but also
the academic eld. Consider whether there are educational, personal,
cultural, economic or social experiences that have shaped your academic
journey, and if so, how that was the case. Describe challenges or barriers
that you have faced in your pursuit of higher education and how you
overcame them. Strong examples can help form a lasting reminder in
reviewers’ minds.
If the program to which you’re applying only requests one of these
statements, it’s likely they are looking for an essay that blends some of
both (although the essay instructions provided by the program should
always be your guide). Schools always want to hear about your interest
in the eld and why you think their program is the best to help you
achieve your academic and career goals. It’s important to demonstrate
that you are familiar with and have studied the program and the areas of
expertise of the individual faculty. Perhaps there is a faculty member that
you would like to study with because his/her research matches yours.
Be sure to include information about your academic and non-academic
experiences that have shaped your journey thus far, and information
about challenges you’ve overcome along that journey.
5.
Dr. Augusto
6
How can I present obstacles I’ve overcome in my personal
statement without sounding clichéd?
The rst step is understanding what graduate programs are looking
for. A graduate degree can open a world of career opportunities but
— as is the case for all goals worth pursuing — obtaining that degree
can be challenging. During your time in grad school, you will likely be
faced with challenges related to your education, such as a setback in
your research, as well as life challenges such as issues related to your
family, nances or employment. Graduate programs invest nancial and
reputational resources in each enrollee, so they are looking for evidence
that you can overcome obstacles. They are not, however, looking for
your whole life story. Everyone has obstacles in their lives, so best not to
dwell on yours.
Rather, write about one or two challenges you faced in a matter-of-fact
tone, how you responded to those challenges and what you learned.
Perhaps you were able to solve the problem or make certain decisions
to persist despite those challenges. Perhaps you needed to take action
or explore other resources to support your ability to overcome the
obstacle. Perhaps these actions served as turning points that assisted in
your personal or educational development. The key is to briey touch
upon the challenge and show your persistence, problem-solving skills
and growth.
How can I include specic examples in my essay and stay
within the word limit?
Drafting a graduate school essay is as much about what to leave out
as it is about what to include. Putting a word limit in the application
instructions challenges you to share priority information in a focused
and compelling way. Essay reviewers want to understand key points
about your experience and glean information about your personal
attributes, but they also need to accomplish this task quickly.
In turn, then, you need to design an essay response that tells a succinct
narrative and shares priority information in a persuasive way. Including
specic examples helps bring your narrative to life and can make your
essay memorable. The best way to address this challenge is to start
with an outline of the points you want to make and what example best
highlights each point. Prioritize your points and examples based upon
which you think the admissions committee will most want to hear, and
which are most relevant in presenting yourself as a promising applicant
for their program. Start to draft out your essay and just let the words
ow without restrictions — some people like to hand-write their rst
draft so they can focus on expressing their thoughts and are less likely
to edit as they write. Once you have an essay drafted, let it sit for a day
before returning to the essay with fresh eyes. At this point, you can
6.
7.
GRADUATE
PROGRAMS
are looking
for evidence
that you can
overcome
obstacles.
Dr. Felder
7
What is the best way to approach a diversity statement?
Graduate education places high value on innovative scholarship and
research, and so it follows that it also places a high value on diverse
perspectives, which are viewed as a catalyst for innovation and for
solving societal problems. In asking for a diversity statement, graduate
programs want to ensure that you, too, understand the value that
diversity brings and how you can advance diversity within your program.
Think about the ways in which your life experiences and educational
background informed your understanding of the barriers facing groups
that are underrepresented in higher education, as well as provided
benets and privileges to those from traditionally majority groups.
Describe how your race, ethnicity, gender, socio-economic and cultural
background can add value to your classes, discussions and assignments
and how you see yourself contributing to diversity in your profession
after you earn your advanced degree. Share examples that demonstrate
your active engagement in programs or activities focused on increasing
participation by diverse groups. State how you have or intend to engage
in scholarly discourse, research, teaching, creative eorts, and/or
community initiatives that have the potential to advance diversity and
equal opportunity in higher education and society.
8.
evaluate whether the examples you chose are the best examples to
support your main points and edit the essay to t within the word length
requirement. And remember, once you have a strong draft, it’s okay to
ask for help from a professor or someone in the writing center on your
campus. Sometimes another perspective can help you be more succinct
or better make your point.
ONCE YOU HAVE AN ESSAY DRAFTED,
let it sit for a day before returning to it.
DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES ARE VIEWED AS
a catalyst for innovation and for solving
societal problems.
Dr. Grasso
Dr. Grijalva
8
Can my letters of recommendation come from outside
of academia?
Dierent programs have dierent requirements about who your
recommenders should be. If applying to a business, law or other type
of professional school, you might be asked to get a letter from your
supervisor at work. With most graduate programs, however, faculty
are seeking information about your academic potential, and faculty
members who know you well are best able to speak to your aptitude
and characteristics for graduate-level work. You may want to prioritize
your letters of recommendations from individuals who can speak to
your academic ability or your experience related to the specic eld
of your intended graduate degree. For example, you may want a set
of recommendation letters that would include one from a professor
in a related subject, one from a research supervisor, and one from an
internship or work supervisor. You want to pay close attention to the
specic requirements of the graduate school to which you are applying.
If you’re unsure whether the person you plan to ask is an acceptable
reference, ask the program to which you are applying.
Be respectful of the individuals you approach to write a letter. Ask
whether they have time and whether they are willing to write a strong
letter and what information you can help provide so they can do so. Ask
faculty that you have worked with or who are knowledgeable about
your strengths. Finally, even if they know you well, supply a copy of your
resume and personal statement to anyone you select to write a letter to
expedite their recall of your accomplishments and so that they can draw
appropriate examples as needed.
9.
ASK FACULTY THAT YOU HAVE WORKED
with or who are knowledgeable about
your strengths.
How should I draft my own letter of recommendation if my
mentor asked me to?
Letters of recommendation have a unique role as the only third-party
validation of your academic potential. Letter writers also oer an
additional perspective about your personal attributes and experiences.
Some faculty who are pressed for time or who don’t know the student
that well ask their students to draft the letter for their review and
signature. While initially it might sound advantageous to be able to
describe yourself exactly as you’d like to be described, once you consider
that other applicants may have letters by renowned leaders in the
eld or esteemed alumni, you may start to see how this request could
disadvantage you. So, the rst step is to consider whether you have a
better alternative.
10.
Dr. Ackerman
9
A good letter of recommendation will:
Begin with a statement about the letter’s purpose and a
description of how the recommender knows you, how long
they’ve known you, and how they are familiar with your work.
State why they think you’ll be successful in the program using
specic examples where possible.
Highlight a few of your top qualities and the situation in which
they witnessed those qualities.
Oer a clear recommendation statement with superlatives,
e.g. “She is one of the most determined/inquisitive/impressive
students I have encountered in my 8 years running the
research lab at the school. I highly recommend her to your
graduate program.”
When sharing your letter draft with your recommender, also provide
information about your career goals, your resume/CV and your personal
statement. Your recommender may wish to draw information from those
sources to supplement your draft.
If securing a recommendation from this particular mentor seems the
strongest path forward for you, begin by preparing an outline of your
letter by making a list of your strengths, skills and abilities. Begin the
letter with a statement about its purpose and the capacity in which your
reference knows you. Highlight your best qualities in the most positive
light possible. Make reference to key points in your resume or CV. Write
it as if you were the professor and remember to refer to yourself in the
third person.
What should my resume or CV include?
Resumes and CVs show reviewers how you have applied ideas and
concepts learned in the classroom and can indicate any specialized
experience that may benet their program. Graduate programs may
request a CV as a way to determine whether you possess the skills
and dispositions needed to conduct extensive research and make
substantive contributions to your selected eld. Professional programs,
such as business, law and some health programs, may request a resume
that details your past work or internship experiences as proof of the
practical skills you’ve developed that can be advanced in the classroom.
If you are applying to graduate school directly after undergrad, it’s
advisable to work with the Career Center on your campus to develop
and review your resume or CV. Remember: They do this for a living, and
they are there to help you.
11.
10
A resume typically includes the following information:
Contact details, including your full name, address, phone
number, email address and a link to your LinkedIn prole if you
have one.
Academic history, including schools attended from high school
on, title of degree obtained and the year you graduated. It’s
also optional to include your GPA or school-related honors or
extracurriculars (e.g. graduated magna cum laude or was editor of
the school magazine).
Professional and internships experience, including the name
of the organization, job title, employment/internship dates and a
summary of your achievements and responsibilities.
Publication citations, including co-authors, publication date,
summary, volume, page and DOI number.
Conference or paper presentations, including the presentation
title as well as the event, venue and date where you presented.
Coursework especially relevant to your intended graduate program.
Awards, grants and scholarships, including the name of the
award, the organization that gave the award, the year received
and any other pertinent details.
Professional associations, including the organization’s name,
location or chapter and the dates of active membership.
Licenses and certications, including the name of the license
or certicate, the date you earned it and the institution that
awarded it.
Professional skills, such as software that you are procient at using.
IT’S
ADVISABLE
to work with
the career
center on
your campus
to develop
or review
your resume
or CV.
How can I prove I’m a good candidate if my background
isn’t directly related to the eld I’m interested in?
Graduate programs want to be assured that you have a strong passion
for the eld and program to which you are applying, and that you are
condent in your chosen path. Examples from your academic and
professional background can help demonstrate your commitment, even
if your background isn’t directly related to your intended eld.
Your personal statement and statement of purpose are venues for
you to explain why your background isn’t directly related to your eld
of interest and do your best to minimize the gap and show how it
can be overcome. This is your opportunity to articulate why you are
12.
Dr. Augusto
11
How can I balance out my low GPAs or other application
weaknesses?
Graduate programs request so much information in your application so
they can get a complete picture of who you are and what you can bring
to the program and eld. Multiple sources can conrm information about
you. For example, a letter of recommendation may conrm information
about your personal attributes described in your personal statement as
well as the academic experiences detailed in your resume. The key is to
have more than one source that demonstrates particular competencies.
Many programs see GRE scores as a way to conrm your academic skills,
so many applicants look to use GRE scores as a way to balance out low
GPAs. GRE scores could help you make the case that your grades are not
representative of your true abilities. Relevant work or course-related
experience can help balance out a lack of direct research experience. A
strong recommendation from your employer may lessen concerns that
you don’t have strong connections with your faculty members.
Your personal statement and statement of purpose are also important
because they give you the opportunity to showcase your strengths and
explain any perceived weaknesses. If your GPA is low, briey describe
why in your essay. You need to convince the reviewers that you have the
drive, passion and ability to succeed in their program.
13.
interested in the eld you are applying to and how the skills, strengths
and experience you’ve acquired can help you succeed in the program
even though your future focus is somewhat dierent from your original
plan or earlier interests. One way to do this is to clearly articulate the
“transferrable skills” you’ve developed that are required to do well in
many types of graduate programs, such as knowledge in experimental
design, data analysis, surveys, longitudinal research, problem solving or
professional writing.
How close to my application deadline should I take the
GRE® General Test?
It’s best to test two months before your application is due so you can
retest if you aren’t happy with your scores. If that is not possible, four
weeks will suce. Schools you’ve identied to receive scores will get
them the same day you do (10-15 days after testing) if they receive
scores electronically and about a week after that if they prefer paper
score reports, depending upon the school’s location and the speed of
the mail service.
14.
Have more than
one source that
demonstrates
PARTICULAR
CO MP ETENCIES.
LEAN HARD ON DESCRIBING the
“transferrable skills” you’ve developed.
Dr. Felder
12
YOU DON’T
WANT TO
SUBMIT LESS
INFORMATION
about yourself
than other
applicants.
Should I submit GRE® scores if the program says
they’re optional?
Here are three reasons you might want to submit GRE scores:
15.
To present yourself on equal footing with other applicants
who are submitting scores, so you are not disadvantaged.
Some graduate programs have a test-optional policy, so you can
decide for yourself whether to submit GRE scores. However, keep
in mind that even those schools that say they’re test optional
typically still consider GRE scores if you submit them. You don’t
want to submit less information about yourself than other
applicants.
To provide another reliable source of information about
your cognitive skills. As graduate programs are making
admissions decisions, they typically consider many dierent
factors about applicants, including your academic background
and readiness, personal attributes (such as whether you
demonstrate perseverance, responsibility and collaboration skills)
and career goals and interests. They review all of the pieces of
your application portfolio to learn as much as they can about
what makes you who you are and for evidence that you would
be a good t for their program. Each source adds another layer
of information and corroborates, or validates, the information
found in other sources. By submitting GRE scores, you’re allowing
schools to corroborate information about your cognitive skills,
which they also get from your transcripts, GPAs and other sources.
To balance out dierences in undergraduate GPAs and the
assumptions that could result from those dierences. While it
may seem that undergraduate GPAs are standard or comparable
across schools, they are not. They vary greatly. GPAs can vary
based on the rigor, or diculty, of the undergraduate school
and undergraduate major. They can also vary based on country
— for example, schools in the U.S. and India have dierent
grading scales. GPAs can also vary due to grade ination, which
is a term used to describe the tendency for institutions to award
progressively higher grades for work that would have received
lower grades in years past. As a standard measure, GRE scores can
help mitigate the eects of variability inherent in GPAs.
GRE scores can also help make your case if you are coming
from a lesser-known institution.
GRE SCORES BALANCE OUT DIFFERENCES
in GPAs and the assumptions that could result.
Dr. Grasso
13
Should I take the GRE General Test at home or in a test
center?
That is completely up to you, based on your needs and preferences.
Some people feel that a test center can provide an escape from a busy
home environment and assurances of strong internet connectivity.
Others feel that their home is a safe oasis that can prevent distractions
from other test takers and where they feel they’ll be most comfortable.
Whether you take the test at a center or at home, the process is
standardized to reduce variability to the greatest extent possible.
Score reports do not designate where you took the test, so it’s really
up to your preference!
What is a good GRE score to aim for?
The GRE General Test actually provides three separate scores because
the test is composed of three independent measures: Verbal Reasoning,
Quantitative Reasoning and Analytical Writing. Oering three separate
scores gives you multiple opportunities to demonstrate your critical
thinking, reasoning and analytical writing skills. It also gives programs
exibility to give each score more or less weight based on the skill level
their program requires. For example, some programs may be looking
for a higher score in one section and pay less attention to the scores of
other sections. The scores should never be added together.
So what are good GRE scores, then? The answer to that question is: It’s
up to the programs you’re considering applying to. Graduate, business
and law programs decide for themselves what skill level is necessary for
applicants to be successful in their programs, and how much emphasis
they will place on test scores versus other information you submit with
your application. Many programs post this information clearly on their
application requirements web page. Rather than publish minimum
scores you must achieve, many programs publish stats from their most
recently admitted class. If the program publishes average GRE scores,
remember that many of the scores submitted fell below this number.
Score ranges can be more helpful as they oer more detail about the
typical scores accepted in the previous semester.
Admissions priorities, policies and expectations can change from
year to year, and the members serving on admissions committees
also change frequently, so don’t be discouraged if your GRE score falls
below published numbers, especially if you feel that other components
of your application, such as your undergraduate grades, research or
employment experience and strong recommendation letters, can help
balance out those scores.
16.
17.
DON’T BE
DISCOURAGED
if your
GRE score
falls below
published
numbers.
CHOOSE TO TEST AT A CENTER OR AT HOME
— wherever you feel you’ll do your best.
Dr. Ackerman
14
How can I achieve the scores I want on the GRE®
General Test?
Test preparation strategies vary based on individual preferences, but in
general, ETS recommends following these ve suggestions:
18.
Give yourself plenty of time. Avoid the stress that comes with
feeling unprepared by planning well in advance. Ideally, it’s
advisable to take the test two months before your application is
due so you have the option to retest if you aren’t happy with your
scores the rst time.
Take a timed practice test early so you can identify where
to spend the majority of your prep time. On the GRE website,
you can nd information about a series of POWERPREP
practice tests. These are great practice tests to take, as they
most closely simulate what it’s like to take the test — they are
timed and the interface is identical to the actual GRE test. All
accommodations available on the actual test are available in the
POWERPREP practice tests. The free versions return scores on
the Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning measures. The
POWERPREP PLUS Online versions, available for a fee, also return
scores on the Analytical Writing measure.
Develop your study plan. Knowing your areas for improvement
and how much time you have until test day, determine how many
hours a week you can devote to studying, and what areas you’ll
focus on each week.
Determine what test preparation materials you will use. The
GRE website provides access to excellent free and low-cost ocial
preparation resources from the makers of the test. In addition, ETS
oers a free, 2-hour, virtual prep workshop every month, during
which assessment specialists who actually work on the GRE test
provide strategies for tackling each question type. They also hold
a live Q&A session so you can ask any questions you may have.
And of course, there are many other companies that provide test
prep services for a fee.
Take another practice test. After you’ve spent time shoring
up any weaknesses, test yourself again to gauge your progress
and identify any lingering gaps where you can focus your
remaining eorts.
TAKE A TIMED PRACTICE TEST EARLY SO
you can identify where to spend your prep time.
!
Dr. Felder
15
Questions you should be prepared to answer:
• Tell me about yourself.
• Why do you want to study in our program?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• If accepted, what will be your biggest challenge here?
• How has your professional experience (or education) prepared you
to succeed in this program?
• What are your career goals? How will studying here help you
achieve those goals?
• What do you see yourself doing ve years from now?
• Describe your greatest accomplishment.
• Describe challenges you’ve overcome to get where you are today.
• What do you do in your spare time?
• What unique qualities do you think you have to oer this program?
• What appeals to you most about our program?
• How do you motivate yourself? How do you deal with stress?
• What is your plan B? If you were not accepted into the program,
what are your plans?
• What is your denition of teamwork? Success? Leadership?
Fairness?
IF THE
PROGRAM
hasn’t informed
you who you’ll
be interviewing
with and their
roles, ask.
How can I make a good impression in my interview?
Programs use the interview to ensure there is a good t between the
applicant’s aspirations and the department’s oerings, and they will
likely ask for clarication around specic points in your application to
help them do that. The interview is also an opportunity for decision
makers to experience your nonverbal and verbal communication
skills rst-hand and get a better sense of other interpersonal and
intrapersonal skills.
Before the interview, prepare, prepare, prepare. Become familiar with
the university, the department, the faculty and their research, and the
general campus and learning environment. Read some of the publications
of the faculty member(s) you would like to work with. If you are still an
undergraduate, visit your Career Center on campus and set up a mock
interview. Ask faculty about what questions they would ask in an interview
so that you can be better prepared. Know why you want to attend this
graduate program and what you bring to the program. Prepare answers to
questions that interviewers are likely to ask and prepare a few questions
to ask them in return. Finally, consider what you are wearing and what
your background will look like if you are doing a video chat. Keep it clear of
items that can be a distraction from the focus on you.
If the program hasn’t informed you who you’ll be interviewing with and
their roles in the program or at the university, ask. Learn as much about
them and their research as possible. Also ask how long the interview is
scheduled to be so you can gauge the length of your answers.
19.
Dr. Grijalva
16
On the day of the interview, be on time or early and be ready; have your
application materials, including your resume, statement of purpose and
personal statement, with you.
During the interview, be a thoughtful listener. Be genuine, respectful
and courteous. Look at the people you are interviewing and gauge
their expressions so you know they are understanding you and that
the length of your responses are appropriate. Ask questions that show
that you are sincerely interested in their program and want to know
more — remember that you are interviewing them as much as they are
interviewing you. Your interviewers are likely the faculty members you’ll be
working with, so try to imagine what that would be like.
What questions should I ask during my interview?
It’s essential to ask questions during the interview because it shows that
you are interested in the program, but also that you understand that the
interview is mutual — you are interviewing them as much as they are
interviewing you. Avoid asking questions that are too basic; you should
have done research on the program and various faculty members before
the interview and asking questions that are too basic may show that you
didn’t. However, it’s perfectly ne to ask for further clarication around
content you read on the website or have gathered from other sources.
20.
Questions to consider asking:
• What factors are most important in admitting students, or what
skills and attributes does the program value most in its students?
• What do you love about this program that you think other schools
might not oer?
• Do students usually publish or present papers?
• How are advisors assigned?
• What kind of experiential learning opportunities are there?
Teaching assistantships? Adjunct positions? Internships? Research
opportunities?
• What kind of library resources are available?
• Is there support to submit research grant proposals?
• Where have alumni of the program gone? Where do they work?
• What nancial assistance is oered? Are there scholarships/
fellowships to apply for?
• Is there funding to present at conferences?
• Is oce space available?
• How would you describe the culture of the program?
ASKING
QUESTIONS
shows that you
understand
that the
interview
is mutual.
Dr. Augusto
17
Need more resources?
We hope you found these answers helpful as you prepare to
embark on the journey to grad school. For more information
about the GRE General Test, visit ets.org/gre.
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