Graduate School: What Most of Us Don't Know, Part II

Graduate programs, like undergraduate programs, represent a large investment. Naturally, comparison shopping is in the best interests of the potential graduate student. A smart student will look at potential thesis advisors, cost of attendance, the admission process, and reputability of the department of interest.

Admission to graduate school is a painstaking process. The admissions panel may be sent hundreds of applications, but only a small percentage of those who apply are granted admission.

One graduate program narrowed the applicant pool this way: The admissions panel will create a sort of "short list" of students that they view as potential graduate students. The "short list" is then divided into several piles, then given to an admissions panelist, who will try to "sell" the top applicants in his or her pile. Following the "selling" of the applicants, the panelists decide who they will move into the next round of decisions. Finally, the panel reviews applications and makes the final decisions concerning admissions.

One of the best things a person can do to gain admission to a graduate program is to get to know the professors. A professor can vouch for a student he or she feels would thrive in a graduate program, thus significantly increasing chances of admission. Furthermore, the student should attempt to make connections with all faculty in his or her department, so that he or she may choose the best possible thesis advisor.

The most important criteria for admission to a graduate program are: undergraduate grade point average in major field, recommendations from faculty known by members of department, undergraduate grade point average in junior and senior years, GRE General Aptitude Test verbal score, undergraduate major relation to field of graduate study, and undergraduate grade point average overall. Even supposing that an applicant has each of these criteria under control, graduate programs weight these criteria differently. Each program chooses what matters most to them, so an applicant who receives a fellowship in one program may be rejected by another. Utlimately, admittance to a program is a matchmaking game.