subject: Schools Generally Require A Graduate Admission Test [print this page] Application deadlines can range from August before your senior year (for graduate study in medical school) to July before matriculation in the fall (for schools with rolling admissions).
Schools generally require a graduate admission test, which you should plan to take approximately one year before your anticipated matriculation date. The tests vary by type of graduate study.
There are the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), the Law School Ad-mission Test (LSAT), the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), and the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) to name a few. The schools' catalogs will specify which test you need and may give some indication of the score needed to be competitive for the program. Your college adviser can assist you in obtaining the appropriate admission test bulletin and can advise you on preparation strategy.
Official transcripts of your undergraduate work must also be sent to the graduate schools; contact your college registrar to have your transcripts sent. Admissions committees will review your transcripts with regard to the rigor and types of courses, the course load per semester, and your grades. The reputation of the undergraduate school will also be taken into consideration.
Two or three letters of recommendation from professors and/or employers will also be required for admission. The schools will specify who should write the letters and what issues should be addressed. The best recommender is one who has high regard for your work, knows you well, has credibility, and is a good writer. Approach your recommenders early in the fall of your senior year to give them time to write before their other academic pressures mount, or open a credentials file if you will be applying after you graduate.
Give your recommenders the schools' recommendation forms with stamped, addressed envelopes and enough supporting material to enable them to write a good, detailed letter on your behalf. This material may include a cover sheet reminding them of classes taken under them and projects you have done for them, a transcript, a resume, a research paper, a copy of your application essay, and/or other documents that will assist them. If you haven't already, to discuss with them your reasons for going to graduate school and why you are applying' to specific programs.
You will find space on the application to write an essay or statement on your background and interests as they pertain to study in the field. This is an important and time-consuming aspect of the application because it is your opportunity to present yourself beyond the "numbers" . Of course, this is one measure of your ability to write, so be meticulous about spelling, grammar, and writing style. The essay is also used to assess your enthusiasm for the field of study, your motivation, creativity, maturity, and uniqueness. Have your adviser and recommenders critique your essay for content. They often will be able to tell you what to stress and what to delete.
