Applications
What is a graduate school application like?
There is no single answer to this question. Graduate school applications differ from school to school, but usually they will ask for such items as transcripts, letters of recommendation, test scores, and even a personal statement or a writing sample (perhaps even a portfolio). Since more universities permit (even require) online application, to find out what the app form for X school is like, simply go that school's web site and check out their graduate program pages. For a quick trip to VT's Graduate Program, click here.
How do I complete such applications?
Each school will have a different form, and each form might ask for different responses, so there is no single answer that can cover the range of forms that you might run into as you apply for graduate school. Your best option is to do your homework: read each application form carefully and follow it to the letter. If you have questions about which school or program to which you should apply (because even they might have different names, given different institutions!), you should directly contact the graduate program at the school in question. Never guess--and never breeze through app forms without reading the instructions very, very carefully!
The only thing they will really have in common is that they must be followed to the letter. If they ask for something, provide it. If they give you any kind of limitation (word-count in writing samples, etc.), follow it. This is not the time to go out on a limb.
What do I put for the individual departments or schools to which I'm applying?
That depends on how the university is set up and the designations it has chosen for its schools/colleges and departments. Often, an application will ask you to answer two questions: (1) to which school or college are you applying? and (2) to which department are you applying? Often, you can't just say "English" or "Education," because not every university will use those as the designations. Some schools might replace "English" with "Language and Literature" or "Classical and Modern LIteratures" or whatever. They might not have a "School of Education," but they might have a "School of Teaching" or a "School of Elementary and Secondary Education" or whatever. Find the answers to these questions by (a) browsing the departments and (b) browsing the schools/colleges. By the way, you need to know that a college is like a separate entity or school within the larger university (ex: here at VT, the English Department is in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences).
How do I get the individual applications?
In most cases, you can simply download them as Word or .pdf files. Sometimes you will find the forms online as .pdf files thatcan be modified. Again, you'll need to check each individual site. To apply to VT's graduate program, begin here.
How much does it cost to apply?
This varies from school to school. To apply to VT's grad school, you must submit a $45 nonrefundable application fee. In general, application fees are not refunded, regardless of whether or not you are admitted. For more info on VT's application procedures, click here.
When should I apply for admission?
Some schools have what is called "rolling admissions." That is, they do not set a deadline per se, but continue to accept applications throughout the spring semester (and sometimes into the summer). However, the old adage still holds true: "The early bird gets the worm." Most graduate teaching and research assistantships (which help you pay for school!) are often given in the "first round" of selections, so the earlier in your senior year you apply, the better. Begin the process in the fall. That said, however, you should always consult each university's Graduate School for more specific deadlines.
How competitive must my grades be?
Every year, the competition for graduate school grows. At the very minimum, you should probably have a gpa of 3.0 or above to consider applying. The higher your gpa, the better your chances. But you must remember that gpa isn't everything: you will provide additional persuasive materials in your application packet.
Do schools look at your overall gpa, your in-major gpa, your letters of recommendation, your personal statement, or what when deciding on your application?
That depends. With regard to the amount of emphasis they place on each element of your application packet, schools (and departments) vary. If you really want to know, it's better to ask each individual program.
Applications keep asking for a personal statement. What is this?
Some applications ask you to submit a personal statement, generally a short essay that requires you to explain why you want to pursue X career and/or why you believe you are capable of doing graduate level work in Program Y. Sometimes the application provides a prompt, a question that you must answer; sometimes, though, the requirement is more generalized. If the latter turns out to be the case, you should ensure that your personal statement (a) vividly recounts how and why you became interested in X subject or field, (b) with some detail outlines your experiences in that field, and (c) explains (again, vividly) how and why you know you will be able to succeed in graduate school, and in this subject/area in particular.
How do you write a personal statement?
For a quickie look at personal statements--what they are, how to write them--and to read an example or two, click here.
Whom should I ask for letters of recommendation?
It's always a wise decision to ask professors with whom you have worked closely--and preferably more than once. Generally, you will be asked to provide at least 3 such letters, although more might be requested. Although you would think that an academic advisor would be a good source for such a letter, unless you've worked very closely with him or her, in truth he or she can offer you only the most basic of letters: X has an overall gpa of 3.2, an in-major gpa of 3.4, and she has taken three very difficult courses while an English major.