Definition of Graduate School

Graduate school or graduate study is an advanced program of education that is entered into once a bachelor's degree has been obtained.  Advanced study programs are divided into two categories: professional programs and graduate programs.

Examples of Graduate and Professional Programs

Graduate programs offer an in-depth study of a concentrated area and upon completion, a Master of Arts (M.A.) or a Master of Science (M.S.) degree is awarded. Some individuals go on to obtain a Doctorate (e.g. Ph.D. or Ed.D.). Professional programs emphasize the practical use of knowledge or skill such as business, law, or medicine (e.g. MBA or JD). Professional programs vary in the number of credit hours required to complete each program.

  • Faculty, Alumni, and Other Professionals in field of interest.
  • Attend event and fairs.
  • Read the information each school has available online to gain a solid understanding of the programs of interest and the requirements.
  • Cost
    • In addition to tuition and fees, investigate expenses incurred such as books, transportation, housing.
    • Opportunities to receive financial aid in the form of scholarships, assistantships, or fellowships.
  • Admissions requirements
  • Program Aspects
    • Curriculum/program offerings, Internships/Clinical Experiences, Faculty, Location
       
  1. Visit school/program website, take a campus tour to gather more information.
  2. Complete the application, which may be different for each program.  Application process may include:
    • A non-refundable application fee.
    • Official Transcripts
    • Letter of recommendation
    • Standardized Admission Tests (e.g., GRE or LSAT)
    • Personal Statement or letter of intent

       

Conduct research and start early to learn what types of financial assistance might be available. Pursue multiple sources of funding. Applicants may be eligible to receive more than one form of assistance.

  • Federal Government Student Financial Aid (loans, Federal Work-Study, grants)
  • Assistantships – which are awarded by individual academic and administrative departments of graduate institutions.
  • Scholarships, Grants, and Fellowships
    • Scholarships are available by school, field/career and demographics.
    • Grants are most often offered by the federal government, state government, an individual school, or a private organization.
    • Fellowships are awarded for academic excellence; they can include an internship or service component offering a chance to gain

A graduate admission essay should be a statement of interests, goals, motivations, and experience, relevant to the program. It should demonstrate a clear sense of purpose for entering the graduate program, and clear goals of an intended career path following graduate school.

Where to Begin
Command the reader’s attention in the first paragraph. Identify the “why” that inspired applying to graduate school. It is often effective to begin by describing a personal or educational experience that influenced the decision to pursue this particular field of study. Emphasize the elements and events most relevant to the application, not an entire life history. Be careful to not be overly personal, providing information that could be considered discriminatory or negative by the admissions committee, such as a criminal record, history of substance abuse, or other such information. 

What to Include

  • Respond to specific questions that are asked.
  • Interest/motivation for graduate study in the field.
  • Stated interest in the particular school/program.
  • Educational background, and ability to perform graduate level course work.
  • Specific areas of interest within the field of study.
  • Related experience (work, internships, research, volunteer, student teaching, etc.).
  • Career goals.
  • A brief closing summary, supporting the goal of admittance to the program and expectations of positive contributions to the program.

Additional Guidelines

  • Remember that the essay is also being evaluated as a sample of competent writing ability; it must be well written and free of grammatical errors.
  • It is strongly encouraged to have personal statements reviewed and critiqued by a faculty or staff member and/or a CAPE counselor.
  • Keep a positive tone throughout the essay, focusing on relevant skills and experience.