Tim Rogers, former Head of Student Recruitment and Admissions at the internationally renowned London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), shares some of his inside observations on grad school applications.
You might be lucky enough to be one of those people that always know exactly what they want to do and when they want to do it.
Alternatively, you might be the same as the most of us and have to come to a decision through a much more complicated process, weighing up lots of different factors and aspects of your life until you arrive at a point where you know what the right decision to make is for you and your future.
Deciding to go to grad school is one of those decisions that may change the course of your life - are you ready for that?
Is now the right time?
Whether you are currently an undergraduate student, or considering returning to higher education after spending time working, you need to decide whether this is the right time for you to complete a master's or PhD program.
It may be that a graduate qualification will help advance your career, or perhaps you just feel ready to take on the challenges of independent academic research.
There's no one simple answer here; everyone is different. What's important is to consider the decision in reference to all aspects of your life - including the finances and time you have available, as well as what you hope to gain from the degree in future.
Research, research, research!
Choosing which university to go to, what program to study, even knowing the country you want to spend the next few years in, all requires considerable research.
The best research comes from a range of different sources and is examined alongside advice from parents, academics, friends, employers, former students, league tables, institutional and independent web sources, to build up a reliable foundation on which to base your decision.
There can be no doubt that the internet is the major source for this research. The websites of individual universities and grad schools often offer the most comprehensive sources of information - but are not necessarily the most unbiased. Information on program structure, subject choice, academic staff, applications methods and deadlines, and career opportunities are all offered through these sites, but objective, independent advice is often not present.
External organizations may offer a broader overview of the options, including information on a range of aspects of the graduate study experience such as working opportunities, financial aid and various scholarships, and visa procedures.
As well as the internet, it is also important to consult other sources to build up a complete picture of what and where you might study. If possible, speak to current students or alumni of the institutions you're interested in, to get a more personal perspective.
International rankings and league tables may also be helpful when compiling a shortlist, and information is also often provided by governmental agencies.
Time your grad school application correctly
Depending on the grad school you decide to apply to, understanding when to submit your material and when deadlines are can make the difference between being accepted or rejected. Knowing when academic cycles begin is the first step - European grad schools tend to commence in late September, while those in Canada, the US and throughout Asia begin slightly earlier in August.
Institutions in Australia and New Zealand tend to operate on a different cycle, with academic years beginning in March. Some individual grad schools may also offer the opportunity of two entry dates a year, depending on how their academic timetable is structured, thus allowing you more flexibility on when you can begin your master's or PhD program.
Grad schools tend to have different attitudes towards deadlines, some making them completely binding, others not specifying them at all. Universities in the US tend to operate a strict deadline system where all application material has to be submitted by one or two dates a year in order to be considered for financial aid and entry to a graduate program.
Many European grad schools, however, use deadlines only as a broad guideline and just generally encourage applicants to submit their material as early as possible.
Two things are clear, however, concerning deadlines. First, the responsibility of finding out if a deadline exists and if it is relevant to your application for admission or a scholarship is solely yours. Second, while many institutions do not operate with an application deadline, they do encourage early application.
What to include in your grad school application >
Focus your application on a specific grad school
You should always ensure that your application material is focused on a particular grad school or individual program. Admissions staff will want to read an application that makes it clear why you should be accepted at their institution and no other.
To this end, the investment you have to make is considerable - if you're applying to two or three grad schools then you need to prepare each of these applications individually. Tailor all of your material to the strengths and uniqueness of the program you are actually applying to, and show how this matches your own strengths, interests and ambitions.
Remember that graduate applications tend to be considered as a whole, with all of the different elements taken into account when making a final decision - making it occasionally possible for you to counter a potential weakness in your application with a strength.
For example, excellent references that explain a poor academic transcript can make a tremendous difference to an admissions officer, as can exemplary work experience if it is relevant to the program of study. A lower than anticipated standardised test score can be balanced by a clearly expressed statement of purpose.
Crucial in all of this is that you must make the admissions officer's job as easy as possible by providing sufficient information, with appropriate detail, as to why you are the perfect candidate for the program you are applying to.
Finally, establishing a contact with your chosen grad school before you apply can also make you stand out from the crowd. If you can meet someone in person, all the better, but well directed questions via email or over the telephone can make a tremendous impact on your application, establishing you as an applicant that is both keen and focused on achieving certain ambitions. Obviously, don't take this too far by becoming a nuisance!
