APPLYING TO GRAD SCHOOL

Considering Graduate Studies?

1. Ask yourself: do I want to go to Grad School, and why?
2. Try to determine whether graduate studies are for you by talking to professors, advisors, and grad students.
3. Consider the length of time graduate programs take.

Starting Early

1. Researching the right grad school for you (resources: calendars, professors, students, book on graduate programs: Peterson's Guide to Graduate and Professional Programs; Manfred Szabo, Graduate Student Success: The Canadian Guide; a video in the library called Getting into Grad School.
2. Write for application and any other useful information (graduate calendar, financial aid, student housing).
3. Consider writing to a prospective supervisor, a professor who shares your academic interests (let them know what they are) or whose publications you admire. Tell them what it is about their work that interests you. Let them know what you have been doing and what interests you. Propose a study topic. Find out if they will be on campus or on sabbatical the year you wish to study with them. It will be advantageous to your application if the department knows that they have a member who is willing and able to supervise your work.
4. Apply widely.
5. Determine if you need to write some kind of pre-testing exam, e.g., G.R.E., LSAT, etc. Find out when and how, and seek advice on how to study for them. Take practice tests several times. Leave yourself time for studying.
6. Find out about funding sources you can apply to, e.g., SSHRC, graduate or departmental fellowships, teaching assistantships, etc.
7. Beware of deadlines: there are lots of them. There may be deadlines for applications, fee waivers, funding, pre-tests, etc. And departmental deadlines may differ from university deadlines.
8. Build a timeline of obligations; move obligations four weeks early. Apply as early as possible.
9. Keep in mind that the process may be difficult and expensive.
10. Study the admission requirements of the universities.

How to Complete an Application

1. The covering letter:
• write a strong opening line
• substantiate your interests; show why you are prepared
• state when you will complete your undergraduate degree
• state why you are interested in the department and the school
• Show that you are thoughtful, mature, well prepared, distinctive or unusual
• show you have a vision of your future contributions or career
• don't be too brief, show that you are serious
• try to show that your choice of grad program is the natural result of all you have been doing
• in discussing your research interests (there may be a place for this on the application form), demonstrate that you can problematize, that you can construct a question/problem to which your dissertation/extended essay will be a solution; this means the question must be focused enough to be answerable in the time allowed (once in the program, you may-and likely will-redefine or even completely change your topic)
• emphasize the positive: re-analyze your G.P.A. (for example: "during my last two-and-a-half years, my G.P.A. was..." or "in my major,..." or "my G.P.A. has increased every year")
• report if you worked while studying
• report relevant work experience or personal events (deaths); indicate if you have overcome adversity
  
2. The application form:
• leave yourself enough time to fill out the application properly
• leave nothing blank
• mention extracurricular work, e.g.: editing/writing for student newspaper, UCFV committees, student union work, student association work, research job
• send something extra: term paper, lab report, job resume

Choosing Referees

1. Make sure the referee is right for both you and the place you are applying to.
2. Level with your prospective referee: ask if they can make a strong recommendation for you.
3. If the Dean knows you, ask her/him.
4. Give your referees plenty of advance notification and information; prepare things for them (transcripts, a copy of a paper you wrote for them or another instructor, a job resume, possibly a stamped, addressed envelope).
5. A diplomatic follow-up is wise. Make sure your referee is aware of the deadline.
6. Thank them; you may need them again.

Choosing a Sample of Written Work to Send Along

1. Think about this well in advance.
2. Pay your library fines; some institutions won't release transcripts unless you do.

Application Follow-up

1. Make sure all of your application materials have arrived.
2. Ask if you are on a waitlist.
3. Send more evidence of your superiority.
4. Visit the school, if possible.
5. Be polite, but persistent.

Funding for Grad School

1. Check guides to Student Awards and Financial Aid Agencies.

If You Don't Get In

1. Apply to more schools.
2. Take additional courses.
3. Gain experience.
4. Ask why you weren't admitted.
5. Work on the weaknesses you've identified and try again the following year.