Getting Started
- Review all the admission requirements for your chosen program and required supporting documentation.
- Plan enough time to submit your application and all supporting documents before the deadline.
Admissions Tests
Many graduate or professional programs require you to submit scores from one or more standardized graduate admissions tests. Learn more about the most common Admissions Tests.
Personal Statements
The majority of graduate programs require a Personal Statement/Letter of Intent outlining the reasons why you wish to attend and study at your chosen program. This is an important component of your application and gives you the opportunity to reflect on your personal, professional, and educational experience and how it relates to the program area you are applying to and how you hope to benefit from the program of study in the future. In some cases, you are given questions or a statement to guide your writing as well as a maximum word count which you must adhere to.
Academic References
All grad school applications require at least two or three letters of support from referees. The majority of required references are academic, but you may also be required to provide a professional reference as well or a mix of both, depending on the type of program you are applying to. These references are best to come from a professor who you know (have taken a class from or been involved with them on research project) who is familiar with your work and can comment on your strengths and potential to be successful in your chosen program.
It is always a good idea to request a referee’s support well in advance of the application deadline as they may not be available to craft a letter of support at a moments notice.
Interview
Some professional and graduate programs require an interview as part of your admissions requirements. This could take the form of a one-on-one or group interview, or an online format such as PIQS (Pre-Recorded Interview Questions and Scenarios).
To prepare yourself, it’s a good idea to consider the types of questions you will be asked which will likely fall into three categories: General, Academic, and Personal. General questions are about you, your interest in the field, why you have chosen to apply to the program, what you feel you will bring to the program and why you are a good candidate for acceptance. Academic questions are about your previous education and research, what you hope to study/research in the program, and what you already know about the discipline you wish to pursue. Personal questions will give you the opportunity to reflect and share about your previous experiences and accomplishments and may also involve some responses to scenarios or how you plan to handle the rigour of graduate school. Looking online for common interview questions is also a great way to prepare and be ready for the variety of questions you may be asked.