APPLYING TO GRAD SCHOOL
Application Components
The Matthews Center for Career Development can assist you with all of these components. Schedule an appointment with an advisor in Handshake.
Standardized Tests
Many graduate and professional programs require specific standardized tests as part of the application process. Log in to Learning Express through the Davidson College Library and review the Grad Schools Admission Preparation module for test prep resources.
Test examples and their specific components include:
MCAT (Medical College Admission Test): Medical School
Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills
Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Skills
Psychological, Social and Biological Functions of Behavior
LSAT (Law School Admission Test): Law School
Reading Comprehension
Logical Reasoning
Analytical Reasoning
GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test): MBA School
Analytical Writing
Integrated Reasoning
Quantitative Section
Verbal Reasoning
GRE (Graduate Record Examination): Variety of graduate disciplines
Analytical Writing
Verbal Reasoning
Quantitative Reasoning
Items to keep in mind regarding standardized tests:
Allow time to prepare! Adequate preparation involves months of studying.
Practice, practice, practice. The more times you practice the more you become familiar with the format and allow yourself time to overcome careless errors. Practice the exam under realistic test conditions (timed, in a quiet room, no distractions).
Use the best prep strategy that works for you. Studying individually, with another person or a prep class format are all options, but only you know your preferred studying style.
Register early. Testing centers fill up quickly.
Know your particular discipline’s and/or school’s view on multiple test attempts. Is it encouraged or frowned upon? Are scores averaged or do they schools see all scores?
References & Letters of Recommendation
View our complete References & Letter of Recommendation Guide
Academic Transcripts
A transcript is a detailed record of the courses you have taken at a college or university (or, in some cases, at a high school), including the corresponding grades you were assigned and any credits you earned. You will have a separate transcript from each college or university where you have earned academic credit. Transcripts also often list any transfer credits a school has accepted from other institutions, AP tests, and other credit-earning opportunities.
View our All About Transcripts resource.
Essays
Personal statements, essays, statements of purpose. They all have different titles and different guidelines. Some applications ask you to address specific topics. Others ask open-ended questions that allow the applicant flexibility in the topic. Regardless, take this section of the application very seriously. It is often the most personable, “non-numbers’ portion that gives admissions committees the most insight into who you are. You will write many versions of your essay. Seek feedback from advisors and faculty.
Resume/CV
Your resume provides a clear, concise snapshot of your academic, professional and leadership achievements. If you’re applying to graduate programs geared toward academic or research positions it is more appropriate to provide a CV (curriculum vitae), which focuses on research, presentations and publications.
Utilize our Resume/CV Guides for best practices.
Interview
Not all graduate programs offer interviews. If you do have the opportunity or if it is required, be prepared. Practice ahead of time. Review commonly asked questions for your focus (medical, business, etc.) to know which questions to anticipate. Formats can vary, from one-to-one meetings or committee interviews. Remember your goal is to convey you are an interested, motivated person whose professional goals suit the program for which you are interviewing.
Utilize our Interviewing Guide for best practices and schedule mock interviews with Matthews Center advisors in Handshake.
Application Timeline
Follow this general timeline to keep yourself on track. Time frames are approximate: Check the deadlines for your schools of interest and adjust accordingly.
JUNIOR YEAR (FALL)
Many graduate schools look at applicants’ grades from the last two years of undergraduate courses. If your GPA is an issue, it’s time to pull your grades up.
JUNIOR YEAR (SPRING)
Decide which fields interest you, then start looking for programs and schools that match your interests. As part of your research, investigate what kind of financial aid options will be available to you at the various institutions, including grants, loans, fellowships, and assistantships. This will help you weed out programs that you can’t pursue because they don’t offer the level of support you need.
Schedule your entrance exams. You may want to take these exams in the spring of your junior year so you get them out of the way (and have time to retake them if necessary) and can spend the fall filling out your applications and working on your writing samples.
SUMMER BEFORE SENIOR YEAR
Most graduate schools look for well-rounded individuals with good grades and some relevant work experience on their resumes. An internship can be an excellent way to gain some professional experience in your chosen field. In some fields, volunteer experiences are also helpful—provided they give you relevant experience and are not simply “envelope stuffing” exercises. Stop by the Matthews Center for Career Development for help in identifying internship and volunteer opportunities.
SENIOR YEAR (FALL)
Get your transcripts from all your post-secondary education, including an up-to-date transcript for your current institution. Be prepared to have transcripts from study-abroad and other institutions that transferred credits.
Line up references and provide them with the information they need to write a complete reference.
Schedule your entrance exams. If you weren’t happy with your scores or decided to give yourself more time to prepare, you can take your entrance exams in the fall. (Some exams offer multiple test dates in the fall, enabling you to retake your exams again if necessary.)
Fill out your applications. Take your time, read directions carefully, and check and re-check your applications to ensure they are complete and error-free. Have someone proofread your applications.
SENIOR YEAR (MID-TERM BREAK/JANUARY)
Submit your applications.
SENIOR YEAR (SPRING)
This is when acceptance letters begin to arrive. If you have applied to and been accepted at multiple schools, you may want to pay another visit to your top choices. Talk about your plans with a trusted faculty member or a career counselor at your undergraduate institution.
Fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) if you plan to apply for financial aid. (You’ll need your prior year’s income tax return to complete this form.)
Once you make your decision, notify the school of your acceptance. As a courtesy, tell the other schools that you are declining their offers.
If you’ll be relocating for graduate school, start researching housing options in your new location. Can you afford to live alone, or will you need to find a roommate? Does the school offer assistance with housing or pairing graduate students as roommates? If so, call on those resources.