E-CHAPTER 6

E-Chapter 6 : Enhancing The Objective Components Of Your Application

Includes Information On:

Undergraduate grades and coursework

Not all grades are created equal

Other options for bolstering your grades and coursework

Standardized tests : the nature and purpose of standardized tests, when to take the tests, how to get the information you need, how to prepare for the tests

Application forms : organization is the key, time needed for filling out the forms, providing complete and accurate information, neatness matters, double-checking before you mail anything,

Excerpt from E-Chapter 6

How do graduate admissions committees decide who is acceptable for their programs? One common misconception is that the only important components of a graduate school application are the quality of the students grades and standardized test scores. This is not true at all! The letters of recommendation and the applicant’s personal statement or essays are also very important. They are often the difference between a successful application and an unsuccessful one. Even the way an application form is filled out can make a difference. The various people looking at your application may differ in how they weigh its assorted components. Therefore, you should pay close attention to each one of them. At the same time, keep in mind that few applicants achieve excellence on all of the important dimensions, so you should not be discouraged if you think you come up a bit short on one or two of them. If you make selective and appropriate use of the information and advice in this book, you should do fine.

Some shortcomings are easier to overcome than others. For example, if you lack work or research experience in your area, or other relevant background, you can probably correct that. On the other
hand, if you have already written your standardized tests and obtained poor scores, there is nothing you can do to erase them completely from your record. Likewise, there is little you can do to hide poor grades that appear on your transcripts. By contrast, you still have plenty of time to arrange for good letters of recommendation and to prepare an effective personal statement. And as you will see, there is a multitude of other things that you can do to make yourself an attractive candidate. Do not worry about things you can do nothing about. Optimize what you can — it might make up for any irreversible weaknesses.

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