CHECKLIST FOR A SUCCESSFUL GRADUATE SCHOOL APPLICATION

Embarking on a journey towards higher education can be both exciting and daunting. Applying for graduate school requires careful planning and thorough preparation. In this edition, we provide a comprehensive checklist to guide you through the application process

Good relationship with referees

• You should have a pool of 3 – 6 persons of higher ranks such as your current and/or former supervisors in school or boss in work places, who are ready and willing to enthusiastically vouch for you.
• Some of the accomplishments and attributes you mentioned in your application essays and resume should be reiterated by your referees or will be more convincing if mentioned in their letter.
• If you have lost touch with this category of persons, it is time to rebuild the relationship, call to check up on them, send them a goodwill text and thank them for their roles in your career so far. Let them know you are interested in advancing your career, and that you will refer back for advice when necessary.
• When it is the time for them to write you a reference letter, make sure they are aware of your recent accomplishments. You can send them your most updated CV to familiarize them with your progress. 

If possible, try to connect with someone already in the program

• Be it admissions or scholarships that you want to apply for, strive to link up with at least 2 persons who have applied for that same thing in the past and gotten them.
• Their stories, mistakes, lessons and guidance, will make your journey easier for you, and increase your chances of success.
• To make this connection, leverage academic and professional forums, and platforms, including Telegram groups, WhatsApp groups, LinkedIn, etc.
• Also look up specific videos on YouTube regarding the particular type of applications you are about to make, and learn from other people’s experience.

Explore your options and narrow them down

• Look into several graduate schools in your desired field.
• Think about how reputable the program is, the credentials of the teachers, the convenience of the location, and the availability of scholarships and grants.
• For PhD applications, be sure at least 3 faculties in each of your school/program of interest, are conducting the type of research that broadly overlaps with your own interests.
• Reduce the large number of options to a more reasonable set.

Check application requirements

• Review the individual application criteria for each program.
• Look for requirements, needed documentation (transcripts, letters of reference, etc.), and standardized examinations (GRE, GMAT, etc.).
• Also take note of application fees, if applicable and WES evaluation, if required.
•   Make a note of deadlines and any extra documents or essays requested. 

Assemble your application materials

• Get Official Transcripts from All Undergraduate Schools Attended.
• Make sure you ask professors and other experts for reference letters in plenty of time.
• Create an up-to-date resume/CV that highlights your qualifications and expertise.
• Create a powerful statement of purpose that highlights your objectives, areas of research interest, and program suitability.
• Have trusted and more advanced persons review your essays (such as Personal Statements, and Resume) before submission.

You may have to take standardized tests (find out from the school)

• Find out whether the programs you’re considering need standardized test scores (such the GRE or GMAT) from applicants.
• Also, find out if the school requires you to write English Language Proficiency Test (such as IELTs or TOEFL), and their required cut off mark. 
• If yes, design a study plan for all the required tests, and make sure you’re registered for all the exams you need to take.
• Get comfortable with the exam environment by working through practice tests and considering test-prep courses if necessary.

Plan the finance

• Budgeting suggests looking into all possible avenues of financial support, such as grants, scholarships, fellowships, and work-study jobs.
• Find out whether there are financial options inside the programs, or if you need to go elsewhere for support.
• Make a plan for how much money you’ll need for school and how much you’ll spend on food and housing. 

Submit applications

• Start early and provide adequate time to acquire all the relevant documentation.
• Follow up with your referees to ensure they turn in their reference letters to the schools within the designated period.
• Submit your applications before the deadline, ensuring you have included all essential documents.
• Keep track of submission confirmation emails or any needed follow-up activities.

Follow-up

• You may check the application websites or get in touch with the admissions office to find out where your application stands.
• Send letters of appreciation to those who provided recommendations for you if you were accepted.
• Be quick to get back to anyone that may have contacted you for clarification or interview scheduling.

Be outstanding at the Interviews

• If you are invited for interview, be conversant with everything you said about yourself in your essays, and documents, and be ready to talk satisfactorily on them.
• If you are interviewing for a PhD, be ready to discuss your past research experience impressively, and highlight how the skills and experience you have gained have positioned you to succeed in their program.
• Beyond answering questions during the interview, make sure you ask interesting and intelligent questions about the their program, or school to your interviewers as well.
• After the interview, drop a “thank you” email to the interviewers, for the interview opportunity, and restate your strong interest in the program.

Consider visiting the program

• If at all feasible, go to see the campuses of the schools offering degrees of interest.
• Get a sense for the campus by attending information sessions and chatting with professors and existing students.

Make an informed decision

• When you finally hear back from schools, it’s time to evaluate your options.
• Think on the school’s staff, available research opportunities, financing, location, and how well they align with your professional objectives.
• Determine which program’s offer best fits your requirements and goals, then take advantage of it.

Prepare for graduate school

• Accepted offers should be followed up with any further documentation or stipulations.
• Research housing, review course material, and reach out to potential new classmates to get a jump on the move.
• If you are going to study in a foreign country, start early to apply and secure your study visa.
• Take advantage of your next degree and build more capacity to help make life better for all, and to help make the world a better place.