So you want to go to grad school. Maybe you know exactly where and when you want to...or maybe you don't. Perhaps you're not even sure yet that you want to go at all. According to Dr. Don Martin, former dean of admissions for graduate schools including Northwestern University and the University of Chicago, taking some time off before going to graduate school is perfectly fine. Regardless of whether you choose to wait or go straight out of your bachelor's degree, you should know how to make yourself stand out from the other applicants.
Dr. Martin is a fountain of information and tips for students seeking to go to grad school (read his various articles here: http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/graduate-school-road-map). In one of his most recent articles, he gives advice on how to "Succeed as a Nontraditional Grad School Applicant." He reassures applicants that even if they've been out of the game for a few years, anyone can offset this fact, as well as a lower GPA or poor test scores, by being successful since graduating.
Dr. Martin advises applicants to "highlight all of the experience you have garnered since college" since it can do almost nothing but bring a positive effect. Here are his examples of things to highlight:
1. Discuss
travel experiences. Many students
decide to take time off after graduation to do some traveling. Since this provides
an opportunity to expand your horizons, admissions committees view the
experiences highly.
2. Emphasize
participation in community service. Other
college grads may decide to spend time serving their community rather than
traveling. These experiences still hold the same value as traveling to
admissions committees.
3. List all
successful employment experience. Another
valuable asset for anyone to have is work experience. Performing well and getting
recommendations is always a plus.
4. Include solid
research and writing. If you spent
time doing independent research or writing a book, for example, include this in
your application. It’s unique and the committees will appreciate that.
5. Highlight
entrepreneurial achievements. Even if
you feel you failed at your entrepreneurial attempts, the fact that you tried
in the first place shows discipline and “willingness to take a chance,” which
committees like to see.
If you’re not sure whether
you want to go to grad school right after graduation or not, rest assured
knowing you still have high hopes of being accepted after taking some time off.
If you do decide to give grad school a try right after college but don’t have
the highest GPA, make sure to take full advantage of these tips. Even if you’re
an excellent student who also chooses to continue your education right after college,
these tips will help you stand out from the crowd.
If you’re even the slightest
bit interested in attending grad school, be sure to check out the Advance
Yourself grad school fair on October 3rd from 11am-3pm in the PMU
West Main Lobby. You'll also have a chance to ask representatives from various
schools questions at the panel discussion at 9:30am in the Union, room 230.
To read Dr. Don Martin’s
complete article, click here: http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/graduate-school-road-map/2013/08/16/succeed-as-a-nontraditional-grad-school-applicant
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