You may have thought that the decision to go to grad school was a tough one, but that was actually the easy part. The application process can be lengthy, time consuming and expensive. To avoid making it even more difficult, refrain from these 10 common mistakes that could decrease your chances of getting accepted.
- Choosing the wrong program. This happens more than you think. Don’t be seduced by shiny marketing campaigns or prestigious reputations. There is more to consider when choosing the right program for you than just the major itself. You want to look at factors like:
- Geographic location – if you hate cold weather, then schools in Minnesota or Wisconsin may not be for you even if they have a program you like.
- Cost – if you are pursuing an MSW, which has a lower starting salary, then a program that carries a six-figure price tag may not be the wisest choice.
- Learning environment – if you plan to work full-time while obtaining your degree, then an on-campus option may be less realistic than an online one.
- Potential job prospects – research the rate of employment among graduates from a program you are interested in. If 50% of the graduates are still looking for jobs 6 months after postgraduation, that is a red flag.
- Relying solely on rankings. Just because a program you are interested in isn’t ranked in the top 10, it doesn’t mean it’s not a good program, or that it’s not the right program for you. There are many other consideration factors than just rankings.
- Waiting until the last minute. Know your deadlines, start early and thoroughly research your programs of interest. Create a timeline to keep yourself organized and on track with each program you are applying to.
- Avoiding entrance exams even if the program says they’re optional. Taking an entrance exam like the GRE® General Test may not be at the top of your bucket list, but it’s wise to take one even if you don’t have to. As more schools are becoming test optional, especially in light of the pandemic, submitting a GRE score (or whichever test is appropriate for your intended degree) will show admissions committees that you are willing to do more than expected, have the discipline to prepare for and take the test, and have the academic skills to score well. It will also help create a fuller picture of who you are as a student.
- Downplaying the importance of all the required application elements. In other words, take your personal statement, statement of purpose and letters of recommendation seriously. They will carry a lot of weight as you are considered as a potential candidate. Your transcripts and test scores will illustrate your academic skills, but the more personal elements will help paint a picture of what kind of values, work ethic and personality you possess.
- Picking the wrong recommenders. Your letters of recommendation are a critical element in the application process because this isn’t just about you hyping yourself up; you need someone else to validate your hype. The people you choose for this honor must be politely asked and have their time respected — and they can’t be your neighbor, dog walker or mail person. Carefully select people who have seen how well you work, study, succeed and react in challenging situations. Bosses, mentors, professors, clients and deans are all good candidates to solicit a letter of recommendation from.
- Relying on just your application. It’s often a good idea to reach out to someone within the program to which you are applying to gauge what they’re looking for in a candidate or ask any questions you may have regarding your application. This also allows people within the program to have a personal connection with you when reviewing applications.
- Ignoring directions. This seems obvious and, if you’re at the point where you’re applying to grad school, one would hope that following directions is among one of your stronger qualities. But you’d be surprised by how many people don’t follow simple directions on the application. The key here is to remember that no two applications are alike. Each program at each school has its own requirements and rules. Not submitting something that they ask for, or submitting too much, is a surefire way to get a rejection letter.
- Skipping proofreading. Not only should you be proofreading every single word going into your application, but you should have someone else do it as well. Don’t just rely on spell check. Form and from are both words but using the wrong one could ruin your chances of acceptance at a program you want.
- Being grandiloquent in your writing. You are not applying for the Pulitzer Prize in fiction or prose when applying to grad school. In fact, the type of writing you will most likely be doing will be straightforward and research-based, not prosy. You want your subject matter to be relevant and personal but with a simple writing style.
Avoiding these simple but common pitfalls will help lead to a successful grad school application and hopefully a few letters of acceptance.