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Getting Accepted into Graduate School

Writer's picture: BiancaBianca

Updated: Aug 15, 2023

When it comes to applying for your master's, you have to follow every step precisely. Below, I tell you all about what I did to get accepted into both graduate programs I applied for.

If you told me five years ago I'd get accepted into graduate school, I probably wouldn't believe you. As a high school student and an undergraduate in college, my grades were just "pretty good". I didn't graduate with Magna Cum Laude or Summa Cum Laude. But, sure enough, I got accepted into the two graduate programs I applied for: Communication and Journalism & Strategic Media. Every application is different. I had to do two entirely different things for each application, but here are the steps I took and the resources that helped.


Start the Application Early

This is your application for graduate school. You can not put it off until the last minute. The graduate faculty will probably be able to tell. You will likely have a deadline to submit your application, but I gave myself deadlines within that deadline. I wanted to make sure I had everything done and done within plenty of time.


Ask Professors Who Know You to Write Your Letters of Recommendation

Let's keep it real. All professors won't remember you. I've been in classes with probably a hundred students in them. How do you expect a professor with that many students year after year to remember you (unless you build a relationship)? It's important to contact professors who know you by name, and it wouldn't hurt to give them a refresher if it's been a few years.


Ask Professors to Write Letters of Recommendation Months Ahead

Just like you have to start the application early, you have to give your previous professors plenty of time to write a letter of recommendation for you. They are busy people and can't drop everything for you. I told my professors three months before the application deadline. That way, in case they forget a month later, they still have plenty of time with a reminder.


Answer All Parts of the Statement of Purpose/Goal Statement

As I stated above, the two graduate programs I applied for involved different things. One required a Statement of Purpose, and the other required a Goal Statement. Each had its own guidelines, so I wrote two different papers. The graduate program describes all that needs to be said within your paper. Make sure you follow every single guideline to a tee!


Do Research on the Program, Faculty, and University

You want to prove to the program faculty that you would be a great fit. You can't do that if you don't know what you are getting yourself into. I had to describe why I wanted to join the program and who I wanted to work with within the department should I be accepted. This is an important step to really prove your desire to be a part, and it's okay to email the following if you have any questions or concerns.


Have Someone Else Read Over Your Essay

Having someone else read your Statement of Purpose or Goal Statement is essential! They can give you insight that you may not have thought about, and it's also possible you might have misspelled a word or not have the correct punctuation. I also had a premium Grammarly account to fix some of my written mistakes.


Quadruple Check Your Application

Before you submit, quadruple check, I repeat, quadruple check your application. Double-checking may not be enough. It's easy for us not to see a mistake because we know what we mean, but that mistake can become very apparent to others, especially graduate faculty. It's so important to look over your application more than once before you submit it.


In the paragraphs above, I basically just talked about the Letters of Recommendation and the Statement of Purpose. Still, my applications also required my resume, a research paper, a video example, and a transcript. So you also have to do your best as an undergrad. Your best does not have to be perfect, but it should at least be "pretty good". Just make sure you tell a story in your Statement of Purpose and prove you belong in the program. Before I end this blog post, I really recommend the following YouTube videos to watch, which I feel helped me drastically in the application process.


How to Write Your Graduate School Statement of Purpose

10 Tips for Writing an Effective Statement of Purpose

How to Study for GRE | Tips and Strategies

Letters of Recommendation | Timeline and Tips


Getting my masters was constantly on my mind, and I've learned if you can't stop thinking about something, go after it. Manifesting was a part of this process, but an even bigger part of the process was the work I put into the application. My offer letter stated I was among the strongest pool of applicants within several years!

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