Apply to Graduate or Professional School

Ideal reasons to attend graduate or professional school include:

• You have a clear sense of your desired career, with an advanced degree necessary for entry or advancement.
• You have a love for scholarly pursuit, especially when the goal is a research-based post-graduate degree. Expect to have several years of studying and doing research in your given area.
• You have a passion for your particular field of study.
• You are making a career change that has little or no connection to your undergraduate major.
• You are working towards an advanced degree goal instead of postponing career decisions and avoiding going into your career.

If you’re unsure, answering questions like these can help you determine if you should get an advanced degree:

• What are my short-term and long-term professional goals?
• Is graduate school necessary for me to achieve my career goals?
• Do you have a strong sense of responsibililty, take initiative, are motivated, have a strong awareness fo yourself, and have a desire to learn and grow?
• Am I simply postponing my career planning and getting an unnecessary degree?
• Will the amount of time and money spent on an advanced degree translate into career advancement and financial possibilities?
• Am I willing to meet the extensive research, course work and major paper demands of another academic program?
• Would other options be better to help me achieving my goals (professional workshops or seminars)?

Below is a list of general activities to engage in during your time at Southwestern in order to gain valuable experience in order to help you be competitive for admission to graduate or professional school...

• Attend relevant Center for Career and Vocation events including: Workshops on topics including Resume and Cover Letters, Interview Essentials, Graduate and Professional School Fair, and more.
• Maintain a strong GPA - GPA typically plays a bigger part then your major in getting accepted. Pick a major that you can succeed in and keep your GPA high. Most GPSs requirements are around 3.0; however, competitive GPAs are 3.25 to 3.5 range.
• You will need two to three letters of recommendations. Develop meaningful relationships with faculty, supervisors, and coaches whom you might ask for these letters of recommendations from.
• Make an appointment with the Career Center to discuss aspects of preparing for graduate or professional school including: application process and timelines, personal statement requirements, guidance on how to ask for recommendation letters, preparing for the interview, and more.
• Get involved with student organizations or service projects. Join groups that are relevant to your interests and offer opportunities to serve the community and develop leadership skills.
• Apply for summer internships or work experiences in your career fields.
• Gain internship, work, or volunteer experience relevant to you career goals.
• Update your resume every time you have a learning opportunity: internship, community service project, hold a new leadership position, and more.

Most deadlines are for Fall admissions are between December and March of your senior year. Some schools follow a different schedule, check with each program you are wanting to apply to and stick to that schedule.

• Study for your entrance exam with practice tests (MCAT, LSAT, GMAT, GRE, etc.). Give yourself 3-4 months to study and use the free practice exams to understand where you need to study.
• Once you have confidence on the exam, register and take your specific entrance test. Give yourself plenty of time to re-take the test if needed.
• Start researching your programs of choice. Keep track of specific deadlines and requirements, create a list to help with this process.
• Request 5-6 letters of recommendations. Each application will need 2-3 letters and this will allow you to have multiple recommendation letters to use.
• Provide each recommendation writer with your resume and a summary of accomplishments to consider.
• Begin writing your personal statement three months before applying for any program. Give yourself plenty of time for multiple revisions and corrections.
• Before applying, obtain official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions you attended. Information about ordering transcripts HERE.
• Practice your interview skills by setting up an appointment with the Center for Career and Vocation.
• Complete the FASFA. FASFA website.

• Continue to maintain a strong GPA.
• Continue your involvement in your sports, community outreach, and leadership positions.
• Continue to prepare for your interviews.
• Meet with your advisor to make sure you are on track for graduation.
• Accept your offer of choice and submit your deposit. Let the other schools know of your decision to attend another program.
• Send thank you .
• Gain internship, work, or volunteer experience relevant to you career goals.
• Update your resume every time you have a learning opportunity: internship, community service project, hold a new leadership position, and more.

Personal Statement:

• Story of your experiences related to who you are and how they shaped your decision to go into your field of study.
• Tell a Story: engage the reader, use examples, details, and descriptive language.
• Your first paragraph is where you need to grab attention. Use it to set the tone for your statement. They need to know who you are and your goal by the end of the paragraph.
• Find a THEME that can unify your paper. One that you can carry throughout.
• This should be personal. Who are you? How is your story different from others?
• Don't repeat information that is on your application or resume.
• Have multiple people read it and give feedback.

Statement of Purpose:

• Focus on the reason you are applying.
• Show that you know something in your field of study or profession. Show how you impact the field or how it has impacted you already.
• The main section explains what you know and who you are.
• Tell about how your academic or professional experiences have advanced through research, internships, or other opportunities.
• Tell about your research interests and how they can be expanded through this particular program.