If you’ve ever considered attending graduate school, it’s likely you’ve had a question or two about the application process—we receive questions about completing the application all the time!
Because of that, we decided to outline the five major portions of the graduate school application and describe the requirements for each. That way, you’ll have a better idea of what to expect if you decide to apply. Check them out below!
5 Components of the Grad School Application
1. Essays
Essays are a major part of the graduate school application—each applicant is required to write at least one (and sometimes two). Here’s an example of a possible essay topic:
Describe the career that you would like to pursue after earning a graduate degree. Address issues such as whether you are entering the business world for the first time, changing fields, or advancing in a field or organization where you expect to remain. Why have you chosen this particular career?
Make sure you follow any format or length requirements for these essays, and check your spelling, grammar and tone.
Tip: Your essay(s) should be a reflection of who you are. They’re the school’s first chance to get to know you on an individual level, so with that in mind, make them personal.
2. Entrance Exams
There are two entrance exams you can choose from when applying to graduate school: the GMAT and GRE. Because everyone takes them, these exams act as an equalizer, giving schools an impartial way to compare applicants and determine their eligibility. This is especially helpful in programs that are very competitive with limited seating.
Whether you take the GMAT or GRE is entirely up to you (assuming the school of your choice accepts both), so take whichever test you feel most comfortable with. To learn about the difference between these tests, check out our thoughts about the GMAT vs. the GRE.
Tip: To help determine which test is right for you, take practice tests to become familiar with the subject matter and format of each.
3. Recommendations
Two recommendations are usually required to evaluate your professional and academic abilities and potential. The recommendation form (found in the application) includes a rating system that your recommenders will use to assess your abilities and personal traits, as well as an open-ended section so they can speak freely about you.
Tip: Consider your recommenders very carefully, just like you would a reference for a job—you want to choose the two people who will be your best advocates.
4. Work Experience and Resume
Along with completing the appropriate amount of post-graduate, full-time work required for your specific graduate program, you’ll need to include an up-to-date resume with your application. Whether you have one year of experience in 10 jobs, or 10 years of experience in one job, your story will give the information needed to make a decision.
Your resume should include a description of what you’ve done in the past, as well as how you’ve done it and why. It’s important that your resume be results-oriented, meaning you should focus on the things you’ve taken away from your experiences.
Tip: The way you set up your resume can be adjusted to fit your needs. If you know that you’re lacking in a certain area, use other relevant information to fill in the gaps.
5. Interview
After the school’s admissions office has read your resume, you may be asked to complete an interview. This can be done in person for those in the school’s area or via online video conference for out-of-state or international applicants.
During the interview, you’re asked randomly selected questions by the admissions officer and your answers are usually recorded. The admissions office will review your answers along with your application.
Tip: Do research and prepare for the interview in advance.
To learn some commonly asked MBA interview questions, check out 12 MBA Interview Questions You’ll Likely Be Asked.
Do Your Best
As you consider the idea of graduate school, it’s important to understand the application process so you can allow yourself enough time to complete it to the best of your abilities.
If you want a more in-depth look at the graduate school application, along with more tips and free tools to help you complete your app, download our all-inclusive white paper: An Instruction Manual For The Grad School Application.