Graduate School Admissions What They Look For

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Graduate School Admissions What They Look For
Ann Marie Daniel, Ph.D. Associate Director,
Graduate Education The Huck Institutes of the
Life Sciences The Pennsylvania State University
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Common Credentials

• GRE
• TOEFL (international students)
• GPA
• Transcript
• Goals Statement
• Recommendation Letters
• Resume

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Goals Statement

• Organization
• Why science
• Evidence
• Future goals and how specific grad school can
  help you achieve goals (customize)
• Talents you can offer

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Goals Statement

• Format
• Professional font style
• 1.5 2 pages, single space
• 12 point
• Appropriate grammar
• Correct spellings

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Recommendation Letters

• Approach individuals before listing
• Query Write a good letter?
• Provide copies of credentials and pre-addressed
  stamped envelope
• Ask one month in advance, follow-up

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Under Consideration

• GPA 3.0 min
• Portray junior/senior compilation
• Courses Taken
• Major
• Baccalaureate Institution
• GRE
• TOEFL 550 / 600 min
• Resume (often optional)

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On-Campus Interviews

• Comfortable Professional Attire
• Be Punctual
• Be Prepared
• Show Interest
• Ask Questions
• Indicate Faculty You Wish to Meet
• Smile

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Good Resources

• Faculty Advisor
• Graduate Students
• Graduate School and You
• by Clara Sue Kidwell, www.cgsnet.org
• Getting What You Came For
• by Robert L. Peters, www.fsgbooks.com

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In the fields of observation, chance favors the
prepared mind. - Louis Pasteur