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Center forCareer and Professional Advising

Graduate and Professional School

When thinking about graduate and professional school, it is important to consider how an advanced degree will help you attain your short- and long-term career objectives.

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Applying

Check admission and application requirements carefully. Some programs may require work experience, specific research experience, specific courses, or a portfolio. Make sure you've taken the necessary standardized test before beginning the application process.

  • Standardized Tests

    The most common tests students take when applying for grad school are the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT - for business school), Law School Admission Test (LSAT), Graduate Record Examination (GRE), and Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Scores are generally valid for five years. If you are considering applying for a graduate degree in the near future, you may want to consider taking the standardized test in your senior year. You should take summer or early fall tests if you plan to apply to graduate school in the upcoming year.

    The following websites will provide you with specific information on test dates and content of testing materials.

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  • Application Cycle

    There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to application deadlines: many programs have fall deadlines, some occur between January and March, and other programs have rolling admission. Read each school's information and plan accordingly! Know the requirements well ahead of time so you can prepare in advance. In general, students should start researching programs, talking to potential faculty advisors, and brainstorming personal statement ideas about 4-6 months in advance.

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  • Letters of Recommendation

    Most graduate programs require three letters of recommendation, but you should always check each school's individual requirements. When asking a professor or employer to write a letter of recommendation, do so in person (if possible) or via email. If they agree, make sure to follow up  with the details about each school you’re applying to. You should also send them your transcript, a resume/CV, an example of your class work, and any accomplishments, special projects or promotions that they can refer to when writing the recommendation letter.

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  • Transcripts

    You can arrange to have your transcript sent to graduate schools through the Office of the Registrar’s web page. If you took classes at other institutions or studied abroad, you will need to contact these programs to request an official transcript be sent to your graduate schools.

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  • Essays

    Graduate school essays are an important part of the application. The manner in which you express your experience and portray your motivations in an essay can make or break an application. Budget a substantial amount of time to write your essays. We recommend that you ask your faculty advisors to review your research proposals and/or statements well in advance. Additionally, the CCPA does essay reviews for this exact purpose.

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  • Resume/Curriculum Vitae

    Be sure to include a current and well organized resume or CV in your application. While you have an opportunity to discuss your experience, academic background and career goals in your essays, the resume or CV helps the admissions committee to easily review and summarize your experience. You can submit your resume/CV for review through the CCPA or the Writing Center.

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  • Interviews

    Interviews are a perfect time to expand upon your work experience, research, academic interests, and future goals featured in your written materials. The most important question that you should be prepared to answer is why you want to pursue a graduate or professional degree at that particular program and school. To help answer this question, talk to people who graduated from the program or went to a similar program to see what they liked about their graduate school experience. We recommend using Haverford Connect because the alumni there have volunteered ahead of time to give out career advice to students.

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Resources

These resources represent some of the most frequently utilized websites. CCPA recommends each applicant do extensive research beyond the links presented here.