Graduate and Professional School Information

The Career Resource Center houses the resources utilized by students to investigate opportunities for continuing their education. The "Peterson's Guide to Graduate and Professional Schools" is available as well as an extensive selection of graduate school catalogs. Registration materials for the Graduate Record Exam (GRE), Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), Law School Admission Test (LSAT), Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), and Dental Admission Testing Program are also available from Career Services. Assistance with the application process and personal statements is available by appointment.

Career Information: Graduate & Professional School Guidelines

Choosing a Specialization and Researching Programs Sources of Information:

1. Graduate School Directories (such as Peterson's)
2. Saint Leo University Faculty
3. Faculty at other institutions
4. Professional journals
5. Libraries
6. Internet sources:
• http://www.jobtrak.com;
• http://www.petersons.com
7. Saint Leo University Career Services Department

Factors to Consider:

1. What are the profiles of the students who enroll in the program (academic abilities, achievements, skills, geographic representation, level of professional success upon completion of the program, part-time vs. full-time enrollment)
2. What are the program's resources (what kind of financial support does it have, how complete is the library, what laboratory and computer facilities are available)
3. What does the program have to offer in terms of academic curriculum and Student Affairs (what are the course offerings, job placement and student advisement services, what is the student:faculty ratio, what is the quality of interaction between students and faculty, what internships, assistantships, and other experiential education opportunities are available)
4. What are the program's published ratings?

The Application Process

Application deadlines: the majority of fall semester deadlines are between January and March. Some professional schools such as medical school or law school may have deadlines as early as a year prior to matriculation.

Six months prior to applying (Spring semester, Junior year)

• Research areas of interest, institutions and programs
• Talk to advisors about application requirements
• Register and prepare for appropriate graduate admissions tests
• Investigate national scholarships

Summer between Junior and Senior year

• study and register for the November administration of the GREs

Three months prior to applying (Early Fall semester, Senior Year)

• Take required graduate admissions tests
• Write or call for application materials
• Visit institutions of interest
• Write application essays
• Check on application deadlines and rolling admissions policies
• For medical, dental, osteopathy, podiatry or law school, you may need to register for the national application or data assembly service most programs use

Fall / One year prior to matriculating

• Obtain letters of recommendation
• Take graduate admissions tests, if not already done
• Send in completed application

Spring/ Before Fall matriculation

• Register for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the Graduate and Professional School Financial Aid Service (GAPSFAS) or the Financial Aid Form (FAF) if required.
• Check with all institutions before their deadlines to be sure your file is complete
• Visit institutions that accept you
• Send a deposit to the institution you choose
• Notify other colleges that accepted you of your decision so they can admit students on their waiting lists
• Send thank you notes to people who wrote recommendation letters or assisted you in other ways, informing them of your success

Possible Components of the Application

Letters of Recommendation:

Most graduate schools require 2-3 letters of recommendation. Letters from your current faculty will carry the most weight with graduate admissions committees. A good reference from a professor will meet several of the following criteria. He or she:

• has a high opinion of you
• knows you in more than one area of your life
• is familiar with the institutions to which you are applying, as well as the kind of study you are pursuing
• has taught or worked with a large number of students and can make a favorable comparison of you with your peers
• is known by the admissions committee and is regarded as someone whose judgment should be given weight
• has good written communication skills
  

Be sure to ask your references if they think they know you well enough to write a meaningful letter. Be aware that the earlier in the semester that you ask, the less busy faculty will be. It is a courtesy to provide them with addressed, stamped envelopes for their convenience - DO NOT ask them to send the letters directly to you to forward. In addition, giving them such documents as transcripts, a resume, a copy of your application essay, and a copy of a research paper may help them write a thorough recommendation. If a choice is given regarding whether or not to waive your right to confidentiality of a reference letter, it is generally recommended that you do so as it increases the validity of the letter.

The Application Essay:

Writing an essay or personal statement is often the most difficult and time consuming part of the application process. Requirements vary widely in this regard. An essay should be essentially a statement of your goals. Your aim should be a clear, succinct statement showing that you have a definite sense of what you want to do, and should show your enthusiasm for the field of study you have chosen. Your essay should reflect your writing ability and reveal the clarity, depth, and focus of your thinking.

Admissions committees may draw a number of conclusions from your statement, including the following:

• Motivation and commitment to the field of study
• Writing ability
• Expectations of the program and career opportunities
• Major areas of interest within the field
• Research or work experience
• Educational background
• Short and long-term goals
• Reasons for deciding to pursue graduate education in a particular field, at a particular institution
• Maturity
• Personal uniqueness - what you would add to the diversity of the entering class

There are two major approaches to organizing an essay - making an outline and expanding on the points you want to cover; and putting down ideas spontaneously and moving them around later. Making an outline will probably lead to a well-organized essay whereas writing spontaneously may yield a more inspired piece of writing. Do not address information that might reflect badly on you such as poor grades or a low GRE score in your essay. Keep it positive and inspired. Address these other issues in an addendum to your application or in a cover letter that you will enclose. Your explanation should be short and to the point, avoiding long, tedious excuses. All essays should be word processed or typed.

Mailing the completed application:

Be sure to mail everything well before the deadline; a late application can ruin your chances regardless of whose fault it is. Package it up nicely and don't fold several sheets of paper into a small business envelope. Graduate schools generally require an application fee.