HDFS Undergraduate Advising
Graduate School Application Information
What are some general things that I should know about applying to graduate programs?
It is very important to directly contact each program you are interested in applying to for their specific admissions criteria and application process. Please review the Career Connection website for a good source of general information about the graduate school exploration process.
In general, most graduate programs will require and review the following in making admissions decisions:
- Undergraduate GPA From Every Institution Attended: Graduate programs will review your GPA from all institutions you have attended (not just the institution you are graduating from) and will therefore ask that you send transcripts from every institution you attended. Different institutions and programs will have different minimum GPAs. For example, for graduate admissions at OSU a GPA of at least a 3.0 is required.
- Scores on Standardized Tests: Much like the ACT or SAT was required for admission to OSU's undergraduate program, some graduate programs require that various standardized tests be completed to support your application for admission. A common test that is often required at the graduate level is the Graduate Record Exam-GRE (see Question 20 for more information about the GRE) although there are a variety of other tests that may be required depending on your desired program and field of study. You will want to contact your desired program to determine which (if any) standardized tests they require and make arrangements to take the exam well before their application deadlines to allow you an opportunity to take the test again if necessary and also to make sure the scores will arrive there by the stated deadline. International students whose native language is not English may also be required to submit a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score as well.
- Letters of Recommendation: Most programs will require a certain number of letters of recommendation where instructors, employers, or other people you have worked with or for can attest to your abilities as a student and potential in your desired field. Often programs will require your recommenders to complete a standardized reference form and also attach a letter. Please contact your desired program for information on how many letters they require and who would be an appropriate person to write you a letter of recommendation. It would be advisable to plan to turn in at least one more letter than the minimum required. Career Connection offers some helpful tips on letters of recommendation.
- Personal Statement: Most programs will require that you write a statement outlining your desire for graduate education and in particular why you are interested in their program. Each program will provide instructions for what they would like included in the statement. These statements allow the graduate programs to not only learn about you as a person and a student but also to better evaluate your writing skills and abilities. You may want to consider having the OSU Writing Center or Career Connection review your statement and offer suggestions for improvement. Career Connection offers some helpful tips on personal statement writing.
- Resume: Often programs will ask you to include a resume which lists applicable work and volunteer experiences, awards or honors earned, and co-curricular involvement. For help in writing a resume, you may want to consult the OSU Writing Center or Career Connection. Career Connection also offers some helpful tips on resume writing.
- Additional Information: Once again, this is just a general list of what may be required for graduate admission. It is absolutely vital for you to contact the programs you are interested in for information about their specific guidelines and admissions process early on in your search process as each program will have a different criteria, process, and procedures. Some programs may require additional application information such as a scholarly writing sample, personal interview, etc.
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