Graduate School: Winning Strategies for Getting In

by Mumby, Dave G., Ph.D.

• ISBN13: 9780968217368
• ISBN10: 0968217362
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-01-31
• Publisher: Proto Pr

Summary

This book provides college students with all the information and advice they need to apply successfully to graduate school. In chapters 1 4 several misconceptions about graduate school are revealed and dispelled, including the most common myth that one must have excellent grades to get in, and that excellent grades are all that one needs. Certain factors that can play an even bigger role than GPA in determining the fate of an application are discussed, and the reader discovers how the process of selecting applicants actually works in most graduate programs; it is not the way that most people think! Students with outstanding grades will discover why they need more than just their grades to get into grad school and succeed once there. These other requirements are explained, along with numerous tips and suggestions for making sure that one has it all when it comes time to apply. Chapters 5, 6 and 7 take the reader, step-by-step, through all stages of the application process, focusing on ways to maximize the quality of each of the five main components of a graduate school application: 1) application forms, 2) transcripts, 3) letters of recommendation, 4) standardized tests, and 5) the personal statement. Several pitfalls of the application process are revealed, and the reader is shown how to avoid the costly mistakes that most graduate-school applicants make. The later chapters, beginning with chapter 8, discuss how to go beyond the basic application requirements and take extra steps to stand apart from the crowd. Included are such topics as making pre-application contact with a prospective supervisor, writing proper cover letters, and preparing for interviews. Many of the ideas outlined in these chapters do not occur to most students, but those who understand and incorporate them into a strategy for applying to graduate school are almost always successful. The final chapter examines ways that students may find the money they need for graduate school. Intended for students in most disciplines within the Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, and Humanities, the book also contains valuable insight and advice for students of Engineering, or Fine Arts, and for those seeking a degree in Business, Law, or Medicine. The author is a university professor whose advice has helped hundreds of students get into graduate school. Research for the book included surveys and interviews with Admissions Committees and Faculty members of graduate programs across North America.

Author Biography

Dave Mumby received his Ph.D. in 1992. He has been a faculty member in the Department of Psychology at Concordia University since 1994, and has supervised many undergraduates and graduate students during his career. He is also an academic advisor and frequent contributor of original advice columns for MyGraduateschool.com, the companion resource website for this book.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 9
New In This Edition	p. 10
Where the Advice Comes From	p. 12
The General Scope and Organization of the Book	p. 14
Truths and Myths About Graduate School	p. 19
Aims of This Book	p. 20
Do Not Wait - Start Preparing Early	p. 22
You May Be More Qualified Than You Think	p. 23
Grad school? Me? Are You Kidding?	p. 25
A Special Message For Students With Excellent Grades	p. 27
Summary	p. 28
What You Need to Know Before Applying to Grad School	p. 29
Find Out What Graduate School is All About	p. 30
Interpersonal and Work Relationships	p. 31
It's Not Enough To Be Smart	p. 32
Getting Information From the Right Sources	p. 34
Grad Students: Be Careful What You Assume They Know	p. 38
Dealing With Conflicting Advice	p. 40
Are You Right for Graduate School?	p. 41
Terminal Master's Degree	p. 44
Understand How the Applicant Selection Process Works	p. 44
Understand What They Are Looking For	p. 47
Relevant Experience: Why You Need It and How to Get It	p. 49
What Counts as Relevant Experience?	p. 51
Work-study and Co-op Programs	p. 52
Start Early	p. 53
Summary	p. 54
Making the Right Choices	p. 55
The First Mistake to Avoid	p. 56
How to Choose Graduate Schools and Programs	p. 57
What is Accreditation ? What Difference Does It Make ?	p. 59
Avoid the Influence of Irrelevant Factors	p. 62
The Myth of the High-Profile Ph.D.	p. 63
Is It the Right Place for You?	p. 65
What To Do If You Cannot Visit	p. 67
Look Beyond the Labels	p. 67
Summary	p. 69
Choosing the Right Graduate Supervisor	p. 70
The Importance of Matching Research Interests	p. 71
The "Second-Choice" Graduate Supervisor	p. 73
Important Factors Beyond Matching Research Interests	p. 75
Personality, Mentoring, and Management Styles	p. 79
Clarify Expectations Before You Commit	p. 85
Summary89
If s Not All About Grades	p. 91
Stand Apart From the Crowd, for the Right Reasons	p. 92
Don't Follow the Herd	p. 93
You Are Being Watched	p. 96
How Many Graduate Programs Should One Apply To?	p. 99
Components of a Graduate School Application	p. 103
Summary	p. 107
Enhancing the Objective Components of Your Application	p. 109
Undergraduate Grades and Coursework	p. 110
Do You Need to be in an Honors Program?	p. 113
Standardized Tests	p. 115
When to Take the Tests	p. 116
How Much Does it Cost to Take the Tests?	p. 119
Preparing for the Tests	p. 119
Summary	p. 121
Letters of Recommendation	p. 123
How Letters of Recommendation Are Used in the Selection Process	p. 124
What Kinds of Things Should Be in a Letter of Recommendation?	p. 124
The Applicant-Evaluation Form	p. 126
How Are the Rankings Used?	p. 128
Extra Things to Look For on the Applicant-Evaluation Form	p. 131
How to Make the Least of an Opportunity to Shine	p. 131
Getting the Letters	p. 133
Whom to Ask For a Letter of Recommendation	p. 133
How and When to Solicit a Letter of Recommendation	p. 135
Help Your Referees Write Effective Letters	p. 139
Following-up	p. 141
Good and Bad Letter Writers	p. 141
Summary	p. 143
The Personal Statement and CV	p. 147
The Personal Statement	p. 147
Three Features of a Winning Personal Statement	p. 149
If a Personal Statement Is Not Required	p. 152
How Long Should a Personal Statement Be?	p. 154
Things to Avoid in the Personal Statement	p. 155
Summary
Curriculum Vitae and Résumés	p. 156
Do You Need a CV?	p. 157
What Should Be In Your CV?	p. 158
The Appearance of Your CV	p. 160
First Impressions Matter Most	p. 163
Writing Effective Cover Letters	p. 164
When Is a Cover Letter Required?	p. 165
Purpose of a Cover Letter	p. 166
Cover Letter Format	p. 167
When the Letter is for an Admissions Committee	p. 168
When the Letter is to a Prospective Supervisor	p. 170
Additional Considerations for Cover Letters	p. 171
Summary	p. 172
Dealing With Application Forms	p. 173
Pre-Selection Interviews	p. 176
The Real Purpose of Pre-selection Interviews	p. 176
Preparing for an Interview	p. 178
General Dos and Don'ts for an Interview	p. 180
Don't Be Late Or It May All Be Over!	p. 182
Remember to Ask Questions	p. 183
Practice With Role Playing	p. 184
Appearances Matter	p. 185
Summary	p. 185
A Major Step That Most Students Miss	p. 187
Contacting Prospective Graduate Supervisors	p. 188
Why it is So Important to Make Contact Before Applying	p. 189
How and When to Make Contact	p. 191
Contact May Reveal More Than You Expect	p. 194
Ask the Right Questions	p. 195
Keep the Correspondence Going	p. 197
Summary	p. 198
Putting It All Together for a Winning Application	p. 201
Overcoming Psychological Challenges	p. 203
Avoid Costly Mistakes After Submitting Your Application	p. 204
The Graduate Program Secretary	p. 205
Do Not Take Rejection Personally	p. 206
Making and Following a Plan	p. 206
A Sample Plan and Timetable	p. 207
During Your Freshman and Sophomore Academic Year	p. 208
During Your Junior Academic Year (first half)	p. 210
During Your Junior Academic Year (second half)	p. 211
During the Summer Before Your Senior Year	p. 212
During Your Senior Academic Year	p. 212
Financing Your Graduate Studies	p. 217
Calculating the Cost of Graduate School	p. 218
Potential Sources of Financial Support	p. 220
Research Assistantships, Teaching Assistantships, Traineeships	p. 220
Scholarships, Fellowships, Grants, Bursaries	p. 221
Tuition and Fee Waivers	p. 222
Loans	p. 223
Summary	p. 225
Index	p. 229
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