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Step 1
Network with people in the academic and professional field of your interest. The people you meet may offer you advice, let you know about potential graduate school openings and even write a recommendation letter for you.
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Step 2
Strengthen your grade point average (GPA) as much as possible. Good grades show a commitment to academic excellence.
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Step 3
Learn the terminology and jargon used in the academic field in which you plan to study. A grasp of this vocabulary will show up in your conversations, interviews and your application materials.
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Step 4
Develop a plan for how you will use and implement your education beyond graduation. This plan should manifest itself in a purpose statement or in conversations during the interview process. This long-term perspective shows maturity and your level of potential contribution to the field.
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Step 5
Ask people who know you well to write letters of recommendation. Only professors and employers who are very familiar with your work will be able to include information that cannot be found elsewhere in your application materials.
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Step 6
Obtain a high score on your Graduate Record Exam (GRE). You can increase your chances of earning a competitive score by simply getting enough sleep the night before, eating a good breakfast and warding off anxiety.
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Step 7
Don't write the same purpose statement for each school to which you apply. Although you will want to have a general template, you need to tailor the letter specifically to each graduate program, addressing why you are applying and what attracts you most to the program. Each letter will need specific references to elements of the program.
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Step 8
Polish such interviewing skills as maintaining eye contact, shaking hands and choosing the appropriate attire. An applicant who looks good on paper will quickly be turned down if she cannot interview well.
