What is graduate school?

Graduate school is advanced study on a particular topic and includes a master’s degree and a doctoral (Ph.D.) degree. Master’s programs are typically 1-2 years and include coursework; there are thesis- and non-thesis-based programs. If you are interested in doing research and in pursuing a Ph.D., then a program with a thesis is recommended. Ph.D. programs, also called doctoral programs, are research-based degree programs that might include some coursework but heavily emphasize an individual research component, called a dissertation. In some fields, you must earn a master’s degree before applying to a Ph.D. program. In other fields, you can be admitted directly into a Ph.D. program; in that case, you would essentially work through the master’s degree and then Ph.D. degree sequentially without needing to reapply to a program. This depends both on fields of study and specific programs and institutions.

The graduate school application

Applying to graduate school has many similarities with applying to an undergraduate degree program as there is an online application and you will need to provide a variety of materials which demonstrate your academic experiences and preparation to be successful in the degree program. However, there are substantial differences. For example, graduate school applications are reviewed by a committee within each program or department; this is important to keep in mind as your audience for the graduate school application is faculty who are experts in the field of study and who are considering you for their graduate program and research.

The materials you will likely need to submit as part of your graduate school application include:

• Online application
• Transcripts
• Curriculum vitae (CV)/resume
• GRE scores
• Letters of recommendation
• Personal, diversity, and/or research statements (possible, but not required for all institutions)
• Writing sample or portfolio (possible, but more required for all majors)
• Statement of purpose

The focus of this book is on the statement of purpose; however, before we can discuss that essay, we need to have a more complete understanding of all the materials required in the graduate school application. The following pages will discuss each of these parts.