By Emma Luther
Western Herald
For students planning on attending gradate school, now is the time to take action.
Deadlines are approaching fast at most universities in the United States and applying is not a short process.
Although the actual process of applying can be quite time consuming, figuring out where to apply can be even more difficult.
“Students should plan a campus visit to the university they want to attend graduate school at to make sure their supervisor and research is a good match,” Tony Dennis, associate director of recruitment and retention for the Western Michigan University Graduate College, said.
(Marissa Ingle / Western Herald) A poster for the Western Michigan University School of Music’s graduate studies program posted in the Dalton Center.
The university, the location, the research, and even the weather can all factor into deciding where to attend. Researching the university’s program to make sure that the program will be a good fit is a vital component to the process.
For most universities, the graduate admissions process usually involves the Office of Admissions and the Graduate Department. Each department has a different timeline and requirements for applying. Most require an application through their office of admissions, letters of recommendations, a 3.0 GPA or higher on a four-point scale, and the standard application essays, according to Dennis.
Some departments even require standardized tests in order to be accepted into their graduate program, according to Dennis.
For instance, business masters’ programs generally require the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) for all MBA and MSA applicants. For other master’s programs, requirements vary per department.
At the doctoral level, all programs require the General Test or the Graduate Records Examination (GRE).
“Preparing and planning during your junior year of college is the best time for students who want to attend graduate school,” Dennis said. “This way students can make sure they meet all the requirements and deadlines in time because there are limited spaces available in each department.”
For more information on attending graduate school, the Graduate College will be hosting an open house on Thursday, Oct. 22 at 3:30 p.m. in the North Ballroom of the Bernhard Center.
Department contact information and deadlines to apply to graduate school at Western Michigan University, as well as counseling information can be found here.
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