There are a lot of moving parts that come with applying to graduate school, and with those moving parts comes the possibility of making mistakes, but as you tackle the graduate school admissions process, remember that you're not alone!
Here at West Virginia University, we're prepared and excited to help you in whatever way we can. And that's why we took the time to list out a few mistakes and faux pas that you should definitely avoid when applying to graduate school.
1. NOT researching a school's graduate assistantships.
Before starting the graduate school application process, start by checking your institution of interest's website for available graduate assistantship positions and figure out if there are GAs available in your field of study.
Graduate assistantships are competitive but are well worth the value they'll bring to your hands-on learning experience.
2. NOT filling out the FAFSA.
Did you know that graduate students can apply for the FAFSA? In other words, it's not just for undergraduate kids.
As a graduate student, you’ll be treated as an independent, so instead of filling out your parents’ information, you’ll be filling out your own information. Too many students make the decision not to pursue financial aid rather than letting the FAFSA authorities decide. Idealist recommends that you don’t rule yourself out prematurely:
"If you are a working professional with income, do not assume that you won't qualify for financial aid. The same goes for being a homeowner—as long as you live in the home you own, the home will neither count as an asset nor affect your EFC [Estimated Family Contribution] and thus financial need.”
3. NOT considering other financial aid options.
There are plenty of options for financing graduate school. Even if you don’t qualify for need-based financial aid, you very well might qualify for merit-based financial aid from the university. And to be considered for this, you still need to fill out the FAFSA paperwork.
Note: You can also check out this blog article for additional tips — Borrow Smart: 7 Tips to Financing Graduate School.
4. NOT attending a graduate open house or graduate fair event.
Going to a graduate school open house and attending a thorough campus tour are crucial to choosing a graduate school. You might visit a university with a highly-ranked program in your field but then realize that the advisors you’d be working with aren’t a good fit for you.
Do yourself a favor and attend information sessions and open houses. Meet as many faculty and current graduate students in your prospective program to find out all the backstage information.
5. NOT chatting with an Admissions professional.
Maybe you’re totally on top of everything when it comes to the admissions process and choosing a graduate school. But maybe you're not.
If you’re anything less than an expert, speaking with a graduate counselor can be extremely helpful. If nothing else, they can give you inside information on what admissions officers are really looking for in an applicant. Admissions professionals are there to help you! Don't make the mistake of not using them.
6. NOT considering more than one school.
Isn’t getting a graduate education all about exploring the world and having new experiences? By only applying to one grad school, you could be selling yourself short.
Start your journey of exploration and study before you solidify your decision. If you cast a wide net, you can find out which universities and programs have the research opportunities that interest you, mentors you’d want to work with for years, the resources and the atmosphere to nurture your sense of wonder, or which universities have high success rates for alumni finding desirable jobs post-graduation.
7. NOT learning about student and alumni stories.
Speaking with current students and networking with alumni is one of the best ways to get a good feel for a university and to really learn about the opportunities you'd have as a student yourself.
If you're on the shy side, consider searching the university's website for student/alum stories. In fact, you can read about some of WVU's students and alum here!
Do you need help navigating the graduate school admissions process?
At West Virginia University, we know that between GRE test prep, analyzing your financial situation, and figuring out how to balance your personal and professional responsibilities, applying to graduate school can be stressful and confusing.
We invite you to request more information so that we can help you apply to graduate school with the least amount of stress possible. We can't wait to hear from you!
If you’re thinking about applying to an advanced program at West Virginia University, we hope you’ll download our guide — Everything You Need to Know About Applying to Graduate School at West Virginia University — for an in-depth look into the application process for WVU’s advanced programs.
