Application Tips and Strategies

Dear Prospective Grad Students,

Before starting the application process, reflect on why you want to pursue grad school. Understand your long-term goals (which may change along the line) and how grad school aligns with them. Ask yourself, "Why do I want to do this? What do I want to achieve?"

Visualize where you see yourself in the next five years. If grad school isn't the right path, consider redirecting your efforts toward something that aligns with your goals. If it's still grad school, what program do you want to study?

This reflection helps you write good essays, organize your CV, and narrow your search. When you have a particular interest, you won't go after every opportunity, and you will be able to put together great documents.

Have a Plan

Planning helps you stay organized.

List all the schools you wish to explore (and, if possible, all the scholarships you come across). Include application start dates, deadlines, and requirements. This helps in tracking your progress.

I had a PDF list of schools in the USA that I was using.

Here’s what I did: I searched for schools, checked if the program I was interested in was offered, then ticked it; if not, I crossed it out.

As you start your applications, ensure your passport is ready or in the process. If you come from where I come from, you might lose an opportunity because of this.

My admission and funding letters were ready, but my passport wasn't. You can only imagine how stressed I was, moving up and down. So, get it done or started.

Also, make sure your transcript is ready. Sometimes you may have to pay for transcript evaluation so consider that.

Prepare Your Application Documents

This is very important—not only for school applications but also for scholarships and funding. So, let’s make it count!

CV or Resume?

Yes, they are slightly different.

A CV is comprehensive, detailing your entire academic and professional history. It can be multiple pages long.

A resume, however, is a concise summary of your skills, experience, and education. Typically one or two pages, it’s tailored to the specific job or program you are applying for, highlighting your most relevant experiences and skills.

For grad school applications, you usually need to submit a CV because it provides a detailed overview of your academic and research experiences. This helps admissions committees understand your background and qualifications comprehensively.

Some programs might request a resume to focus on particular professional skills. Always check the application guidelines to ensure you are providing the correct document.

Note: Use a resume when reaching out to potential supervisors (cold emailing). Professors often have specific research interests and may look for particular professional skills. A resume allows you to tailor your experiences to align with the professor’s field of interest.

Sections to Include in your CV/resume: summary/profile, education, research interests, research experience, teaching experience, professional work experience, voluntary experience, leadership experience, awards, certifications, publications (if any), and skills. You could also add languages.

Avoid Personal Details: Do not include information like marital status, age, date of birth, or address/location. If possible, use hyperlinks for your email address and LinkedIn profile to make it more presentable.

Statement of Purpose (SOP), Personal Statement, and Cover Letter

All these documents articulate your academic and professional goals, why you are interested in the specific program, and how it aligns with your career aspirations. But here's the difference:

• Statement of Purpose (SOP): The SOP should highlight your background, research interests, what you have done (scholarly achievements), and what you hope to achieve through the program (professional goals).
• Personal Statement: Similar to the SOP, but more focused on your personal journey, experiences, and motivations. It’s your chance to tell your story and explain how your experiences have shaped your decision to pursue graduate studies.
• Cover Letters: Typically used when applying for specific positions or opportunities, such as assistantships. A cover letter is tailored to the position you are applying for, highlighting your relevant skills and experiences, and explaining why you are a good fit for the role. Usually one page.

Note: Don’t be afraid to say what you bring to the table. It shouldn’t always be, “This program will help me learn…”

Recommendation Letters

I already discussed how important recommendations are (Here).

So let’s go straight into it.

This is a well-detailed document about recommendation letters by Omobolanle Kalenikanse

(Click here)

It explains why quality relationships matter, how you can keep a relationship with potential recommenders, what to do when you need a recommendation, and what to do after you get the recommendation.

Note: Let your recommenders know that you will need recommendations from them as early as two months before the application deadline. And have more than 3 referees so you have backup options.

Enhance Your Profile

Strengthen your application by doing the following:

• Take Standardized Tests: Even if not required, consider taking tests like GRE, GMAT, or IELTS to enhance your application. High scores on these tests can strengthen your application and sometimes make up for other areas that may not be as strong. Some schools also prioritize this for funding purposes.
• Gain Research Experience: Engage in research activities and strive to get involved in projects that can lead to publications. Publishing your work in reputable journals can significantly strengthen your CV and demonstrate your ability to conduct and communicate research effectively.
• Join Voluntary Organizations: Participation in voluntary organizations (especially related to your field) can provide practical experience, networking opportunities, and a platform to demonstrate leadership and teamwork skills.

Maintain Enthusiasm and Confidence

Your attitude and mindset play a crucial role. Focus on your goals, stay committed, and trust in God. Set short-term and long-term goals to keep yourself motivated and on track throughout the application process.

Remember, every great scholar started where you are now. Keep your enthusiasm high and trust that your hard work will pay off. Confidence in your abilities will be reflected in your applications and interviews.

Practical Tips for a Successful Application

• Start Early: Begin preparing your documents well in advance. Early preparation allows you to refine your materials and seek feedback.
• Stay Organized: Keep track of deadlines and requirements using tools like Excel or Word. Keep digital copies of all your documents in a well-organized folder structure so you can easily access them.
• Seek Feedback: Sometimes when we are doing things like this, we don’t want anyone to know. Yes, I understand but have mentors or peers review your application documents. Constructive feedback can help you identify areas for improvement and strengthen your application.

Samples

Link: https://lnkd.in/d5FCJ_GX

This link provides samples of SOPs, Research Proposals, CV, Reference Letter templates, Cold email templates, GRE, TOEFL & IELTS exams prep questions, and many other documents.

This was organized by Chiebuka Christopher (Thank you for doing this) with original source as advised and huge Credits to Hotspot International Scholarship Forum - HISF

In our next letter, we will delve deeper into cold emailing, scholarships, and funding opportunities. I will also provide a list of scholarships compiled by others.

??Don't forget to repost for others to benefit, leave a comment and share what you learnt.

You are loved!