How to Get Started on your Grad School Applications: A Guide for Aspiring Applicants

Graduate school is a significant investment of time and resources, and choosing the right program can be a daunting task. With so many options available, it's essential to take a structured approach to your decision-making process. This article will provide you with some practical tips and guidance to help you select the right university and program that aligns with your interests, goals, and aspirations.

Research is your best friend.

I say this time and again. No friend, alumni, or consultant can figure out what the ideal program for you will be. You must undertake thorough research to understand your own preferences and the choices available to you. You might not know the exact course you intend to pursue, but you must have at least identified the area of study you’re looking at.

And you won’t know which programs are out there unless you go through the university websites really extensively. Start by listing your broad and specific interest areas. For example, my interests were in education, development, gender and public policy. These could become the core keywords that you can use to ask questions and locate areas that align with your interests.

Now find the top 10 universities in your preferred country (or globally) and go through the modules, the research and the course objectives. These will provide you with very clear insights into how to approach the applications.

While researching, ask yourself why you want to study the particular field and how it will add value to your professional and personal goals. Try not to spend too much time here, as this step is just about getting a sense of the options. However, if you're confused, reach out to experts or consultants for clarification. This step should take around 6-10 hours, spread over one or two weeks.

What to look out for?

Once you have a broad understanding of the options available, you can begin conducting preliminary research. Start by looking at the following questions:

1. Which are the top universities and programs in the field?
2. Why are they at the top? Look for specific works, accomplishments, and experiences shared by other students or faculty members.
3. Who are the top scholars in the field and which universities or programs are they associated with?
4. What are the cultural and social nuances of the space? Will you like the place and can you potentially fit in? Does the university offer activities/societies/clubs that you might enjoy?
5. What is the tuition fee like? Can you afford it? Is it worth taking a loan? What are the financial alternatives? What is the return on investment? What funding options are available?

Evaluate your options.

You can now move on to ranking the universities based on the information that you have gathered. It’s always a good idea to utilize tools like Excel to jot down your research, it’s easy to go off on tangents and lose focus on what you’re researching.

How feasible is it?

Once you have narrowed down your options to 5-10 programs, it's time to conduct a feasibility study. Look more specifically at the selection criteria, eligibility requirements, and selection process in detail. Consider the cost and your financial health. Will you have to rely on your parents or take out a loan? Being prepared for these questions will help you make an informed decision.

If your goal is to get a fully-funded scholarship, you should be exploring the funding options available in your field in detail as well. You should map out the scholarship requirements very early on to be able to submit a winning application.

Getting organised.

You now have the information you need to begin your application process. Create a system (such as using Excel) to organize your deadlines and checklists. Keeping track of your progress will help you stay on top of the workload and reduce stress.

Reaching out to a consultant who has previous experience helping students apply for fully funded scholarships can be incredibly beneficial. Such a consultant can demystify the application process, making it much easier for you to understand. Additionally, they can highlight specific areas of focus for writing strong essays, which can increase your chances of success. In essence, their guidance and expertise can be instrumental in ensuring your application is competitive and successful.

Aiming high is always a good thing, but it's essential to base your expectations on reality. Have a wide range of options, one top-tier option, two middle-tier options and two low-tier options. Continuously evaluate your strengths and weaknesses while you are on this journey. Remember, the goal is to find the right university and program that aligns with your interests, goals, and aspirations. Good luck!

Ramsha Hasan is a Commonwealth Shared Scholar with a Masters in International Development from University of Warwick. Since 2019, she has been assisting graduate school aspirants apply to their dream universities and bag prestigious and coveted awards such as Commonwealth Scholarship, Erasmus Mundus Scholarship and multiple university scholarships as well.