HOW TO START APPLYING FOR GRAD SCHOOL? | The Graduate School Application Planning Process

Summary

In this video, Ivan Valdovinos shares a detailed guide for graduate school applicants, featuring a spreadsheet system to organize and evaluate potential programs. He covers crucial aspects like personal ranking, institutional type, degree interest, faculty research alignment, funding opportunities, and application requirements. Ivan emphasizes the importance of applying to 9-12 programs, including a mix of reach, match, and safety schools, to maximize admission chances. The spreadsheet also helps in drafting compelling application documents.

Takeaways

• 📝 The speaker shares tips and strategies for graduate school applications, suggesting that viewers subscribe for more advice.
• 📊 The speaker uses a Microsoft spreadsheet to organize information about graduate school programs, emphasizing the importance of staying organized.
• 🏫 Key columns in the spreadsheet include personal ranking, institutional type, degree/program of interest, and professors to work with.
• 📚 The speaker advises applying to 9-12 programs to increase the chances of admission, especially for PhD programs.
• 🌍 Institutional details such as size, location (urban, rural), and type (public, private) are essential for decision-making.
• 👨‍🏫 Listing 1-3 professors to potentially work with, based on research alignment, is crucial for PhD applications.
• 💰 Research funding opportunities, including assistantships, fellowships, and scholarships, when applying to programs.
• ✍️ Keep track of standardized test requirements (e.g., GRE), writing sample specifications, and statement of purpose prompts for each program.
• 🎓 Consider personal, academic, and career goals when researching and selecting graduate programs, especially to craft a strong statement of purpose.
• ⏳ Tracking application deadlines and having easy access to program links and key information can greatly simplify the application process.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the video?

The purpose of the video is to provide tips, tricks, advice, and strategies for graduate school applications, with a specific focus on using a spreadsheet to organize the application process.

What specific tool does the speaker use to organize graduate school applications?

The speaker uses a Microsoft spreadsheet to collect and organize information about the graduate school programs they are applying to.

What are some key columns included in the spreadsheet for organizing graduate school applications?

Key columns include personal ranking, institutional type, degree and program of interest, list of professors, program curriculum, funding opportunities, standardized test requirements, writing sample specifications, statement of purpose requirements, other required documents, compelling aspects of the program, questions, website links, and application deadlines.

How many graduate programs does the speaker recommend applying to?

The speaker recommends applying to at least 9 to 12 programs to maximize the chances of getting admitted into at least one.

What does the speaker mean by 'personal ranking' in the spreadsheet?

Personal ranking refers to how the applicant prioritizes the schools they are applying to, with a mix of top, middle, and safety schools.

Why is it important to list the institutional type in the spreadsheet?

Listing the institutional type (e.g., large, small, public, private, urban, rural) helps applicants understand the context of the school and can assist in crafting the statement of purpose.

What should be included in the 'professors of interest' column?

Applicants should list one to three professors whose research aligns with their own. This is particularly important for PhD applications, where alignment with faculty research is a critical factor for admission.

How does the speaker suggest using information about funding opportunities in the spreadsheet?

The speaker suggests listing all available funding opportunities, such as internships, graduate assistantships, fellowships, scholarships, and whether funding is automatically provided upon admission.

What kind of details should be included for standardized test requirements?

Applicants should list what standardized tests are required for each program, such as the GRE, GRE subject tests, language tests (for international students), or Praxis (for teaching), and the institutional codes for submitting scores.

How does the speaker recommend using the spreadsheet to help with the statement of purpose?

The spreadsheet can help applicants by listing specific prompts or guidelines for the statement of purpose, as well as highlighting compelling aspects of the program that can be incorporated into the essay.