A Graduate School Comparison Worksheet is a valuable tool for the admissions committee of any graduate school. By assessing and comparing the achievements of each applicant, the committee can be assured that they are not being offered a gift horse, or are providing the admissions office with a well-rounded decision to guide their own decisions.
It is important for anyone that wants to get into a graduate program to have a detailed understanding of all of the admission requirements. If you know what is required in terms of grades, test scores, letters of recommendation, academic advisors, and personal references then you can create a detailed calculation of your GPA (grade point average) and what it means for your application.
This worksheet will also include the distribution of information across the application essay, curriculum vitae, and transcripts. This is a great tool to compare and contrast the different letters of recommendation that the different schools are using for their applicants. The application essay must be prepared in a way that includes a brief overview of the person’s accomplishments and academic performance.
Since the admissions committee will review this information through the lens of their individual educational context, it is important to outline your accomplishments in the same way that you would for a local school. You want to include information that reflects well on you, not the school you attended.
One of the most important pieces of information that you should have included in the application is a statement of purpose. You want to show that you are someone who has a well-defined direction and who is serious about pursuing your education and graduate work. Most grad schools require an academic paper, but some do not, so make sure that you include that in your work sample.
You should also include any goals that you have for your future work and academic career. What you hope to gain from your graduate studies, and how you plan to achieve these goals? Ideally, the committee will see that you are prepared to take on a variety of leadership roles and will be able to demonstrate strong interpersonal skills as well.
As an added resource, a graduate school’s website can offer examples of alumni who are currently pursuing graduate degrees. Some have published books and are very successful in their chosen field. Other graduate programs may offer other suggestions for students that can help with the admissions process.
A graduate school’s application requirements are a matter of great importance. The best way to make sure that you have a great grade point average, strong academic history, and that you can articulate a compelling reason for pursuing your degree is to review and compare your grade-pointpoint averages and academic track record with the requirements of each of the schools that you are considering.
