Three-Part Series
The Daily asked experts in academic and career advising to distill the most valuable advice for students as they approach the biggest decisions of their college careers.
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
Setting a post-graduation plan
TODAY
Getting into grad school
The graduate school application process can be more intimidating than the undergraduate admissions process.
Knowing what helpful resources are available is the best way to begin applying, and a great place to start is OU Career Services.
The office hosts a Graduate and Professional School Fair each fall and helps students polish resumes and cover letters before applying.
“There is a lot of help, they just need to figure out who to ask, and that’s where we can help. We can help direct them to those resources,” said Bette Scott, director of Career Services.
Graduate programs generally require students to take the GRE, or Graduate Record Examination, for admission, along with a full application and possible interview.
For admission to three of the most notoriously rigorous graduate programs, admission experts for medical schools, law schools and masters of business administration programs give advice tailored to these schools:
Law School
The Test
Law School Aptitude Test—preparation for the LSAT is imperative to successful admission into law
school. Using prep courses and study guides is strongly encouraged.
Who Can Apply
Anyone—all college graduates may apply.
Who They Want
The Well-Rounded College Graduate—good grades and a stand-out LSAT score are essential, but law schools also want to hear applicants’ stories. Strong moral character is essential, and diversity in life experiences is also a crucial component.
Getting In
Get the good grades in place, then show your potential by taking undergraduate courses that highlight written and oral communication skills. Your major doesn’t matter as much as the quality of the work you produce.
Source: Stanley Evans, OU College of Law associate dean.
Master of Business Administration
The Test
Graduate Management Admission Test—the GMAT is required by most business schools, including OU’s Michael F. Price College of Business. Prep courses and study guides help prepare students for the exam, but can get pricey.
Who Can Apply
Anyone—students with any major have the potential to do well in an MBA program.
Who They Want
Strong communication and critical thinking skills are a must. MBA programs seek students with these vital skills, no matter their undergraduate background.
Getting In
When applying for an MBA program, explain exactly why you want an MBA and how you plan to use it in your career. Turning to an MBA program simply because you’re unsure of your future job usually isn’t a good reason to apply.
Sources: Gina Amundson, Graduate Programs director at Price College of Business, and Dipankar Ghosh, director of the college’s MBA program.
Medical School
The Test
Medical College Admission Test—start preparing for the MCAT four months before the scheduled exam with at least four hours of studying per day.
Who Can Apply
Anyone—all majors can apply for medical school if they take the prerequisite science courses and obtain a GPA well above 3.0 during their undergraduate career. Pre-med students should begin taking required science courses the first semester of their freshmen years.
Who They Want
The Complete Package—medical schools focus on three main areas when choosing applicants: academics, MCAT scores and experience. Medical schools look for students who excel in class and have extensive experience in medicine, whether it is shadowing a surgeon or volunteering at a nursing home.
Getting In
Set the foundation for your acceptance into medical school by earning excellent grades and an incredible MCAT score. Seal the deal with a colorful resume and well-rounded experience.
Source: Nancy Blass, Premedical Professions curriculum adviser.
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RosemaryKnapp 3 years, 3 months ago
I applaud the Daily for the Next Step series. However, this final part, especially the graphics, is misleading and disappointing. By only highlighting "the most notoriously rigorous graduate programs" the authors perpetuate the myth that a PhD is a "Plan B" for those who can't get into med school, law school or business school. Yet if you ask your professors, I'd venture to guess that the vast majority never considered one of these other graduate programs. They would also likely relate that getting accepted into their graduate program was not a given - the programs were also highly competitive. PhD programs are also rigorous. Again, ask your professors or your graduate TAs - the latter are currently in the midst of graduate programs that require them to juggle their own coursework, research, and, in many cases, teaching. Like the three graduate programs highlighted, applying to "regular" graduate programs takes preparation and strong grades, GRE test scores and recommendation letters.
Rosemary Knapp, PhD Associate Professor of Zoology and Director of Graduate Studies
SophiaMorren 3 years, 3 months ago
I would like to comment on The Next Step series. I appreciated the piece on Picking a Major, especially since in my experience at OU the most successful students are those who are passionate about their majors. The final piece on Getting Into Grad School, however, was a disappointment due to the omission of Ph.D. programs. With an aging faculty, many of whom will retire in the next decade, in addition to current shortages for faculty in areas such as nursing and business, we need more of our brightest students to step it up and earn the highest level of education possible.
Sophia Morren McNair Scholars Program Director Doctoral student in Geography