Applying for undergrad was a laid-back experience for me; I chose a few schools I was interested in, sent in my high school transcripts and SATs, and wrote an essay. Because I had high grades, for most of the schools I didn’t even have to pay because they granted me a fee waiver. I sent in my applications, heard back from all schools within two to three months, and deliberated where I really wanted to go. It was a relatively easy process and my biggest problem was narrowing down the schools that let me in to the one that was truly the right fit for me.
Now, I am in the process of applying to graduate school and it is a whole entire different ball park. Just thinking about the process raises my stress levels a little bit. The process is more upscale and there’s more at stake.
First of all,
1. The process is not cheap.
Undergraduate institutions gave out fee-waivers left and right for students to apply to their schools, while on the other hand potential grad students need to shell out a lot of money to apply to each school they want. Most applications are online and charge a processing fee. On top of that, some schools charge an additional supplemental fee. After paying for the application, you then need to pay to have your transcripts sent and in most cases, pay to take a standardized test. Most of the tests can cost upwards of $200! Talk about a small fortune.
2. Most schools have an interview process.
A lot more schools are requiring interviews as a requirement for admission into their programs. While in some cases an interview process is great, because looking like a perfect candidate on paper is often a challenge, in other cases, it is an added stressor. As a student, you don’t want to say the wrong thing, make yourself look ignorant, or ruin your chances of getting into a graduate program.
3. The process is highly selective.
“Safety school” was a word a heard a lot when first applying to colleges; this term does not apply to graduate school. Programs are very selective, don’t have very many open seats to offer, and throw out applications if requirements are not met. Test scores need to be high, GPAs need to be outstanding, your interview needs to be flawless, and so on. For the specific field, I am looking to go into, some schools take as little as 30 students while others take around 60. Compared to the thousands of kids I am currently in undergrad with, this comes as a bit of a shock. The entire process is much more competitive.
4. Will I even get in?
This process has been about 2 months for me so far and while I am so excited to hear back from schools, I am secretly worried that I won’t get in anywhere. I know that I am smart and capable, but that fear is still there at the back of my mind.
To all the kids currently applying to graduate school, I understand your stress and the pressures of getting into school. Best wishes and good luck!
