For a lot of students, graduation is coming faster than we expected! And while trying to find a job, I've realized that the best option for me and my future career is to continue on with college and get my Master's degree. Not only will my added degree set me apart from the other applicants, but it will also teach me more about the subject that I love so much.
Lucky enough for me, The University of Akron has the program that I would like to be a part of, but I swear, applying to my program has become harder than I'm sure the actual graduate program is!
I can't tell you how many advisers and faculty members that I've gone to or emailed, and most of them are just giving me the run-around or just flat out wrong information! For example, I went to the graduate office to get some information, and I told her the exact program I was interested in and she told me that I only needed one application; it would apply to both the grad school and program applications. However, when I emailed the program director and talked to one of my trusted advisers, they both informed me that I needed separate applications. .And I keep finding out that I need more forms than I originally thought. It's so frustrating!
I don't know if it's like this anywhere else, but at UA, the forms are so hard to find on their website. It's like I'm doing a scavenger hunt every time I want to find out some information. Plus, it doesn't help that advisers and faculty keep telling me wrong information or referring me to the website, where I can't seem to find anything useful.
Obviously, it's very annoying as an incoming graduate student. I'm quite literally trying to hand them my money, and there are so many obstacles in the way of that happening. And because of all the confusion, I'm very worried that I don't have all of the forms I need to apply. If I don't have everything in by the deadline, they obviously won't accept my application.
But if I have any advice for students who are applying to grad school, and not just at UA, it's these few tidbits of info:
1. Don't procrastinate
No matter how much the applications overwhelm you, or how much your senioritis kicks in, do them as soon as possible! You don't want to find out you need another form two weeks before your application due date! Give yourself enough time to thoroughly think about and complete your application. It is important, after all!
2. Ask for help
If you have a trusted adviser, let them proofread and give you helpful critique for your personal statements. There will be committees that will look over your applications, so you want to make sure you're using professional language and that your thoughts are translating well. Also, if you have trouble writing a personal statement or writing about yourself like I do, then ask close friends or family to help you out. It's never a bad thing to ask for help.
If you're applying for graduate school, take my advice and plan ahead. You won't regret it!
