How much preparation is needed to submit an appealing application for graduate study?
From what I have heard, one should do research as to what programs a college has, what faculty members there are, which faculty member would make a good advisor, how the college’s program differs from other colleges’, getting into contact with members of the faculty where one is applying to, and so on.
On the other hand, all this is not needed to fill out an application. All that’s really needed are: past academic information, GRE scores, recommendations, personal statement (which may or may not include a blurb about why the particular institution was chosen), and a writing sample. Not so hard.
So, practically speaking, how much preparation, research, contact, etc., is needed for an appealing application?
I can’t speak for all aspects of a grad application, but if you’re required to write a personal statement, you should give yourself at least a month to do it. This will allow you time to explore various ideas and get a some feedback on it.
I worked on mine off and on for about six months–but then again, I was applying for writing programs and required to submit very large writing samples, as well as personal statements and in a few cases, resumes.
The answer, as always, is “it depends”. In my case, the professors in the department where I got my B.S. were buddies with the professors in the school where I was applying, so I suspect they basically said “Take this guy and give him a scholarship.” (Granted, I was also a very good student in my undergraduate program and had worked with several of my professors on research projects, so it’s not like they were taking a huge risk in recommending me.) So I made sure to do a good job on my application and essays, which took a few days, but I didn’t lose any sleep over it either.
Of course, if you haven’t been actively working with your undergrad professors, your situation may be different.
I’m just finishing grad school and also teach an admissions application and written materials class for my university’s school of medicine. I don’t think there is one answer to your question, but most of my undergraduate students who have successful applications go through at least eight or nine drafts over as many weeks working on just the personal narrative part. My own application for the literature grad program I was admitted to took about three weeks to put together, and that was with mentoring from a beloved and helpful professor.
If you’re applying to a humanities program the personal narrative/writing samples have equal or more weight than the GRE and even the GPA (unless these scores are abysmal.) After all, writing and self-expression is the work that the admitting committee needs to envision you as capable of and it is often the piece that can distinguish an applicant from a slew of other hopefuls with similarly kick-ass GRE and undergrad grades.
I think it really depends on the field. In the sciences, particularly for PhD programs, what matters most is the quality of your undergraduate institution, your previous research experience if any, your grades and GRE scores, and whether your research interests match those of the institution. This last one doesn’t mean you have to know what specific research problems you want to study, just that you are interested in working in a field that is compatible with the faculty’s research programs.
So the written parts of the application are less critical in a lot of ways than I expect they would be in the humanities or social sciences. In what field are you applying, if I may ask?
I would like to do graduate studies in political science. However, I majored in a field other than political science.
And I have been sort of out of touch with the faculty of my alma mater. They were impressed by the different perpsectives I brought in class. And perhaps they might be able to say something about my writing or research. But if they remember me, which I doubt.