Grad School
Start early when applying to graduate school. Give yourself enough time to research schools and specific programs to get all the information you need for your search. Plan on approximately a year to complete a thorough search and to complete the application process. Graduate school is a major investment personally, intellectually, and financially. See the Getting Into Graduate School Handout.
Thinking About Grad School?
Timeline
Find out when to start applying for jobs with out "Grad School Timeline" handout!
Personal Statement/Letter of Intent
As you write your personal statement or letter of intent, be sure to follow the prompt in the application if there is one. Sometimes programs leave it open ended. This list will help you think about what to write if a prompt is not provided.
- What are your career goals?
- Why are you interested in this industry?
- Why is this specific program at this specific school the best fit for you?
- What are your best qualifications?
- Tell a story – depending on space and the prompt, try to tell a story or have a common thread through the statement to make it more engaging to read. Think about ideas such as what influenced your decision to pursue this path or a significant moment/person that influenced your decision
Some additional tips:
- View this personal statement example.
- Keep the statement to 2 pages or less
- Show a little bit of your personality – this is a personal essay, not a research paper
- Have the USU Writing Center review your statement