Affiliated with

Harvard University

Becoming a Strong Candidate

for Graduate School in the US
Lindsey Nicholson, Manager of Programs and Client Relations
 Researching
Preparing and Applying
Scholarships
Question and Answer

Agenda
 Ask yourself

What are my professional/academic goals?

What do I want to achieve by attending

graduate school in the United States?

What type of program will help me achieve

my goals?

Researching: Ask Questions

Research specific programs to find a good match
Coursework/curricula
Faculty members and research interests (particularly for PhD)

Research admissions requirements

Academic background/pre-requisites
TOEFL and GRE/GMAT scores
Other requirements (e.g. professional experience)

Contact professors (particularly for PhD)

Researching: Find the Right Fit

Researching: Find the Right Fit
 What is experience am I missing?
What courses should I take now to prepare?
What kind of research experience will be
important for me?
What kind of professional experience would be
beneficial?
What TOEFL score do I need?
What are the GRE/GMAT requirements?

Preparing: Fill in the Gaps

 Application deadlines:
November - February

Leave plenty of time

to prepare
required materials

Preparing: Plan Ahead

 Academic Documents

Standardized Application Statement of

exams Requirements Purpose

Letters of
Recommendation

Applying: Application Requirements

 TOEFL GRE or GMAT Subject GRE

Minimum required GRE required for Required for some

typically 80 and most graduate specific fields of
above programs study, e.g.
Requirements may GMAT for MBA Chemistry, Physics
be higher (e.g. 100) programs
depending on Minimums vary
program/field

For practice exams and information about registration: www.ets.org/

Prepare in advance and study hard!

Applying: Standardized Exams

 Letter of
Recommendation
Speak to your potential for
graduate study
From professors, supervisors,
thesis-advisors, etc.
Applying: Other Requirements
Statement of Purpose
Demonstrate your fit with the
program, your goals/interests,
and your potential for graduate
Leave plenty of time to write and
revise
Follow instructions carefully
Strong academic background and GPA

Strong TOEFL and GRE/GMAT scores

Well-written statement of purpose that demonstrates your fit with

the program
Strong letters of recommendation demonstrating your capacity
and potential for graduate study
Aligned professional background and/or research experience

Applying: What makes a strong candidate?

 Teaching or research assistantships,
University merit-based scholarships, etc.
funding Part of the graduate school
application process

Fulbright scholarship, etc.

External Separate process need to plan in
scholarships advance

Scholarships: Funding Opportunities

 Demonstrate
Submit a
your potential
well-prepared
for graduate
application
study

Demonstrate
your fit with
scholarship
program goals

Scholarships: Being a strong candidate

Scholarships: Success Story
 Resources:
Education USA - www.educationusa-peru.info/
Petersons www.petersons.com/graduate-schools.aspx

Questions?
 laspau.harvard.edu

facebook.com/laspau twitter.com/laspauconnect linkedin.com/company/laspau-academic-

&-professional-programs

Thank you!