10 Tips for Prepping for Graduate School Admissions

April 07, 2024 :: Admissionado Team

In addition to getting good grades and taking the GRE, there are tons of stuff that students who are considering going to graduate school should be doing during their undergraduate studies to improve their chances of having a competitive admissions profile.

Below, find ten things we think graduate school-bound undergrads should be trying to accomplish before applying to grad school and why.

#1: Project Poster

Whether it’s done for a course project, for a professor you’re working for, or for a conference, having that presentation experience communicates to adcoms that you know what’s expected of graduate researchers and that you won’t be starting from square one when you start that graduate research project.

#2: Presentations

Almost everyone will give some kind of a presentation during a class in their undergraduate studies. That’s not what we’re talking about here. Instead, you should be actively looking for opportunities to gain public speaking experience in a stressful situation. That could involve anything from speaking at a freshman welcome event to leading campus tours, as long as you’re able to refer back to the experience as one where you gained confidence in presenting to large, important groups of people.

#3: Competitions

No, we’re not talking about sports or quiz night at the local pub! Academic competitions are great ways to boost your admissions profile and add some differentiation to your academic accomplishments. There are a million different ways you can compete, including robotics competitions, entrepreneurship case competitions, poetry competitions, even culinary competitions. Having a solid top three placing in a competition on your resume also communicates to adcoms that you’re someone who is able to invest time and energy into projects outside of the normal course load.

#4: Tutoring/Mentoring

Having tutoring or mentoring experience under your belt gives adcoms a sense of the kind of teaching assistant or discussion section leader you will be. If you’re going to reference this kind of experience in a statement of purpose or an admissions essay, be sure to focus on the impact you had on your mentees. Did scores improve? Did your mentee overcome a challenge or accomplish something? Show the adcoms that you’re not just a tutor, you’re an awesome one.

#5: Undergraduate Research

Research experience can significantly enhance your competitiveness when applying to graduate programs because it serves as a reliable predictor of future success. The tasks you perform as an undergraduate research assistant, such as conducting surveys, inputting data, and proofreading academic submissions, mirror the responsibilities you’ll handle as a graduate researcher. This hands-on experience helps you avoid beginner mistakes and demonstrates to admissions committees that you have practical skills and good academic habits, making you a desirable candidate.

When pursuing research opportunities, aim for projects related to your desired field of study and seek environments where you can work closely with head researchers. While larger operations might be beneficial for specific long-term goals, generally, a more intimate setting allows you to contribute more significantly and gain impressive experience for your resume. Additionally, choose research that aligns with your interests or passions, as this will not only make your contributions more valuable but also result in stronger letters of recommendation. Ultimately, your research experience will provide valuable insights and inspiration that can be effectively communicated in your statement of purpose and admissions essays.

#6: Internships

Similar to research experience, the on-the-job training of a summer or part-time internship can be a valuable thing to have on your admissions profile. Be sure to make the most of the experience, volunteering for any extra projects you can be a part of, establishing networking relationships and recording any useful quantitative successes and accomplishments you helped create. All of these can be valuable additions to a statement of purpose or an admissions essay.

#7: Hobbies

No one wants to come across as one-sided in their admissions essays, and maintaining a healthy dedication to a hobby is one way to diversify your admissions profile. Whether it’s ballet, singing in an a capella group, landscape painting, cooking, or even LARPing, an interesting hobby can add a human dimension to even the most hard-science-y of profiles.

#8: Publications

This one is a little harder to accomplish, but with some work and creativity, it can be done. There are several journals of undergraduate research that are peer-reviewed, and while they’re not JAMA, being published as an undergrad will certainly be memorable to an adcom. Additionally, publishing work doesn’t necessarily mean submitting an article to an academic journal. Writing for your university’s newspaper or campus news program, or submitting to a poetry journal could also be great ways to demonstrate writing chops and an understanding of the level of work you’ll be doing as a graduate student.

#9: Undergraduate Thesis

Graduate students are expected to set and meet their own deadlines, and make time in a packed schedule to work on their graduate thesis. A great way to demonstrate to adcoms that you’re ready for this challenge is to complete an undergraduate thesis. Even more impressive would be submitting your undergraduate thesis to an undergraduate research journal and getting published! (see #8)

#10: Volunteering

Similar to maintaining a hobby during your undergrad years, it’s also important to round out your admissions profile by giving back to your community through volunteer work. This can also coincide with your hobbies. For example, volunteering to do admin work for a Choir for people with Parkinson’s, teaching for a dance outreach program, or cooking for a local homeless shelter.

Competition for elite graduate programs is fierce, and having great grades and test scores is only the beginning of what it takes for your application to be given a serious look by these program’s adcoms. Accomplishing everything in this list might seem daunting, but from our experience, we’ve found that students who have an impressive, unique, and well-rounded admissions profile have a better chance of standing out from an already impressive crowd.