How do I prepare for graduate school?

Timeline for preparation to go to Graduate School

The reality is that graduate school is hard work, but it affords unmatched opportunities for personal and professional enrichment. To make the most of these opportunities, it is essential that you prepare yourself for graduate school—and the earlier you start to lay the groundwork, the better. Even undergraduate freshmen and sophomores should take steps to be ready for the possibility of graduate school in the future. Some of the things you can do to help prepare yourself for graduate school are:

Take challenging courses

Ultimately what you know will be very important in your career. Therefore, it is important that you take courses that contribute to your overall knowledge and that challenge you to think critically and to express yourself clearly. Beware of courses where you get an easy grade without much work.

Maintain a high Grade Point Average

Taking demanding courses in which you learn a lot is only half the battle. You also must work hard in those classes to obtain good grades, as well as maintain a high overall grade point average. Most graduate programs require a GPA of at least 3.0, and perhaps higher, in subjects relevant to your prospective graduate program.

Do some research work with a faculty mentor

Increasingly, students applying to graduate school are expected to have performed some research work as undergraduates. This is true in all areas, but especially in the sciences. In many ways, your performance in research is a better indicator than your grade point average of how well you will perform in graduate school and in later life. Participating in a research project also provides a valuable opportunity for you to get to know a faculty member in a non-classroom environment and to obtain useful career contacts and information.

Thus, it is important to identify a faculty member who is willing to allow you to participate in his/her research program and serve as a research mentor to you. Many higher education institutions in the U.S. offer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programs in several fields. Typically these are summer programs for which participants receive a small salary (a stipend). Explore these and other research opportunities that are available to you.

Prepare for and take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE)

Most graduate programs take GRE scores very seriously in evaluating applicants for admission and for fellowships. Good scores are therefore extremely important. Take GRE practice tests until you feel comfortable with the content, instructions, and item formats, and until you believe you can score up to your ability. The GRE Program provides a great deal of free and low-cost materials to help students prepare for the GRE general test and subject tests. Look for those materials here. Then, take the GRE general test and, if required by the program to which you are applying, a GRE advanced or subject exam. You can take the GRE again, if necessary, to improve your scores.

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