Graduate School Admissions Criteria

Graduate School Admissions Criteria

Introduction

The first thing candidates need to understand before applying for admission at graduate schools is the criteria the admission committee looks for while selecting the candidates. Once this is determined, it becomes easier for the candidate to focus on the requirements in order to increase the chances of being selected.

Discussion

The aim of the admission committee is to determine the candidates who have the potential of attaining success and applying what they have learnt. The worst thing the admission committee wants is a student who is not capable of completing his studies. Such students lead to a reduction in the revenue being earned.

The ideal student that the admission committee looks for is one who is highly motivated and eager to learn. Such students have the skills to work independently without supervision due to which they arae able to succeed in their studies. These students also work closely with the faculty and ensure that they get the most of the education being provided to them. Proper management of time is also an important characteristic that the admission committee looks at. Almost all graduate students have some of these characteristics but no student possesses all these qualities.

Weightage of Criteria

Once the admission committee have decided the characteristics that they will look for in the candidates, they weight them because every candidate would have certain characteristics. The weights ensure that the students with the most desirable skills are given admission. However, there are no set criteria because every admission committee forms their own selection criteria. The undergraduate GPA, scores of previous courses of study, recommendation letters, IQ, and personal statement. Candidates who have a strong academic profile would the first ones to most likely get selected. There are several reasons these characteristics are highly weighted.

Grades

The undergraduate grades are the first thing considered by the admission committee because it shows the performance of the students. It also reflects the abilities and motivational level of the students. Students with higher undergraduate grades have a higher probability of performing well during their graduation. However, admission committees recognize the fact that grades can vary from university to university and hence take this into account when making decisions. In order to solve this problem, admission committees compare the university, the subjects studied, and the grades obtained. Comparing these three things give a clear view of the capabilities of the students (American Psychological Association, 2007).

Admission committees also consider the scores of various examinations such as the GRE scores as they show the level of intellect of the student. These scores are more accurate because they are measured on a standard. Sometimes GRE scores are preferred over the undergraduate grades because of their relevance. However, despite the fact that GRE scored are standardized, the way a student studies at university can be quite different.

Letter of Recommendation

Most universities require the candidates to submit letter of recommendations. These letters ensure that the grades secured by the candidates are properly justified by someone who is familiar with the ...