Graduate school aspirants often wonder what their chances are of getting into their dream school? What criteria do schools use to assess applications? While no school would officially publish the inner workings of its admissions committee, we do know that your GPA, GRE score, personal statements, and research or work experience play a significant role in the process.

It is no doubt that applying to grad schools can be a daunting prospect. Many students dread the possibility of getting rejected and having their future at risk. However, the good news is that there are so many schools and programs that, unless your application is totally hopeless, you will likely get in.

Having said that, you must make the best of what you have got. Your application is all that grad schools have to go through to make their final decision. So, let’s look at the 5 major things grad schools take into consideration when looking at applicants.

GPA

One of the first and foremost things an admissions committee will review is your GPA (Grade Point Average). This may feel like an unfair assessment of your intelligence because scores don’t reflect brilliance. However, a good GPA might reflect more than intelligence. It may indicate passion and hard work, which are attributes highly desirable to an admissions committee.

Moreover, you will be right to point out that not all grades are the same. For example, an A grade at one university might equate to a B+ in another. The good news is that admissions committees are cognizant of such nuances and consider the context as well.

The bottom line is that while your GPA may not reflect your readiness for grad school a 100 %, it does help grad schools weed out certain applicants. Hence, your grade point average is an important consideration.

Furthermore, some grad schools might have a cutoff GPA policy which means that they won’t entertain applications with GPAs under a certain level. It is best to do your research beforehand so as not to receive any surprises later on.

So then, what is a good GPA for grad school? Sadly, there is no clear-cut answer to this question because MIT and the University of Utah are both grad schools but worlds apart in competition. Thus, what may be an excellent GPA for the latter may be average at best for the former. Neverthless, a 3.5+ GPA from any school will help your prospects.

GRE Scores

Unlike GPA, GRE scores are standardized and offer a better understanding of an applicant’s abilities. Many times if two or more applicants have similar applications, but one of them has a higher GRE score, the applicant with a higher GRE score would get the invitation. Since GRE is not an ambiguous number like GPA is, it is a crucial component in admissions.

An excellent GRE score can compensate for some other areas on your application, such as a low GPA or lack of research experience. However, there are no guarantees. As most schools take a holistic approach to applications, in some cases, your slightly lower GRE score may fly depending on your circumstances.

In any case, the higher your GRE score, the better. You should strive to achieve the best score you can to increase your chances of getting in. If you are confused about what GRE score is suitable for your program or school, look up average GRE scores for your program and then top that by a few points.

In general, STEM related programs require a competitive Quant score – ideally a 162+ and a verbal score of 155+.

Non-Stem programs require a good verbal score – ideally a 158+ and a quant score of 155+.

Personal Statement

Personal statements can make a real difference in your application. This is where you can fill in the holes and give context about your life and achievements. Numbers such as GPA and GRE scores are good at quantifying a person’s aptitude but don’t tell the complete story. If you have a less desirable GRE score or GPA and you have a legitimate reason for it, then a personal statement is where you talk about it.

Personal statements give the admissions committee a chance to meet you. Who you really are, where you come from, your life story, and your struggles. You can use it to deliver your eagerness to join a graduate school and convince the committee that you are a suitable candidate.

Moreover, a well-written personal statement can also reflect your writing abilities and reveal how thoughtful or expressive you are.

You might have worked on a project that correlates to your field; elaborate on it. Talk about the attributes that make you a good fit for the program. Express why your life experiences make you a suitable candidate. All of these things can play a huge role in the decision.

Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation are in the same league as a personal statement. They allow the admissions committee to look beyond the numbers. In order for a letter of recommendation to be effective, it must come from someone in a place of authority who knows you well. Ideally, it should be a faculty member as those provide the most value. For example, you can ask your college professor to write you a letter of recommendation with whom you have worked closely. The better your relationship with the professor, the more authentic the recommendation. An admissions committee will easily see through a generic or superficial letter. It needs to provide specific reasons for why you would make a good addition to the graduate school.

Research Experience

Grad schools place a lot of emphasis on your research experience. It shows that you know how to conduct research, read research articles, dissect them and filter out useful information. An admissions committee will consider the diversity of your research experience. Mainly, how many projects you have worked on, their significance, and the strength of your commitment to research. Not only does this reflect your expertise, but it also drives home the point that you are motivated and passionate about the field.