Becoming a Successful Candidate

• Build good writing skills and research techniques while you're an undergraduate and/or in the working world
• Focus on getting good grades while an undergraduate or at least in your last few years of college, as many graduate programs highly value this for admittance
• Consider taking a graduate test preparation course to help study for any required entrance exams
• Review resources on the application process to better prepare you for writing top-notch personal statements and essays

• Keep current on what trends and skills are sought after in your chosen profession (i.e., computer and language skills, math/analytical skills, artistic techniques)
• Gain experience in the field (i.e., volunteer at a hospital or clinic if you are considering medical-related graduate programs)
• Set up informational interviews with people in the field and/or alumni from the graduate program you are considering
• Visit the top graduate schools you're exploring and make an appointment with the chair of the program or a professor

• Develop and maintain a portfolio including letters of references, writing samples and relevant projects
• Look at the school's requirements carefully (for example, many MBA programs require or prefer some years of work experience from their candidates)
• Keep your options open by applying to more than one program if possible as most graduate programs are much smaller than undergraduate programs and only admit a selected number each year
• Be prepared to pay fees for each application you send