Application Prep

• Good:
  • You need the additional academic credentials to achieve career goals
  • You’re passionate about a specific topic and want to become an expert in that topic
  • You want to change or advance your career
  • You’re ready for the commitment
  • You want to build expertise and network
  • You have a strong academic background
• Bad: 
  • “I don’t know what else to do.”
  • “Everyone else is doing it”
  • “I want to stay a student”
  • “I’ll figure out my goals in graduate school”

• There is no right or wrong time to attend graduate school, only whatever time works best for you and your career goals.
• Attending graduate school right after your undergraduate degree allows for academic momentum to continue, likely no major interruptions, fewer responsibilities, more time for research interests, faster path to advanced roles.  However, students may have less industry experience, a smaller professional network, and less career clarity. 
• Working in industry prior to returning to graduate school allows for informed career direction, immediate income, expanded skill set, and potential for employer sponsorship. However, students may be academically rusty, it can be harder to leave a comfortable job, and life may get more complicated as a student gets older and gain additional responsibilities. 

• Before committing to graduate school, it's important to understand the potential financial impact. Tuition and fees vary by program and institution, and some graduate programs—especially professional degrees—can be expensive. One needs to budget for application fee costs and the costs associated with any standardized exams prior to admission. After admission, students need to budget for tuition and fees, living expenses, books, supplies, health insurance, and other personal costs. 
• Graduate students may be eligible for fellowships, assistantships, research positions, or employer tuition benefits, which can help offset the cost of attendance. 

• Most graduate programs request at least three letters of recommendation, and many prefer that two come from faculty who can speak to your academic potential. Choose recommenders who know you well and can speak to your strengths, character, and readiness for graduate study. Instead of assuming someone will write a letter for you, be sure to ask if they feel comfortable providing a strong endorsement.
• It’s ideal to ask your recommenders well in advance—at least two to three months before your earliest application deadline. Be sure to give them a minimum of one month to write your letters. Individuals are busy and faculty often get asked to write many letters of recommendation during the Fall so be respectful of their time. To make the process easier, provide each recommender with a list of the schools you’re applying to, their deadlines, and a brief note about why each program interests you. Sharing your CV and a draft of your personal statement or statement of purpose will help them tailor their letters to reflect your goals and qualifications. You might also offer to meet and discuss your plans and how the program fits into them.

• When applying to graduate school, you may be asked to submit a statement of purpose, a personal statement, or both. Although the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, these two documents serve different purposes and highlight different aspects of your background.
• A statement of purpose focuses on your academic and professional goals. It outlines what you want to study or research, why you’re interested in that area, how your past academic or work experiences have prepared you, and what you hope to accomplish through the graduate program. You should also highlight how the program aligns with your interests—such as specific faculty members you want to work with, unique resources available, or research projects that excite you. The tone of a statement of purpose is formal and goal-oriented, and it helps the admissions committee understand how you fit with their program from a scholarly perspective.
• In contrast, a personal statement is more reflective and narrative in nature. This is your opportunity to share personal experiences that have shaped your interest in your chosen field. You might discuss your background, identity, values, or any obstacles you've overcome, and how these elements have influenced your academic journey and career aspirations. The personal statement allows you to show your motivation, growth, and potential contributions to the graduate community beyond academic qualifications.
• In short, your statement of purpose explains what you want to do and why you’re academically prepared to do it, while your personal statement tells the story of who you are and what has inspired you to pursue this path.

• Your GPA can be an important component to your graduate school application. Typically, a 3.0 or higher is considered a competitive GPA. All graduate programs at UNL practice holistic admissions, meaning they consider the applicants entire packet when reviewing for admission and do not discount solely on GPA. If you feel you have a lower GPA and want to address the GPA, your personal statement is the perfect place to provide an explanation and advocate for yourself. 
• Be honest. Acknowledge the GPA without making it the focus of your statement. If there were extenuating circumstances, such as illness, family responsibilities, personal challenges, state them factually and without too much detail or email. Take responsibility. Graduate admissions committees respect maturity. Avoid blaming others or sounding defensive. Briefly acknowledge what went wrong and what you learned. Showcase upward trend or growth such as improvement in upper-level courses or related professional or research experiences. Use the rest of the statement to reinforce your strengths and relevant experience to indicate your readiness for graduate school. 

A Curriculum Vitae (CV) is a comprehensive document used to highlight academic and scholarly achievements. Unlike a resume, which is typically one – two pages and tailored to emphasize professional experience and skills, a CV can be longer and places greater emphasis on academic work—such as research, publications, conference presentations, teaching roles, and honors. A resume, on the other hand, usually includes sections like education, employment history, projects, leadership roles, volunteer involvement, technical skills, and awards. 

• The GRE is a widely used standardized exam for many graduate programs; however, many graduate programs have made the GRE optional. Please review the application requirements for your desired program to determine if you need to take the GRE or not. If required, proctored testing slots can fill up quickly—especially during peak times—so it’s a good idea to schedule your exam early, ideally several months before your application deadlines. Keep in mind that it typically takes 10–15 days for GRE scores to reach your selected schools, so avoid testing less than three weeks before your earliest deadline. You can find free study materials and practice tests on the official GRE website: ets.org/gre/revised_general/prepare.
• If English isn’t your first language, many institutions will also require you to submit scores from the TOEFL or IELTS as proof of English proficiency. You can review UNL’s English proficiency requirements HERE

• It depends on the type of graduate program you're applying to. For research-focused programs, especially PhD programs, it is often strongly recommended—and sometimes expected—that you reach out to faculty whose research aligns with your interests before applying. Establishing contact can help you determine whether a faculty member is accepting new students, learn more about their current projects, and assess whether their advising style is a good fit for your goals. A thoughtful email that expresses your interest in their work and briefly introduces your background can make a strong impression and potentially improve your application’s visibility.
• For master’s programs, especially coursework-based or professional master’s degrees, contacting faculty is usually not required and often not necessary unless the program explicitly encourages it. These programs may admit students based on broader criteria and assign advisors after enrollment.
• Before reaching out, make sure to read the program’s website and faculty profiles carefully. And remember: contacting a faculty member does not guarantee admission, but it can help you make a more informed and targeted application.