A program of study at a graduate school is the next step for the academically inclined, after a bachelor’s or bachelor’s degree. Knowing and understanding what graduate schools want is vitally important, as you can then tailor your work experiences and skills to become the ideal student they are looking for.

Admission to graduate school requires submission of a transcript, GRE or other standardized test scores, letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and/or an admissions essay. In addition to all this, some schools also schedule a personal interview for the finalists. An applicant should be careful when completing application forms as incomplete applications are summarily rejected.

The transcript is a record of academic progress. It is usually not part of the application submitted by the student. The transcript is sent by the registrar’s office of the college or university. If applicants want it included as part of their application, they will need to complete certain forms with the requested details. It would be wise to start this process early enough to avoid delays in submitting the application to the graduate school.

Most schools ask for GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) scores. Law, medical, and business schools require LSAT, MSAT, and GMAT scores respectively. The purpose of these exams is to assess a student’s potential for graduate study. The GRE has a score of 2400, and the most acceptable scores are generally in the range of 1800 to 2000. Since most schools need to review multiple applications, they apply cutoff scores to the GRE. Only applications above cutoff scores are considered.

When reviewing applications, graduate schools look for certain qualities that guarantee the admission of promising students. They try to find students who are eager to learn, motivated, and capable of success. Students must indicate that they are open to guidance and supervision. The essay or personal statement that accompanies the application must be able to convey this message.