Recommendations
Who should you select as a recommender? Go to those who know you and have had positive experiences with you: use only people who know you well and who know you when you did well. Faculty recommendations are particularly important if you're planning on pursuing a research degree. If you're applying to a professional degree program, a mix of faculty and those who may know you in a professional capacity are usually acceptable. Do not submit recommendations from people who only know you as a family member or friend.
Faculty can't write you a recommendation if they don't know you. Speak up in class and ask intelligent questions. Seek their advice outside the classroom about graduate school and careers. Express initiative whatsApp number database and show independent thinking and intellectual curiosity. Ideally, try to work on research projects with them.
Make the process as easy as possible for your recommender:
· Contact them first to ask if they would be willing -- and have time -- to provide a recommendation.
· Complete the top portion of the recommendation form and sign the FERPA waiver (see note below).
· Be sure to tell them the program and degree to which you're applying and include information about yourself: a resume or bio; a copy of your personal statement; a copy of a good paper you may have submitted in their class.
· Provide the recommender with a preaddressed, stamped envelope.
The Family & Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) requires that you have access to the recommendation, unless you specifically waive access. This is your decision. However, many admissions committees view the accuracy and honesty of a recommendation more favorably if access is waived.
Statement of Purpose/Personal Statement
The statement of purpose is your opportunity to stand out from the rest of the applicants. Let the school know what is interesting or unique about you and why they should want you as a student. Include information that is not on your resume or listed elsewhere in your application materials: interesting experiences, unique characteristics. However, it is important that you carefully read the explanation of what the university wants in the statement. Are they interested in:
· Your motivation for applying, professional goals, and personal interests?
· Information on your background and suitability for the program?
· An understanding of the profession?
A good statement is honest and accurate; well-written, with no grammatical or spelling errors; and not significantly longer or shorter than the length requested by the school.
A couple of other hints about your statement of purpose:
· If you are sending your application to multiple schools and mention the school by name in your statement, don't forget to use the right name of the school or university.
· Don't use the statement to explain about any negative aspects of your application -- put those explanations in a separate statement or letter.
· Before submitting your application, ask faculty members and family to review your statement and provide comments.
AUTHOR: KIRSTIN WILLIAMS, Director Of Graduate Student Enrollment Management, George Washington Unversity