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Applications: Statements of Purpose, References

Up to Getting into Graduate School


Advice for undergraduates considering graduate school
by Phil Agre, UCSD.
Writing the Personal Statement - The OWL at Purdue
This handout provides information about writing personal statements for academic and other positions.
Sell Yourself: Guidance for Developing Your Personal Statement for Graduate School Applications
"It’s the night before the application deadline and Jamal has completed all application forms, requested transcripts, and asked for letters of recommendation from his professors and research mentor. One last piece needs his attention, however: the personal statements. One application states, 'Discuss how your past educational, research and/or work experience(s) will contribute to your proposed studies.' Another application asks, 'What are your career goals and how do you see our program supporting your goals?'"
Graduate Schools and Fellowships in Mathematics
A pamphlet from the Harvard Math Department on choosing and applying to graduate school.
Letters of Recomendation
Good advice on how to ask for letters of recommendation.
Berkeley Career Center guide to writing the Grad Statement
It's quite comprehensive and has everything you need to write a good Statement of Purpose.
How to Apply to Grad School
Linda Hayes & Steve Hayes' guide, reprinted from the APS Observer.
Everything I Wish Somebody Would Have Told Me About Graduate School Admissions
(and a few things that people did tell me but that I didn't really believe until after it was all over.) by Matt Lepinski.
Applying to Graduate School: Statement of Purpose
Sample statements of purpose from the MIT Careers Office
Graduate School Personal Statement Secrets - Yahoo! Education
"The best way to approach your personal statement for graduate school is to imagine that you have five minutes with someone from the admissions committee. How would you go about making the best case for yourself while holding the listener's interest? What would you include and omit in your story? Figuring out the answer to these questions is critical to successfully preparing an effective statement."
Getting into Graduate School: Advice from a Grad Student and an Admissions Officer
"Many students of the life sciences choose to continue their education; however getting admitted to a graduate program can seem hopeless and frustrating. Graduate programs can receive a large number of applications, but they can only extend offers to a limited number of students. So, you may ask, how can I ensure an acceptance into a graduate program when it seems that all odds are stacked against me? How do I know what the admissions committee is looking for and what can I do increase my chances for acceptance?"
Advice on Getting Letters of Recommendation
Follow these steps to get the best possible letters of recommendation.
MS or PhD
A blog about applying to graduate school. The focus appears to be on international students applying to schools in the US.
The Seven Sins of Applying to Graduate School
"These tips are one of a kind! Where else can you get expert advice on how not to get in?"
Getting In: An Applicant's Guide to Graduate School Admissions
Dave Burrell's online guide to getting in to grad school.