Dear Selection Committee

All necessary documents have been signed, sealed and delivered by express mail. Over the weekend I applied to graduate school. The most difficult part of the entire application process was writing my statement of intent. During the last two years of my undergrad, I knew that I wanted to pursue a Masters degree. I first began to write my letter of intent last year. “Why do I want this?” I kept asking myself. There were so many reasons but I had a difficult time neatly packaging my short and long-term goals on paper. Before I knew it, the deadline had come and gone and I still wasn’t satisfied with my letter. I soon realized that my hesitation was caused by a lack of experience in my field. I knew that I couldn’t make such a decision based on internships alone.

A year later, the words that I once could not express quickly flowed onto paper without a moment of hesitation. I wrote about how my passion for the field of communications has no barrier. How it spills out of my work life and into my personal life. I also wrote about how my life is enriched from continuous learning. I wrote about my experience and how it has shaped me into the young professional that I am today. Finally, I touched on my enthusiasm for sharing my knowledge with my future classmates and learning from their experience in return.

Having had the time to reflect on the application process, I would now like to share with you what I have learned:

Research schools: The first step is to decide what schools you’re going to apply to. Sounds easy right? No so much. Here are a few things to ask yourself when selecting schools: Do you want to do your courses by distance or in person? Are the professors well recognized in the field? Do you want your program to be course based or research oriented? How long is the program? Does it offer a flexible part-time option if you expect to work full-time during your studies?

Start early: Gathering all required documents, getting references and writing your letter of intent take a lot of time and dedication. Give yourself enough time to edit your essay several times. This way you can avoid panic on the day you send out your application. I also sent my applications by express mail to make sure that they made it to the schools in time.

Be yourself: The selection committee will assess your grades, your CV and your references. Your personality is what will enable you to stand out from other applicants that are similar to you on paper. Your letter of intent or application essay is your chance to tell the selection committee your story.

Volunteer and intern: The selection committee is looking for people who will be able to participate in class discussions and provide concrete examples. This is one of the reasons why they are looking for candidates with work experience. Due to the competitive workforce, some people choose to pursue graduate studies directly or soon after completing their undergrad. Internships and volunteer work will help prove that you are ready.

Now I am going through the second most difficult part of the application process: waiting for a decision to be made. Not always easy for an impatient person like myself. 

Have you been through graduate school? Are currently a graduate student? Are you applying to a graduate program? I would love if you shared your story!