Now that you have decided to apply for admission to a graduate-level program and have done some thinking about your field of study and the different types of academic degrees that are available, it's time to think about how to get accepted to the department in which you are most interested. The admission committee will base its assessment of you on your graduate-school application, so use it to convey your commitment to your field of study and your program of choice.

You can craft your application with a focus that will highlight your achievements. If you have worked for several years between college and graduate school, explain in the statement of purpose how your professional experience has strengthened your knowledge of and experience in the field and why further study is the next step in your professional path. If you are planning to go to graduate school right after you complete your undergraduate degree, highlight the range of courses you have taken, both in and out of your major, so as to demonstrate your long-standing interest in particular issues associated with the field of study. Describe your internship or work experience to show that you take initiative and that your interest in your field extends beyond the classroom.

Here are some ways to strengthen the main components of your application:

Grades
While grades are important, good grades alone are not enough. By contrast, it is also important to remember that less than perfect grades will not rule out the possibility of study at the graduate level. Some institutions look only at your GPA for the course work in your major field; others look only at the grades for courses taken after your first two years of study. If your grades are less than ideal, you may want to explain the cause of this deficiency.

Standardized Test Scores
Be sure to confirm which tests are required for admission and to take them in time to get your official scores sent to the programs to which you are applying. Some schools require only the GRE General Test, while others require the GRE General Test and a GRE Subject Test. Professional programs have their own entrance exams; for example, the LSAT is required for law school, the GMAT for business school, and the MCAT for medical school. The emphasis placed on standardized test scores also varies from program to program, and many departments are now considering alternatives to these exams. Regardless, it is important to prepare for these tests. Familiarize yourself with the testing style, and try to take a practice exam before the official exam. If you typically do not perform well on standardized tests, an addendum to your application that addresses this issue may be a good idea.

Statement of Purpose
Most applications ask for a statement of interest or an autobiographical statement. Your statement of purpose should describe the following:

• Your interests in the field of study and how you came to have those interests
• Your goals and ambitions in the field
• How the specific program to which you are applying can help you to achieve your goals

Try to be specific about your goals while also indicating a desire to learn new things. Being too specific about your interests and goals in the field might suggest that you are not open to learning more about the field of study and the range of possible career options after graduation. Know each program you are applying to and describe how your interests and goals and the department's offerings fit together. Avoid clichés by thinking about what makes you different from other applicants and what you can offer as a student in the program. Admissions committees will be impressed if you explain how the particular program offered by that school will help you achieve your long-term goals.

Letters of Recommendation
Letters of recommendation are extremely important, and you should carefully consider whom you ask to write them. Some departments prefer letters from your former or current professors, and others prefer letters from employers; be sure to inquire with the department.

The most helpful letters come from faculty members or supervisors who have had considerable contact with you and know you as a person. A letter from a professor who has an established reputation in the field is that much more impressive. Professors who don't know you well can repeat information about your grades, which is already contained on your transcript, but cannot fill out the picture with details about your level of scholarship or your work ethic. A letter from an employer can be useful if the job was in a field related to the program to which you're applying and if the letter comments on your accomplishments and your aptitude for this type of work.

Approach the people who are writing your letters of recommendation early, and be sure to inform them of the deadlines and provide an addressed envelope with a stamp. Also provide a current resume and an explanation of the programs to which you are applying. Again, the admissions committee will be looking at your letters of recommendation for a fit between your aptitudes and interests and their program. It's a good idea to send a thank-you note and an update on your admission status to those people who wrote your letters of recommendation, as you may be requesting letters again later in your academic career for fellowship or job applications.

Resume
If you are applying to a professional program, it is often a good idea to send along a resume, even if it is not requested and it repeats information in the application. If you have large gaps in your resume, it's advisable to explain what you were doing during those periods.

Here are a few more tips to prepare the best possible applications and get you into the school of your choice:

Read Questions Carefully and Answer Questions Directly
Avoid generalities. Write about events and experiences that are unique to you. For example, while it may be true that the reason you are interested in applying to a journalism or creative writing program is that you love to write, or to a psychology or social work program because you want to help people, this type of explanation has become cliché and should be avoided because it provides little information about you as a prospective student. Instead, be specific: talk about what brought you to the decision to apply to graduate school, what skills you have that are applicable, and the types of experiences (professional, academic, and personal) that have led you to this point.

Timeliness and Neatness
The rules on timeliness and neatness apply to all parts of the application process. Applications that are mailed on time and are carefully put together make a good impression on an admissions committee. If you can't manage to get the admission materials together on time and in a neat package, the admission committee may ask, Will your class assignments also be late? Are you generally disorganized? Do you really care about getting into the program?

All of your communications should be typed. It's advisable not to send anything handwritten, even if you feel you have good penmanship. You should be certain that your statement of purpose and other submissions are grammatically correct and that they contain no misspelled words. Have someone else read them to get some feedback. Be sure that you individualize each application and that you do not send the wrong statement to the wrong school. If you are invited to interview, be punctual and neatly dressed.

Fit
Above all, most graduate programs are looking for students who "match" their programs. At the graduate level, study is highly specialized, so programs want to find students who can get the most out of what they offer and emphasize. Ask your undergraduate professors and colleagues about possible programs they would recommend. Speak with current students and recent alumni and inquire whether they think this program would be a good fit with your interests. Do your homework by checking out the department's Web site or bulletin to see if the department's faculty members have similar interests to your own. Go to the library and look up publications by the faculty. Decide whether this kind of work is what you want to do.

Master's versus Ph.D.
In some departments, all students must begin as master's candidates even if they plan to continue on until they receive the doctorate. In other programs, you can enter straight into a Ph.D. track. In most academic departments in which both a Ph.D. and a master's are awarded, you must choose the program to which you would like to apply. Generally, departments have different admissions standards for doctoral and master's students and will admit some applicants into a master's program if they do not consider the applicant strong enough as a doctoral candidate. If you are unsure of your chances for admission at the doctoral level, applying at the master's level can be a good option. If you do exemplary work as a master's candidate and develop a strong relationship with your advisor, you may be able to petition to stay on to work for the doctorate.

After having followed all these steps, what if you are not admitted to a program that you are excited about attending? If you are committed to pursuing further study, it makes sense to try again; many programs view reapplicants favorably. Call the admissions office and ask if they have an appeal procedure and if they will give you feedback on your application. Examine the reasons why you were not accepted. Was it a lukewarm letter of recommendation? Poor test scores? Lack of experience? If you are thinking of reapplying the next year, you should consider taking a few courses at your local university on a nondegree basis to show your commitment to the subject. Keep in touch with the admissions office. If you are graduating, look for a position in a related field in order to stay involved with the area of study.