Applying for a Graduate School Program

A huge part of the applications I completed took place years before they were due. These are the steps that I took to get into the Master’s of Science in Journalism program at Columbia University in the City of New York.

There were many different components and steps that led to the completion of the six master’s programs to which I applied.

The most important piece of advice that I could give someone when applying to prestigious master’s programs is to PREPARE IN ADVANCE.

Resume

Since I was a freshman in high school, I always kept track of what internships I held, what volunteer work I did and any other experience that I could put on my resume for the future. This helped me train myself to always keep my resume in my mind when I was planning my summer and winter break plans. I always considered opportunities based on both the experience that I would get and also the importance of that experience in strengthening my resume. 

Experience in The Field

Many, if not all master’s programs look for some prior experience or knowledge of the subject/focus of the program. I was lucky in that I had taken journalism classes in undergrad, held a major leadership position on my college’s student-run newspaper and currently held a job as the Senior Editor of an online magazine. Those positions combined gave me a lot of experience in the field of journalism, strengthened my resume and gave me a lot to write about in the personal essays on grad school applications. 

College Courses and Grades

Believe it or not, my grades while in undergrad were not the best. I would say they were pretty average and my GPA is definitely not something I will ever brag about. But I believe that something admissions staff look for when reading applications is proof that though your grades aren’t perfect, you took the time to get other experiences around campus. I did prove through my extracurricular activities that I understood how to manage my time and maintain a dedication to all in which I was involved. I showed leadership and motivation in the activities I did on and off-campus throughout my undergraduate years.

Personal Essays

Each program asks for certain personal essays to get to know you and your interest in the program. They are looking for a unique individual who is going to attribute to the program in ways that other candidates may not. One that also has strong potential to succeed in professional work in the future. 

Now, you may ask if I had the same essays for all six of the programs to which I applied. No, I didn’t. Not that having the same would have been a bad thing, but those essays that are describing how being accepted into that specific program is going to make your dreams come true, need to be written for each program individually. Otherwise, they may seem way too general and don’t give you the ability to speak about what you will take advantage of in each specific program. 

Self-awareness and Establishing Goals

Before applying to a master’s program, I needed to build self-awareness like never before. I needed to know the person that I was and the person I strived to become because that was something I needed to include in the essays I submitted in each application.