Grad school application suggestions?

[smmokan]

I'm going to be applying to grad school in the next few months, and I was wondering if there is anything I should make sure to do while applying- scholarship tips, grants, grad asssistantships, etc? I'm most likely going back for Sports Administration/Management, so I'll be taking the GRE... and I'd obviously like to pay as little (or get paid) to go back to school. What kind of things should I be on the lookout for?

[bagtagley]

I'm going to be applying to grad school in the next few months, and I was wondering if there is anything I should make sure to do while applying- scholarship tips, grants, grad asssistantships, etc? I'm most likely going back for Sports Administration/Management, so I'll be taking the GRE... and I'd obviously like to pay as little (or get paid) to go back to school. What kind of things should I be on the lookout for?

I called the department heads and/or professors at the schools I was applying to. I not only showed a genuine interest in their program, but found out what I needed to do, how much money they had to work with, what the program offered, etc. I'm sure Viva will elaborate, but he made a good point in a similar thread that if you're a relatively strong candidate, they should be paying you. In my experience, your best bet is some sort of assistantship. Scholarships and grants are somewhat limited for grad students.

[shamrockpow]

I'm sure Viva will elaborate, but he made a good point in a similar thread that if you're a relatively strong candidate, they should be paying you.

But do schools actually pay masters business/administration students? I thought the answer was no.

[smmokan]

^^^ I wont' be an MBA student... if that matters. If I could get an assistantship/grant/scholarship to cover the cost of in-state tuition, I would be perfectly happy. If I could get paid to go to school, then that would be even better.

[Viva]

Depends on the major and the school. At some institutions the tuition and some money is made available by serving as a TA.

[bagtagley]

Depends on the major and the school. At some institutions the tuition and some money is made available by serving as a TA.

Research Assistantships generally cover tuition and pay a stipend, at least the ones I looked into did.

I was paid through an environmental and natural resource research analysis center that was linked to the university. If there's research potential, there should be money available.

[Sphinx]

STUDY FOR THE GRE. Get the 'seven real GREs' book and take the tests over and over until they quit tricking you. Buy the 'vocab for the GRE' book and start memorizing words. It's worth it, you don't want to take the real test several times.

Write good personal statements.

I'm in engineering, so I don't know anything else that might pertain to you. Have fun!

[TNKen]

When preping for a graduate entrance exam, spring the bucks to take the review course. I didn't, and although I studied my ass off, didn't do particularly well. Fortunately, a couple of the law schools were sympathetic and I got in, did well, then transferred to where I wanted to be.

Don't chince on the test.

Ken

[gorms]

The GRE sucks--but atleast in my experience the practice exams were asksed all the same types of questions as the real exam.

As for funding....i think the key is to get to know your faculity. Dont know much about sports management and where the $$ comes from..but if it is an RA then typically the professors are responsible for allocating the money for their projects. If it is a TA then the department decides or has policies in place (goes to the incoming students with the best XX or YY or supports someone trying to finish a PhD...)

In either case -- get to know the faculity, identify with someone who sparks your interests--then ask to work for them.

Someone within the department or the www. should be able to tell you the ratio of funded students within the department you are looking at..

[XtrPickels]

I'm an exercise physiology grad student, so things may be different in a non-science based program.. take this with a grain of salt.

Most programs will not accept you unless there is a faculty advisor willing to work with you. Search the departments website and spend time reading the interests of the faculty members. Write to the ones who share similiar interests. Make this a well articulated e-mail as it will be your first contact with them and you do not want to seem like a jackass.

Also, get a resume... a good resume. Start with career services at your undergrad school to get it shaped up. Then show it to a lot of people. Hell E-mail it to me and I'll look at it. It'll take a lot of little tweaks but its an important important thing to have. Its the resume that is going to help get you an assistanceship. They want to find people who can do things for them... not just some schmoe that they don't have an investment in. Also, if you are interested in say... coaching. Get First aid/ CPR certs (which are good anyway) Any little thing like that might put you ahead of someoen else when it comes down to the money.

As of now, get involved with your department... it shoulda happened long ago, but now is better than never. 1. You'll learn practical skills outside the class room. 2. You'll get stellar recommendations. Those rec's can open a ton of doors.

My teaching assistanceship basically pays me about $60/hour... Which means that I do very little work and still pull in livable money.
Grad school is basically the coolest thing ever.