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Applying to Grad School

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Written by Laura Cleave, Career Coach

Published January 23rd , 2026

Interested in pursuing postgraduate studies but aren’t sure where to start? Applying for graduate school can feel intimidating, but we are here to give you clarity and guidance each step of the way. 

Should I Apply to Grad School?

First, make sure graduate education is the right career path for you. Once you know you’re set on graduate school, here are some things to note while applying to graduate programs and specific institutions.

Research in Person

Talk to professors in your industry and college about your specific interests. They can provide wisdom on their grad education experiences, offering valuable advice, information, and even school recommendations.

Research Online

Narrow down your list of potential schools first. Looking through individual school websites can be a time-consuming and arduous process, so we recommend using resources like Peterson’s Graduate School Search Engine, to help direct your research. CareerOneStop is another resource where you can search professional organizations in your industry, and will likely have lists of good Grad programs. You can also google your interests or ask ChatGPT for more help on finding the best grad schools for you.

After getting ideas for programs, look through the individual programs or school websites to learn more about them.

Make a Spreadsheet

Make a spreadsheet identifying and detailing factors important to you in a school you’d like to attend (you can even put weights on these depending on how valuable each point is to you). For example, if you live in Salt Lake City and location is crucial, make your scope of schools limited to that area. But if valuable research areas are more important to you than staying in a certain location, list those places and organize your priorities accordingly. Here are some examples of factors to consider:

  • Location
  • Cost
  • Funding/scholarships
  • Cost of living
  • Research areas
  • Mentors
  • Prestige
  • Curriculum
  • Time to complete a degree
  • Resources
  • Employment rates
  • Acceptance rates
  • Application due dates
  • Size of program
  • Culture/overall fit

Make sure to keep track of application requirements, deadlines, status of Letters of Recommendation, and more details pertinent to remember. 

Four Main Components in a Grad School Application

These components will be the same for Professional, Masters, or PhD degrees. However, different industries will likely have extra requirements, for example, an architecture program may require a portfolio, and M.D. programs often require shadowing.

Transcript: Make sure you pay attention to GPA cutoffs. Applicants won’t be considered if they don’t meet the requirements, so don’t waste your time and money on an application that won’t consider you based on your GPA.

Resume/CV: These are two different documents that are required based on your type of field and program. Your career coach can guide you on how to build these items and tailor them for the program you’re interested in. You can Schedule an Appointment for help. 

Personal Statement: Your personal statement should be just that, personal. It is unique to you and should highlight your specific motivations, qualifications, and goals. The more you can tell a compelling story, the more memorable it will be. Try to avoid cliches or being vague when describing your skills. On a side note, make sure your statement is not too personal. By this, it’s fine to talk about struggles as long as they’re relevant to the story you’re crafting and explained appropriately without oversharing. 

There are many thoughts on how to write a great personal statement. Since it is so subjective, you should enquire from multiple people to read and provide feedback on your statement. Having different opinions will help you hone in on what is most important. You can ask your career coach, professors, or mentors to review your personal statement. The Writing Center is a great resource to run your statement through to be sure it's grammatically accurate, organized, and polished.

Letters of Recommendation: Ideally, these should be written by people who have worked with you beyond being your professor for a semester. The more someone can speak to your skills, strengths, work habits, and overall contributions, the better. Choose those who know you best and can write about more than your grades.

Tip: Make sure you ask for letters in advance so that your supervisors and professors have enough time to put some effort into a great letter.

What is the Most Important Component of the Application?

The most important component will depend on the program. Some humanities-related programs will say the personal statement is the most important, or an architecture program might say the portfolio is the most important, etc. This is one reason why you should try to talk with someone familiar with the program while you apply to gain more insight.

Types of Grad Programs

  1. Doctorate (PhD)
  2. Master’s (MS, MA)
  3. Professional (MD, JD)

Each of these degree types will have some nuances to the application process. Although the basic components remain the same, there can be more requirements based on the specific degree you are seeking. We encourage you to meet with your career coach to go over some of the guidelines for your industry. Preprofessional Advising here at the University of Utah is also a great resource if you’re a pre-health or pre-law student.

When Should I Apply?

This can be a long process. Find out when the deadlines are and begin your process months in advance.

How Many Schools Should I Apply to?

There is no magic number for how many schools you should apply to. Some of it depends on your industry and the acceptance rates of schools you are applying to. In general, it is important to choose quality over quantity when looking for graduate schools. 

You will have more success if you tailor each application to the particular school you are applying to. Take into account your personal time constraints as well as application fees when deciding how many high-quality applications you can put together. 

We with you the best as you navigate your career journey toward a postgraduate education!

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