Applying for and gaining acceptance to advanced degree programs is a complex and sometimes tedious process. Between developing your school list, framing your experiences through potentially dozens of essays, and completing various challenging testing requirements, you may be feeling overwhelmed with how to best present your candidacy with the strongest application possible.
If you’re here, you’re likely already considering the help of a graduate school counselor, which is why we’ve written this blog to help you understand what to expect during your session and how graduate counseling could make a difference when it comes to admissions, scholarship, and satisfaction outcomes. Stick around for an inside look at what a typical graduate counseling session at Marks Education looks like, and if our services sound right for you, contact us through the link at the bottom of the page for a FREE consultation!
Before Your Counseling Session
Before you first meet with a graduate counselor, we often encourage clients to first spend some time getting their ducks in a row. This means spending an afternoon updating your resume with your most recent experiences, requesting your academic transcripts so they can be reviewed during the session, and considering who you might ask to write your letters of recommendation and what they might say about you.
We also tend to encourage students to engage in some preliminary reflection before their first graduate counseling session. Unlike undergraduate admissions which allow a bit more leeway, graduate school applications require a clear sense of purpose and direction. And while that doesn’t mean you need to have every single detail figured out, having a clear sense of what you want to achieve through a graduate education is important to demonstrate in your application, but will also serve as the starting point for our time together.
Remember, the more time and effort you spend reflecting before your session, the more productive our conversation will be. It can also help to come with a list of the specific questions you have to make sure you walk away with all of the answers you were hoping for.
In the Session
Graduate counseling sessions with Marks Education will generally start with a thorough conversation about your educational background and career aspirations. For students early in their college careers, we may suggest specific types of experiences that could strengthen their future applications. For those preparing to apply in the more immediate future, we will focus on effectively highlighting existing experiences across your application materials and filling any possible gaps.
Our counselors are trained to ask thoughtful questions about your coursework, experiences, and goals to understand your unique situation. This information is invaluable in the creation and strategy process of application materials, but also in helping best point you towards opportunities that fit into your goals and interests. Our team will help you create a strategic list of schools tailored to your goals, profile, and preferences; covering important factors such as program focus, location, culture, and admissions statistics.
Essays
Undoubtedly, one of the most challenging parts of any application is its essays. Like other components, this stage requires reflection, strategy, and time spent polishing; but unlike undergraduate essays, graduate application essays (like the infamous statement of purpose, or other university-specific essay components) require you to come up with compelling ways to present yourself, describe your goals, and articulate your experiences. These essays are often unlike most others you’ve had to write before, and can take up a lot of your time if you’re not sure how to write or structure your draft.
Not only will your Marks Education counselor be there every step of the way, but we’ll also help you consider innovative ways to frame your experiences, meaningfully articulate your goals, and respond to specific program interests or prompts. This will allow you to benefit from the trained eyes of essay specialists and professional counselors, but also through the decades of collective team institutional knowledge at our disposal to assist you. We’re experts at helping you submit strategic and authentic graduate application essays and materials that improve your odds of admission.
Testing Plan
Last but not least, when meeting with Marks Education, if the graduate education plans you’ve laid out for yourself have testing components, your counselor will help you map and strategize a testing plan. During your session, we’ll discuss which test is appropriate for your goals, such as the MCAT, LSAT, GRE, GMAT, etc. and develop a preparation strategy that can be supplemented by a meeting with one of our professional graduate test tutors!
Testing is something that every client approaches differently. For some, it means trying to complete their testing while they are still in “academic mode” and a full time student—rather than trying to prepare while working full-time—and for others it means balancing family, work, and applications. In any case, we’re here to help you consider what works best for you and chart a path forward.
Conclusion
Marks Education’s personalized graduate school counseling is tailored to meet you where you are in your journey and provide the specific guidance you need to move forward with confidence. Whether you’re an undergraduate planning ahead or a professional ready to apply, our counselors offer expert advice customized to your unique situation and goals.
If you’re ready to begin your Graduate School counseling journey with the help of a counselor, contact us to learn more and use this link for a FREE consultation .