On Applying to Graduate or Professional School: Getting In

Admission to graduate or professional school is predicated on two primary factors, performance in undergraduate classes and scores on tests such as the Graduate Record Examination or tests specific to the intended field, such as the MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test) or LSAT (Law School Admissions Test). How difficult it is to gain admission to graduate studies depends in significant part on the area of the studies. Some professional schools, such as medicine and some academic disciplines, such as clinical psychology, attract a lot of applicants relative to the number of students accepted. Other, purely academic disciplines, such as history or sociology, have a smaller number of applicants per available slot and are, therefore, easier to gain admission. The reputation of the school also plays an important part in the likelihood of success in obtaining admission. The higher prestige schools, obviously, are the hardest to get into. One reason to apply to the 'best' schools is that they presumable provide the best educations. In addition, the better the school's reputation, the easier it is to get a desirable job when graduated. So it is wise to apply to a range of schools, including those that might be difficult to enter, as well as somewhat 'easier bets'.