Applying for graduate school

Huiyu Ding, graduate student in the Department of Psychology, shares with us his experience with the graduate school application process. Huiyu was an undergrad at U of I just last year. He explained that while the application process was intimidating, getting started early made all the difference.

The first step he found helpful was actively seeking advice from other graduate students who are in similar programs. Once he understood the general logistics of applying to his type of program, he met with his professors to ask them for advice. Huiyu said his professors, especially the ones he had established relations with from working in their research labs, gave him a lot of guidance throughout the process and provided tips he would not have otherwise considered.

Once he collected the information he needed about the programs he was interested in, he returned to those professors to ask for letters of recommendation. During that time, actively working on his personal statements served him well. He was able to finish them well before the application deadlines, which gave him time to show them to his professors to get their input.

Finally, Huiyu utilized the Center for Writing Studies for help with his CV. He found this campus resource extremely helpful because while he already had a CV, there was room for improvement that he would not have been aware of had he not approached the center for help.

Interested in receiving personalized guidance on your graduate school journey? Visit the Life + Career Design Lab to learn more.