Admissions Requirements

• Undergraduate Degree
• GPA
• Standardized Test Scores
• Relevant Professional Experience

Undergraduate Degree

For some graduate programs it may be necessary for you to have completed a specific undergraduate degree to be considered for admission. For some, it may be enough to have either completed a minor in a specific degree or have taken a significant amount of relevant courses. For others, you may need to take additional courses post-baccalaureate or even complete another degree before being eligible to apply if you don't have time to change your major or add a minor while still at RIC.

GPA

Your GPA suggests whether you have demonstrated the requisite academic ability at the undergraduate level required for success at the graduate level. Some programs may screen candidates based on pre-set minimum GPAs. Remember, however, that a high GPA alone is not enough to gain acceptance especially in the more competitive programs.

Don't just take "easy" classes that are a guaranteed "A." Your entire transcript will be reviewed to compare your overall GPA with your GPA in your major as well as to determine how rigorous your course of study.

If your GPA was dragged down by one or two bad grades, or even one bad semester, you may choose to include an addendum with your application explaining why you don't believe your GPA is indicative of your academic ability.

Standardized Test Scores

Different graduate programs require different standardized tests. Review admissions materials to determine which tests are required for the program(s) to which you intend to apply. Now that you know what test you'll need to take, it's time to consider when to take the test.

Best strategy - take the test when: 1) you are well-prepared and 2) you have an opportunity to retest well before the application deadline if for some reason you have a bad testing day. Don't panic if you do have a bad testing day - it can happen even to the most prepared test-taker!

Some people employ the strategy of taking standardized tests more than once - they consider the first administration a dry run. Before you do this, confirm that programs will consider ONLY your highest test score. Some do not. For instance, in almost every case, law schools will average your scores rather than taking only the higher one.

How best to prepare? Some people are naturally good standardized test takers. Others are not. If you are a structured person and a good standardized test taker, you may find that by purchasing test prep manuals from the Campus Store or local book shop and taking the practice tests, you will be adequately prepared.

If you are not a structured person and/or good standardized test taker, you may want to consider taking a test prep course through a reputable organization. These courses are expensive. Their benefits include structured practice test-taking as well as an introduction to test-taking strategies.

Important: standardized test scores are only valid for a specified period of time. Be sure yours are still current if you take the tests and then delay your application.

Relevant Professional Experience

Some programs consider relevant professional experience as important admission criteria in conjunction with your academic performance. While you may be academically eligible for admission, you will not be admitted until you have the accompanying experience. For instance, some MBA programs require that you have business experience before your application is even considered. In these programs, students are expected to contribute to their own and their classmates' learning by bringing their real world experience into classroom discussions.

Important: even if relevant professional experience is not a formal admissions' criterion, you may find that working before going to graduate school is a choice worth considering.

Advantages to working first include: 1) an enhanced learning experience because you are able to evaluate what is being presented in class against what you know first-hand and 2) expanded employment opportunities because you offer a prospective employer both an advanced degree and experience which sets you part from candidates who have the degree but no accompanying experience.