Glossary of Grad School Admissions Terms
- Assistantship
- Many graduate school programs offer assistantships to their full-time admits. These typically include full or partial tuition coverage, plus a stipend for working in the department or at the school in some capacity.
- Many graduate school programs offer assistantships to their full-time admits. These typically include full or partial tuition coverage, plus a stipend for working in the department or at the school in some capacity.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- A document that highlights professional and academic history. CVs typically include education, work experience, research experience, honors and awards, scholarships, grants, publications, conferences, community service and nonprofit work, and additional skills.
- A document that highlights professional and academic history. CVs typically include education, work experience, research experience, honors and awards, scholarships, grants, publications, conferences, community service and nonprofit work, and additional skills.
- GMAT
- Graduate Management Admissions Test. This is an exam required for most MBA and business school graduate programs. Many MBA programs accept a GRE, but unofficially, the GMAT is generally preferred.
- Graduate Management Admissions Test. This is an exam required for most MBA and business school graduate programs. Many MBA programs accept a GRE, but unofficially, the GMAT is generally preferred.
- GRE
- Graduate Record Exam. This exam is required (or strongly encouraged unless the program is test blind) for admission to many U.S. graduate programs around the country.
- Graduate Record Exam. This exam is required (or strongly encouraged unless the program is test blind) for admission to many U.S. graduate programs around the country.
- LSAT
- Law School Admissions Test. This entrance exam is required for admission to earn a degree in law.
- Law School Admissions Test. This entrance exam is required for admission to earn a degree in law.
- MCAT
- Medical College Admissions Test. This is an exam required (for most programs) for medical school admissions.
- Medical College Admissions Test. This is an exam required (for most programs) for medical school admissions.
- Master’s Degree
- A post-Bachelor’s degree that is usually 1-2 years in length. It may involve a thesis, research project or comprehensive exam as the final stage.
- A post-Bachelor’s degree that is usually 1-2 years in length. It may involve a thesis, research project or comprehensive exam as the final stage.
- Personal Statement or Statement of Purpose (SOP)
- An essay usually two pages in length describing an applicant’s interest in a particular graduate level program, the applicant’s qualifications, evidence of scholarly aptitudes, commitment and interest in a particular program, and future goals. An SOP should be unique for each program to which you apply.
- An essay usually two pages in length describing an applicant’s interest in a particular graduate level program, the applicant’s qualifications, evidence of scholarly aptitudes, commitment and interest in a particular program, and future goals. An SOP should be unique for each program to which you apply.
- Ph.D
- Doctor of Philosophy degree, a research degree which usually involves coursework, comprehensive exams, a major research project leading to the writing of a dissertation, and a dissertation defense. The Ph.D. is often 4-7 years long, depending on the field and post-degree aims.
- Doctor of Philosophy degree, a research degree which usually involves coursework, comprehensive exams, a major research project leading to the writing of a dissertation, and a dissertation defense. The Ph.D. is often 4-7 years long, depending on the field and post-degree aims.
- T-14
- Refers to the top 14 law schools in the U.S., and it’s based on the annual U.S. News & World Report’s Best Law School Rankings. Roughly 10% of law students attend a T-14 school each year. Contrary to what the nickname would suggest, this list includes more than 14 schools. This is because, every year, some schools are tied for a certain number in the ranking. Georgetown, Cornell, UT Austin and UCLA often seem to fight to make it onto this list.
- Refers to the top 14 law schools in the U.S., and it’s based on the annual U.S. News & World Report’s Best Law School Rankings. Roughly 10% of law students attend a T-14 school each year. Contrary to what the nickname would suggest, this list includes more than 14 schools. This is because, every year, some schools are tied for a certain number in the ranking. Georgetown, Cornell, UT Austin and UCLA often seem to fight to make it onto this list.
- Terminal Degree
- The highest-level degree awarded for a particular subject or field. These include: PhD, EdD, DVM, PharmD, JD, and MD. Some master’s programs can be considered terminal degrees when a doctorate is not typically needed or is not an option for that field. For example: the MBA (Masters of Business Administration), MFA (Master of Fine Arts), or MSW (Masters of Social Work).
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