You're Almost There! Grad School at Thompson Rivers University

Advice: Start early, leave enough time to edit

After careful thought and consideration, you have decided to apply to graduate school. It is a big step, and your choice has been driven by a variety of motivating factors, but the application process can be intimidating. Here at Thompson Rivers University, we’ve come up with a few tips to make applying to graduate school as simple and stress-free as possible:

1. 1. Early contact with a graduate supervisor is essential. Determine which faculty supervisor seems the most in-line with your areas of interest, and send a short, professional email outlining your desire to become part of his or her research team, or better yet, set up an appointment and come for a visit!


2. 2. Get writing! Most application packages require a vision statement outlining your education, career plans and ambitions, and providing some context for why you’ve embarked on this path at this stage in your career.


3. 3. Does the program require letters of reference? If so, choose the right reference — someone you worked with as a research assistant for example — and approach your references early. We suggest a minimum of four weeks notice for reference letters. Most academics are happy to help their students succeed in graduate school, and are pleased to write a reference letter provided you’ve given them ample time.


4. 4. Reflect and edit. Avoid submitting an application package that is disorganized, unclear, or full of grammatical errors. Leave yourself enough time to complete a thorough edit.


5. 5. Apply early. Graduate programs often have a limited enrollment; so the earlier you apply the better. Remember, help is just a phone call or email away. If you’ve got a question, contact gradadmissions@tru.ca. We look forward to welcoming you!