This is the fourth and final article in a series exploring graduate schools applications to museum studies programs.
In the previous article in the series, I suggested that you start to explore professional guidebooks which outline graduate programs as well as looking at the web pages of graduate programs which have sparked your interest.
Exploring some of these guides and web pages will allow you to narrow down the number of programs to which you are applying. At this point, it would probably be a wise idea to purchase a study guide to the GRE and brush up on your math skills and vocabulary. It is important to remember that a certain GRE score may not make or break your application, however, it is the one aspect of the graduate school application that you can readily improve with some studying. Additionally, attempting to improve your basic math skills or vocabulary never hurts, so you might as well do some basic studying for the exam.
Once you start compiling your graduate school applications, it important to provide some thought to both your background and goals, and how you would be a good fit for the program. In your graduate application, you will probably be asked to provide transcripts, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose or writing sample. You should see each of these portions of the application as opportunities to show the program to which you are applying who you are and what you hope to achieve. If you are applying to a museum studies program, it would be a wise idea to emphasize your museum internship in your statement of purpose. It might be an opportunity for you to explain how the internship helped you solidified your goals. Additionally, it might be a wise idea to obtain a letter of recommendation from your internship supervisor in conjuncture with your letters from your academic advisors.
It is important to remember that graduate programs will often pay more attention to how well you fit their program than to your academic background. Even if you have a perfect GPA, perfect GRE scores, and amazing recommendation letters, you are far from a lock to any program. The number of anecdotal stories of students who were accepted at their top school or rejected by their supposed "safety" school is staggering. The process can seemingly be random to a student in the midst of the application process. The best strategy you can take is to apply to the programs that you believe fit you best and simply hope for the best. If possible, apply to several programs rather than just one or two, and don't forget to keep your fingers crossed!
