Suggestion From Peng Gong

About basic requirements of application materials and how they are considered by the graduate admission committee, and some other suggestions on increasing the chance for success.

1. Before preparing the application materials

• prepare your materials based on each individual program
• investigate the professor's publications, critique not just say how impressed you are,find the best match of your interest
• establish a e-mail communication with the professors you have interest in working with
• Prepare yourself by reading the professor's materials in order to carry out a productive conversation
• emphasize your own personality and prove that you can make a difference with you unique thoughts,design and theory will be critically important

2. Preparing the application materials

• peronal information: your address, age, gender, field of interest, professors of your choice, financial capability
• academic transcripts
• personal statement: show your cultural background, origin, path of academic development, your own thinking and beliefs in life or in the research field, your plan for the future(It is used to judge your logical thinking, writing skill, how special and skilled you are. Make sure you support your statement with facts and example. Show if you are particularly proud of sth, your school, your own accomplishment. What makes a ps more convincing is to show how you can synthesize from daily observations more general pricipel of living and studying. )
• test scores (Good English scores will always help)
• a cover letter(briefly stating your application package, preferred field of study, some important imformation you wish the officer to learn)
• 3 letters of reference(a personalized letter)
• additonal optional materials(proof of any important prize or recognition is helpful; additional published papers showing real innovation will help)
• rank & GPA

3. How are the applicaiton materials evaluated

• what's most important is that a professor is willing to take you as first pick provided you meet with the basic university and departmental requirements
• GPA & GRE scores account for 50%-60% of a general evaluation, each worth 20%
• personal statement account for 10-15%
• referrence letters account for 15% or so
• potential skills 5-10%