Planning for Plan B
If you haven't been accepted to a program of your choice, what will you do next? If you plan to continue to pursue graduate school, you will want to re-assess your options and chances and make necessary adjustments. If you have alternate plans, such as entering the job market, what will you need to do to prepare yourself? Meeting with a counselor in Career Services can be helpful in making plans for "Plan B." Ideally, planning for options to graduate school begins concurrent with the graduate school application process.
If you intend to continue to pursue graduate school, you will need to decide on the following:- Are your target programs realistic, or should you make adjustments?
- What other educational options are available?
- How can you improve your chances? Some examples include: getting more work experience; reworking your application, personal statement, or other supplemental materials; taking additional undergraduate coursework to strengthen weak areas; taking graduate coursework as a non-matriculating student; doing internships; applying to less competitive programs.
Often you will find there is more than one successful path to your goal. Meet with a career counselor to discuss your options and develop a successful strategy for your "Plan B!"
Ten Things to Do if You Don't Get In the First Time (Adapted from Graduate Admissions Essays by Donald Asher, Ten Speed Press, 2000)- Apply earlier next time. Avoid the last six weeks before the deadline.
- Apply to more schools. Six is usually considered a prudent minimum: two safe schools, two middle-of-the-road, two reach schools.
- Apply to more safe schools. Even 4.0 students can and do get rejected.
- Visit the school(s) in person and wow them. Do your research first: know faculty areas of interest/research.
- Go to summer school in the targeted subject and wow them. It's easy to get into summer school, even at Harvard.
- Take one class at a time in the targeted subject and wow them. Remember: your most recent grades count the most.
- Get volunteer or internship experiences in the targeted field, even part-time or unpaid.
- Work in a "real job" in the targeted field. There's no substitute for actual experience and recommendations from supervisors in the profession.
- Get an intermediate degree, such as a master's or even just a credential/certificate.
- Get older and try again. Many times, that's all it takes.
