II.     Learn about the Faculty

When reviewing applications, the faculty consider not only the strength of each application, but also the degree to which the academic interests of the applicant correspond with the academic interests and research agendas of the faculty.  When there is a close alignment, the faculty are better able to lend their expertise to the success and satisfaction of the student.  This is especially true for doctoral students!

To learn more about the faculty, follow these steps:

1. Determine which faculty members are affiliated with your Program(s) of interest (follow the steps above).
2. Review closely the profiles of those faculty members, including their publications and CV’s, if available.  If a professor’s publications are not available on the web site, you can search also for her/his publications using Google Scholar. 
3. If you have additional questions about the faculty that aren’t addressed on the web site, contact the respective Area or Division Office. 
4. Once you have identified one or two faculty members whose research interests seem to match your own, contact those faculty members by e-mail or telephone to express your interest in the program and further explore the compatibility between your interests and her/his interests.  Prepare some questions in advance!

Prepare a Strong Resume/Vitae

Your resume/vitae will tell the faculty much about your experiences and interests.  This handout from the UW Career Center provides tips and strategies for constructing your curriculum vitae.

Construct a Stellar Statement of Purpose

The College of Education has a holistic admission process where all pieces of the application are taken into consideration; however, the Statement of Purpose is the single most important representation of who you are as an applicant.  It is important, therefore, to put a great deal of thought into this statement.  The following resources should help:

• The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Applicants
• Tip Sheet for MIT/TEP Goal Statements
• Writing Center Tips for Good Writing

Obtain Excellent Recommendations

Your letters of recommendation should come from individuals who (a) know you well from first-hand experience – an instructor, a supervisor, or an advisor for example, and (b) will have credibility with the faculty who make admission decisions.  At least one recommendation should come from an academic person who can speak authoritatively about your ability to perform rigorous, graduate level academic work. 

Above all, choose individuals who can and will write outstanding recommendations for you.  Recommendations that are “mediocre” or “lukewarm” may actually do more harm than good, as will those that lack detailed information.  If you’re unsure, ask the recommender directly whether or not she/he can write you an excellent letter of recommendation.  If she/he says no, or seems to waiver on the question, say “thank you” and move on to the next person.

This handout from the UW Career Center, while developed specifically for those conducting academic job searches, nevertheless provides good tips and strategies for seeking letters of recommendations.