Graduate School

Applying to graduate school involves researching potential programs, submitting an online application, providing academic transcripts, writing a personal statement or statement of purpose, acquiring letters of recommendation, and taking a standardized test. The most important element is crafting a compelling personal statement that highlights your academic achievements, research experience, and motivations for pursuing graduate studies in your chosen field.

Writing Center

The Writing Center provides students with feedback and advice about how to improve their writing, and coaches them through the process of drafting and revising essays, reports, presentations, and personal statements for professional and graduate school. Visit the Writing Center.

Graduate and Professional School Exams

Information on the common graduate school entrance exams for students considering further education is available on the following sites:

• Dental Admission Test (DAT): Required for dental school admission. Learn more about the DAT.
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE): Typically required for academic master’s and PhD programs. Some business programs accept the GRE as well. Learn more about the GRE.
• Medical College Admission Test (MCAT): Required by nearly all U.S. medical schools and some medical schools in Canada and other countries. Learn more about the MCAT.
• Optometry Admission Test (OAT): Accepted by all optometry schools in the U.S. and some schools in Canada. Learn more about the OAT.

Students Applying to Medical, Dental, or Veterinary Schools

Make an appointment with Dean Alex Trayford through the Student Success Hub.

MCPHS Alumni Scholarship

MCPHS alumni who successfully complete any MCPHS degree can receive a tuition scholarship toward an eligible master’s program.

Personal Statement

Graduate and professional schools often require a written statement as part of the application process. Some require specific information while others use an unstructured format that allows the applicant to determine the focus. Schools/programs will ask you to submit a one- or two-page document (sometimes with a character limit) in an essay format, rather than a business letter format (which reflects a key difference between a personal statement and a letter of intent). Personal statements include several paragraphs about experiences and interests that led you to pursuing a professional field, how the organization’s focus will help you achieve your personal and professional goals, how your skills and experiences have prepared you to succeed in the program, and how the program fits with your long-term professional goals. Learn more about writing your personal statement.