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The Interview and Campus Visit
Some programs require applicants to have a formal interview with one or more representatives from the academic departments as part of the admission process. This can be completed in person or virtually.
The admission interview provides you and the university with an opportunity to determine if you are a good fit for each other. You will need to be prepared to answer questions about yourself, and you should have questions prepared to ask the person interviewing you.
Think back to the “What to Consider When Choosing a Graduate Program” questions as a starting point for what you might want to ask during your interview, along with any other questions that came up during your search.
If an interview is not required and you want the chance to speak with faculty or a current student or recent graduate, contact the academic department directly to see what they can accommodate.
Make the Most of Your Campus Visit
If you are able to visit the campus in person, make the most of your visit by scheduling it around an interesting event.
Start by checking the university’s event calendar and then reach out to your prospective academic department.
Plan Your Campus Visit
- Schedule your formal interview or informal meeting to be in person during your visit.
- Plan ahead to see if it is possible to sit in on a class or meet with a current student to learn more about their experiences in the program.
- Contact the Admissions office to see if there is a campus tour specific to graduate students. If there is not a tour specifically for graduate students, you might find that a self-guided tour is a better use of your time.
Negotiate Your Financial Aid Award & Accept an Admissions Offer
Negotiate Your Financial Aid Award
As with job offers, it might be possible for graduate students to negotiate for an increased financial aid offer, or to receive financial aid if none was originally offered. While you may inquire about additional aid options, MSU Denver does not negotiate financial aid offers.
In this context, “financial aid” refers to gift aid (scholarships, grants, assistantships, etc.), it is not possible to negotiate for an increase in student loans.
- Be sure to take note of any decision deadlines, and accept an offer as soon as you decide on a program.
- This article from ProFellow.com offers detailed advice on how to negotiate your funding package, and also provides a sample email template to use when contacting the university.
Accept an Admissions Offer
- Pay your enrollment deposit (this is also referred to as a “commitment deposit” or as a “matriculation deposit“).
- After accepting an offer, let other schools know you will not be attending.
- If you are studying abroad, assemble and submit your student visa application and any other required documents.
I Applied to Graduate School But Didn't Get In
First things first, take a deep breath. You are not alone in this experience, and it is possible for you to be admitted to a graduate program in the future.
If you were waitlisted for a program, check out this article from Idealist.org for tips on what to do next.
In order to move forward, your next step is to identify the reason(s) why you were not admitted this time around. Get in touch with your admissions counselor or a contact within the academic program and ask for feedback on how you can be a more competitive applicant for the next admissions cycle.
Due to the high number of applications being received, many graduate programs do not provide personalized feedback. While this can feel frustrating, you might have better luck receiving a response if you reach out outside of the busiest parts of the application and admission cycles.
Review the information below to learn more about common reasons for why students are not accepted, and how the issues can potentially be addressed.
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- If possible, invest in a test preparation course that includes practice tests and is published by the makers of your test.
- Review the test preparation resources listed here.
- If you are a current MSU Denver student, review the requirements for additional funding through the Graduate School and Professional Licensure program.
- If you are no longer a student, check with our Alumni Relations office. Your local public library or the Auraria library might also have test preparation resources available to borrow.
- You will want to meet with your admissions counselor to identify best next steps.
- If you need to take or retake specific courses, ask your admissions counselor if there are any restrictions for how to satisfy these requirements.
- For example, is it acceptable to take these courses through a self-paced, online service such as StraighterLine?
- Before you enroll in a specific course, check with your potential graduate program’s admissions counselor to confirm you are enrolling in the correct course.
- Consider completing an internship or volunteering with an organization related to your chosen career.
- If you are a current student, or you graduated less than one year ago, the Classroom to Career Hub has resources to help you.
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- If you graduated more than one year ago, explore our Alumni Career Support services.
- Complete a graduate or undergraduate certificate related to your field. You will want to research whether this is an appropriate way to work toward your goal of enrolling in a graduate degree program.
- Earn professional development badges through LinkedIn Learning, which is free for MSU Denver students and alumni.
- If the graduate program is truly not right for your goals:
- Ask your admissions counselor or faculty contact for recommendations on what type of program might be a better fit.
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- Do some research on LinkedIn; find people who have the job you want, look at their account to learn about their educational experience, and research similar programs.
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- Conduct informational interviews.
- For example, reach out to folks on LinkedIn to see if they would be willing to discuss their educational and professional journey.
- Conduct informational interviews.
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- This article from UC Berkley has good information related to conducting informational interviews.
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- If you didn’t articulate your goals clearly, or didn’t express your qualifications accurately:
- Get help editing your resume and/or your personal statement.
- If you are a current student, or you graduated less than one year ago, the Classroom to Career Hub has resources to help you.
- Get help editing your resume and/or your personal statement.
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- If you graduated more than one year ago, explore our Alumni Career Support services.
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- MSU Denver’s Writing Center is available to current students and alumni.
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- Consider asking different individuals to write your letters of recommendation for your next application. If you want to ask the same individuals to write your recommendation letters for your new application, remember to provide an updated copy of your resume/CV and a more tailored list of your achievements as they relate to the program you are applying to.
Additional Resources
Additional Resources
- How to Make the Most of Your Grad School Campus Visit (idealist.org)
- Questions to Ask a Graduate Program (Duke University), specifically the “Financial Support for Graduate Students” section
Contact Information
Email: [email protected]
Campus Location:
Administration Building (AD)
Suite 270
(meetings by appointment only)