S2E5: Inside the Admissions Room: How Graduate Applications Are Really Reviewed

What really happens after you hit submit on your graduate school application? In this episode of Graduate Students’ Den, John, Halima, and Kelsey sit down with Dr. Radhika Gajjala and Dr. Yanqin Lu from BGSU’s Graduate Programs Committee to uncover the truth about how applications are reviewed.We discuss the entire process, from start to finish, what makes a strong application stand out, and the common mistakes that can hold applicants back. Our guests share insider advice on crafting powerful personal statements, the weight given to GPAs, what faculty look for beyond GPAs, and the qualities that truly define a strong graduate student.If you’ve ever wondered what admissions committees really think, this conversation pulls back the curtain and gives you the tools to approach the process with confidence.