cover letter graduate school application

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Cover Letter For Graduate School Application

Most grad school applicants have the grades, passion, and skills to excel there. Not everyone, however, can put that across in a few short paragraphs of a grad school cover letter.

The competition for graduate schools can be fierce. Nobody’s applying here if they don’t have the grades or a passion for the subject. This is why a personal touch can go a long way.

Most people will write an unimpressive description of their prior education and a list of attachments. This is your chance to stand out. So let’s make it a good one.

In this guide:

• A graduate school cover letter sample that gets the top marks, every time.
• How to format your cover letter for graduate school.
• A fill-in-the-blanks template that will produce your grad school cover letter within 15 minutes.

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Haven't found what you're looking for? Check all our Best Cover Letter Examples.

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First, let’s check out this graduate school cover letter sample. See how it makes the best use of this opportunity.

1. Graduate School Cover Letter Sample

This sample cover letter for graduate school is from Joanna, seeking admission to a Master of Arts in Philosophy program. 

Cover Letter For Graduate School

Cover letter for graduate school—text version.

Joanna Perreault

245 Lucy Lane

Bloomington, IN 47408

309-122-1128

[email protected]

Bloomington, Dec 16, 2019

Dr. John Smith

Columbia University

708 Philosophy Hall, 

1150 Amsterdam Avenue

New York, NY 10027

Dear Dr. Smith,

I am pleased to submit my application to the Master of Arts in Philosophy program at Columbia University. Given my previous academic background, a BA in Linguistics & Philosophy from Boston University (4.0 GPA), the graduate program at Columbia with its modules in Philosophy of Language is a perfect fit for me to expand my expertise and make a step towards my goal of completing a PhD in Philosophy, focusing on the Philosophy of Language and the way microaggressive and dog-whistle language in politics shapes public opinion.

While working on my BA at Boston University, I have had the incredible opportunity to be at the forefront of linguistics research. During my studies in the ‘Topics in Knowledge, Language, and Logic’ module, I have had the opportunity to join Dr. Fraser’s research on the language of the media. My part was in the preparation stage, during initial, manual selection of parsing criteria, establishing algorithm rules and baselines. I have manually analyzed the language of 300+ articles using a continuously evolving model. Several of my recommendations and insights became key tenets of the model, which you can read more about in Dr. Fraser’s letter of recommendation. All in all, I have given over 500 hours over 2 years to this project, while maintaining a 4.0 GPA. Together with colleagues and students from the Department of Computer Science, an algorithm was built to parse media content and use NLP through Python to analyze the language within. The sentiments of each media outlet could then be plotted on a subject-specific spectrum. Over 500,000 articles and 400 million words were analyzed. One of the recommendations for further research was to study the implications and effects of what Dr. Fraser called ‘combative’ language on public opinion, and the proportional impact of positive vs. negative descriptions. This has now become my ambition, and I hope to complete a PhD that surveys these effects.

Please find the list of attachments and application documents below. It is compliant with the list required on the university website, but if there is anything else you require, or you have any questions, please let me know. 

Attached: 

Graduate School Admission Application

Undergraduate Transcript

Statement of Academic Purpose

2 Writing Samples (1 Philosophy, 1 Linguistics)

3 letters of evaluation / recommendation

With a graduate school cover letter like that, you can be sure you’ll be getting an interview. It captivates the reader with an account of the student going above and beyond— 

Which is what graduate education is about.  It shows a clear path and intention to contribute to the body of knowledge in their field, as well as listing all the necessary parameters concisely.

Let’s get started on your grad school cover letter.

2. Write a Top Of The Class Graduate School Cover Letter

Here’s how to write a perfect cover letter for graduate school:

1. Use a Professional Cover Letter Format 

It would be comforting to assume that every cover letter for grad school is read meticulously, the advantages of each candidate being mapped on a huge leaderboard through standardized weighting.

But—sometimes people just don’t like the look of you. Or your grad school cover letter.

The way your grad school cover letter looks might not secure extra points for being correct, but it can definitely get your application binned if it’s wrong. If you can’t get your graduate school cover letter right, do you demonstrate the attention-to-detail and thoroughness required for further studies?

This is how not to lose points on your cover letter format :

• ‘Align Left’ the text, and don’t use justification. 
• Set even, margins on all sides, 1-inch at a minimum.
• Match your resume font —go for the classic. Garamond is probably bordering in wild in the context of a grad school cover letter.
• Use 1.15 line spacing. Leave a line between each section, and between paragraphs.
• 1-page is always enough when it comes to the cover letter length .

Make sure you check these steps again at the end—sometimes formatting can get messed up mid-way, especially when copy and pasting. 

Now, let’s run down what to include in your cover letter for graduate school.

2. Address Your Grad School Cover Letter

Addressing a cover letter for graduate school is not vastly different from addressing one for jobs. Make sure to include your physical address, but also email and phone number. If there is anything missing from your application, you want them to be able to reach you. 

Underneath, write down the date like any other letter, and below, the details of the person that will be dealing with your admission. 

Check against our template:

Graduate School Cover Letter Header 

[ Your Full Name]

[ Physical Address ]

[ Phone Number ]

[ Email Address ]

[ Graduate Program Director / Administrator ]

[ Academic Department ]

[ College Name ]

[ Address ]

[ City and Zip Code ]

Expert Hint: Take extra time and care when applying to fully-funded programs, the acceptance rates for those drop into low single digits. Check out this list of cover letter dos and don'ts .

3. Identify The Program You’re Applying To and Introduce Yourself

Couldn’t be anything easier to do on a grad school cover letter than addressing it, right? Once again, we are in territory where you will not be winning points, but you may get your application binned.

These aren’t general undergraduate admissions, graduate programs usually have a specific person in charge dealing with the applications, and it doesn’t hurt to look it up. The name of the program administrator should be right there on the course description page on your college’s website. If you wade through the departmental pages and still can’t find it, just call them up. It’s no secret.

Once you’ve done the research, address the program administrator by their first name.

Start your cover letter by clearly identifying the graduate program you are hoping to join, and give them a reason to keep reading—your biggest academic achievement or a specific relation to the course you’re applying to.

Here’s a graduate school cover letter sample—you can just replace the [blanks] with your information. 

Graduate School Cover Letter Example: Introduction

Dear  [Proper Academic Title] [Surname] :

I am pleased to submit my application to the  [Program Name]  program at  [Grad School Name] . Given my previous academic background, a  [Your Degree Name]  from  [College Name] [GPA] , the graduate program at  [Grad School Name]  is the natural progression in working towards my goal of  [your goal] , due to its  [graduate program focus/specific modules/other reason] .

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4. Show That You’re The Best Candidate

They have the what, let’s give them the why. Graduate programs can be very specific, narrowed versions of a broader discipline—if this is the case, this is your easiest path to proving your adequacy for the program. 

Focus on parts of your existing education that match this focus and what achievements or skills you have acquired that will let you excel in this graduate program. List any extracurricular experience related to your graduate program—jobs, work experience, placements, internships.

Sample Cover Letter For Graduate School: Middle Paragraph

As a graduate of  [Degree Name]  at  [College Name] , I was fortunate enough to  [list any achievements/notable projects/unique skills/things you can quantify].  My  [list background experience/specific modules/extracurricular work]  make me the ideal fit for the  [Graduate Program Name]  program, due to  [the link between your background and the focus of the graduate program].

Expert Hint: Most graduate programs will require you to take a GRE—the Graduate Record Examination. Machine learning solutions exist that craft a tailor-made program to your weaknesses, and help you fix them to raise your score, and your chances.

5. Close the Grad School Cover Letter With the Formalities

All done. Just some formal pleasantries and a safeguard in case you missed something.  Feel free to just copy this paragraph:

Graduate School Cover Letter Sample: The Closing

Please find the list of attachments and application documents below. It is compliant with the list required on your website, but if there is anything else you require, or you have any questions, please let me know. 

6. Sign Off & List Attachments

When ending your cover letter for graduate school, mention your full name again and add a list of attachments. Here is how we close sample cover letters for graduate school: 

Graduate School Cover Letter Sample: Sign Off

Best Regards,

[Your Handwritten Signature]

[Your Full Name]

Graduate Admission Application

Undergraduate Transcripts

Standardized Test Scores

[X]  Writing Samples (1 Philosophy, 1 Linguistics)

[X]  letters of evaluation / recommendation / reference

The handwritten signature is a nice touch if you have the space for it. Drop 3 lines of space to make it stand out.

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Nail it all with a splash of color, choose a clean font, highlight your skills in just a few clicks. You’re the perfect candidate and we’ll prove it. Just pick one of 21 resume templates and get started now .

If you’re writing a cover letter for graduate school, you’re most likely going to need a resume. See:

• Graduate School Resume Example  
• Scholarship Resume Example
• Resume for College Application .

When writing your cover letter for graduate school applications, make sure to:

• Use the correct formatting: elegant font, margins, spacing, a clear header with all the information.
• State the graduate program you’re applying to, your previous education background, and the reason for you applying.
• Show that you are suitable for the graduate program by explaining your interest, showing the links and path of progression from your previous studies, underlining it all with your achievements.
• Copy our grad school cover letter closing.
• Sign off formally, and make a list of attachments below.

Do you have any more questions about writing a cover letter for graduate school? Did you find our grad school cover letter examples helpful? Leave us a comment, I’ll be more than happy to hear from you!

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• Graduate School

Graduate School Cover Letter Examples

With writing tips and a step-by-step guide.

Looking at graduate school cover letter examples is a good idea if you plan on applying to a graduate school program, as you may be required to include a cover letter with your  CV for graduate school  and other application components. Even though it is not a required document for all grad school programs, a well-written graduate school cover letter can help you stand out to the admissions committee and improve your chances of being accepted into your chosen program. This is especially true if you are applying to a highly selective institution or trying to  get into graduate school with a low GPA.

This blog will discuss everything you need to know about writing a cover letter for graduate school. You will learn why cover letters are important, learn tips to make your graduate school cover letter stand out, and you will get to review cover letter samples that will inspire you to write your own. 

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free initial consultation here <<

Article Contents 10 min read

What is a graduate school cover letter.

A graduate school cover letter is a brief letter that applicants attach to their graduate school application. Much like a work cover letter, such as a  research assistant cover letter , for example, graduate school cover letters are meant to introduce you and your application to the reader. They give you an opportunity to make an excellent first impression, tell the admission committee that you are interested in their graduate school program and why you believe it is a good fit for you. 

Graduate school cover letters have become less popular as graduate schools typically ask students to fill out their personal information and submit materials online. If you are sending specific application materials or your entire application by mail, then you will need to include a graduate school cover letter. Additionally, a few institutions, like the University of Illinois graduate college, for example, require students to submit a graduate school cover letter with their application, even when it is online. 

Furthermore, even when a graduate program does not explicitly ask for a cover letter, including a well-written and informative letter can help differentiate you from the other students by leaving a lasting impression on the admission committee, thus increasing your chances of admission. That said, before you start writing a cover letter for such a program, you should verify the school's admissions website to ensure that the school accepts additional documents. 

It should also be noted that many graduate students look for work and research opportunities at the school that they will be attending. If that is the case for you, then you will need a graduate school cover letter with your application for that school-related internship, job, or research opportunity. For example, if you’re interested in conducting research with a specific professor while you complete your master’s, then it would be a good idea to send them your application with a cover letter attached so that you can communicate your suitability for their research project.

Graduate school cover letters are academic letters, meaning that they need to be formatted in a way that is professional, clear, and concise. Your graduate school cover letter should be no longer than a page, written in a classic font that is easy to read, such as Times New Roman or Calibri, sized 11 or 12.

The text of your letter should be organized and separated into paragraphs. Keep in mind that your letter may go through several readers, and not all of them may be experts in the field you intend to study, so do not use overly technical language or industry-specific jargon. Keep your language succinct, clear, and consistent throughout the letter.

Lastly, your letter needs to provide a quick introduction to you as a candidate and pique the reader's interest so that they want to read the rest of your application. This means that you should not use your cover letter to list all of the experiences and skills that make you perfect for this graduate program. Simply express your interest in the program, select one or two experiences, skills, or values to focus on, and relate those to your suitability for the program you're applying for.

Wondering how to get into grad school with a lower GPA?

Step 1: Brainstorm & plan 

The first thing you want to do before you start working on your cover letter, or any graduate school admission essay, is make a plan. Think about what you want to say in your cover letter and write it down. Remember that you only have a few paragraphs to work with, and you do not want to repeat information from your personal statement or other application components. 

Once you know what you want your cover letter to say, organize it so that it flows nicely, and it is easy to follow. Your graduate school cover letter should follow the structure of a typical letter. It should have an introductory paragraph, the main body, and a closing paragraph. 

Step 2: Address your letter 

As mentioned earlier, your graduate school cover letter is, in fact, a letter! Therefore, you should begin by addressing it the way you would in a formal letter. Write your full name and mailing address at the very top. We also recommend including your email address and phone number, but this is optional. On the following line, write out the date, and then write the recipient's name (typically, this is the name of the head of the department or just the name of the school you are applying to) and their address. You should verify the school's admissions webpage for this information. If it is unclear and you are unsure whom to address in the letter, contact the school and ask for this information to ensure that your documents get to the right person. 

This first section of your letter should follow this template:

1234 Imaginary Lane

NameofCity, TN 34421

December 12, 20XX

Dr. John Smith

Department of Psychology

BeMo Academic University

66 University Circle

NameofCity, TN 34457

Once again, because this is a formal letter, you want to open your letter with the appropriate greeting or a personal salutation. If you have the name of a specific recipient, you can use the most common salutation for graduate school cover letters, which is "Dear [recipient's name]." Do not forget to include the recipient's title if you have it. If you do not have the name of a specific recipient, then you can simply address the letter "To Whom It May Concern". 

Step 4: Introduce yourself and express your interest in the graduate program

The reader will already have your name at the top of the page, but your introductory paragraph should tell them why you're writing this graduate school cover letter. You should use it to state your interest in your chosen graduate program and briefly mention your academic background and accomplishments thus far. 

Take a look at this example for context: 

I am pleased to submit my application for the Master of Applied Psychology program at X university. As a recent psychology graduate of YZ university, this graduate program is the perfect next step toward achieving my goal of becoming a clinical psychologist. 

Step 5: Talk about your suitability for this program

This is the main body of your graduate school cover letter. You should try to limit this to one paragraph, but you can use up to two of them if necessary. You should briefly touch on why you chose this particular school and program, what skills you have that have prepared you for this program, and what makes you an ideal applicant. 

You can talk about what you intend to do after this degree or specific professors and faculty members you wish to work with. The information you share here will be personal, so there is no golden template. Just ensure that it is written in an organized fashion that is easy to read and understand. 

Step 6: Conclude and close your letter 

In your last paragraph, make sure you thank the recipient for their time and consideration. You should also encourage them to reach out to you if they need additional information, or if they have any questions. Then finally, You can close your cover letter with a warm, professional closing salutation. "Sincerely" or "Warm Regards" followed by your name are some acceptable closing salutations you can use.

Step 7: List enclosed documents

This section of your graduate school cover letter will look different depending on the school you are applying to, and the application format used. If you are applying by mail, you should list the enclosed documents in the same envelope as your cover letter. If you are applying online or by email, verify that all of the documents listed on your cover letter are attached and ready to send. 

This section should be at the very bottom of the page. It should list the documents in a bullet point format, in the order in which they are enclosed. The list should look something like this: 

Sincerely, 

Jane Doe 

• Program application form 
• Statement of purpose
• Academic transcripts

Letters of recommendation

Graduate school cover letter examples 

Graduate school cover letter example #1.

Candice Williams

1234 Dream St. 

Winnipeg, MB R3J 8T6

[email protected]

204-990-887

August 12, 20xx

Dr. Trevor Thorne

Department of English, Theatre, Film & Media

Toronto, ON M4C 2Y9

Dear Dr. Thorne,

I am excited to submit my application for consideration for the English literature master's program at BeMo Academic University. I have spent the past four years learning the basics of literature analysis through my bachelor's degree in the field, and I am eager to take this next step in my educational journey in order to further my training.

My undergraduate studies allowed me to explore and learn about different forms of literature from around the world. Still, I often found myself drawn to the impressive works of Shakespeare, Milton, Bronte, and many other great English writers. I had the opportunity to study in London for a year, where I attended a seminar on the impact of Charlotte Bronte's work on modern feminism led by none other than Prof. Jane Smith. She is one of the many brilliant professors in the English, Theatre, Film & Media department at BeMo that I hope to learn from. 

You will find enclosed the required application documents, including my academic CV, which provides more information on the research I have been able to do and publish so far in my short academic career. I am especially interested in the role that authors such as William Shakespeare played in the development of modern English, and I wish to explore that further through research. I feel that the rigorous curriculum this program offers will inform my future writing and research efforts, and allow me to achieve my goals. 

Thank you for your time, attention, and consideration. It is truly appreciated. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require any additional information. 

Program application form

Statement of purpose 

Graduate CV

Official undergraduate transcripts

Angela Wong

102-9876 Mainland Rd.

New Haven, CT 44567

[email protected]  

April 8, 20XX

University of BeMo

175 Academy lane

New York, NY 34567

To whom it may concern,

It is my pleasure to submit my application for the Master's degree in Early Childhood Development in the Psychology department at The University of BeMo. I am currently completing my bachelor's degree in psychology and plan to graduate in the fall. Since my goal is to pursue a career as an educational psychologist, this particular program is the perfect next step toward achieving my goal. 

My undergraduate degree includes coursework in childhood psychology, special needs education, school and family crisis intervention, and many other courses that have given me the basics required to keep up with the thorough coursework that awaits me in your rigorous program. 

I have also gained valuable knowledge in the field through shadowing and internships in different schools in my community. Observing other child educators at work confirmed that this is the right career path for me, and it motivated me anew to learn how I can best help children develop a love of learning from the early stages of their educational careers. I know that there is only so much I can learn from observing, and the fact that this program provides six months of hands-on training is one of the many reasons why I am hoping to be a student at BeMo next year. 

Thank you for your time and consideration. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require any additional information or documents. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Research Interest Statement

Cover letters are supposed to be a brief introduction to your application, so unless otherwise specified by the school, they should not be longer than one page. We recommend sticking to three to four paragraphs, as this is long enough to share substantial information without losing your audience. Keep in mind that your reader will also be reviewing your other application components, so you do not need to address everything in this one letter. The information in your other application components, such as your  statement of purpose , will complement your cover letter. So, treat your cover letter like a summary of your candidacy; keep it short but impactful.

Be genuine & professional

The individual or committee that will review your application will probably be people that help run the program you're applying to. It is, therefore, best that they get a sense of who you genuinely are. Communicate honestly and let your personality shine through. This will help make your cover letter more memorable. That said, keep in mind that this is a professional document and that genuine does not mean informal or unprofessional. Your tone should still be courteous and consistent throughout the letter.

Proofread & edit carefully

We cannot stress how important this is. Remember that your graduate school cover letter will be one of, if not the first, document that the admissions committee will see from your application. You do not want their first impression of you to be negative. Your letter should be easy to read and follow, and it should be error-free.

Take the time to review your letter multiple times and edit for flow, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and typos. Better yet, reach out to a  grad school essay tutor  for assistance. They can review your cover letter and help you edit it to make sure it is up to par.

Grad school essay tutors can also help you with other tricky written application components, such as  grad school career goals statements . So, do not hesitate to contact one if you need  grad school application help. ","label":"Bonus tip","title":"Bonus tip"}]' code='tab1' template='BlogArticle'>

It is a brief letter that you attach to your graduate school application. This letter should state your interest in the program, and briefly explain why you chose it, as well as why you are a good fit for it.

Many programs do not request graduate school cover letters, but they are more common than most people think. Additionally, several programs accept grad school cover letters even when not required, so you can still submit a cover letter to help your application stand out.

That depends on the program that you are applying to. Some schools may request a cover letter for online applications, and others may not require one, but they allow students to submit them as an optional component.

Graduate school cover letters are not replacements for admission essays like a personal statement or  statement of intent . So if your school requires a graduate school cover letter, do not assume that this means you will not have to write any grad school admission essays.

Unless you are given the name of a specific member of the admission committee, you should address your graduate school cover letter to the "Admissions team," "[subject] Head of Department," or "To Whom It May Concern."

You can make your graduate school cover letter stand out by making sure your personality shines through in your writing, telling a short anecdote or interesting fact about you in the body of the letter, and detailing your relevant skills and experience.

Graduate school can be pretty competitive, but the level of competition depends on the specific program you will be applying to. Some programs have acceptance rates as high as 60%, while others admit less than 10% of applicants.

Graduate school advisors are admission experts who help students plan and prepare for graduate school applications.

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