The graduate school application process can be daunting, but this guidebook breaks down everything you'll need to make your application shine, from soliciting sterling letters of recommendation to writing top-caliber essays. Tested Advice from a University Insider As Dean of Undergraduate Research at Johns Hopkins University, Professor Natalie Strobach has helped hundreds of students from all walks of life get entry into the most selective and elite graduate programs - and get the funding to get a degree without paying a dollar of tuition. Over decades of student mentoring she has developed this guide, which provides step-by-step guidelines, evidence-based advice, and examples selected from hundreds of real-life successful student applications. With the advice in this guide, you'll be empowered to find and apply to the best graduate programs in your field with the confidence that you'll be able to stand out from the crowd. Data-Driven Expertise Supported by over a decade of work both mentoring students from a broad spectrum of backgrounds and academic speclalizations, and learned through a data-driven approach to what gets results in grad admissions, the guidance in this book will help you tell your story to faculty and admissions panels, giving you a leg up on your competition. Real Samples that Really Worked This book includes not only numerous sample essays from numerous fields, but also CVs, diversity statements, sample letters to faculty members, and all the other elements you'll need to shine in your application and in your communication with your potential colleagues. Each of these samples comes from students who worked one-on-one with Prof. Strobach and went on to Ph.D., MD, or JD programs at Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Columbia, Cornell, Oxford, Johns Hopkins, MIT, and almost every other top program in the country. Students who follow this guide receive an average of 4-5 competitive, funded offers.