Admissions committees want to admit qualified candidates who will be successful in their programs. In order to do this, they need to ensure that the information provided by applicants is accurate. This includes information such as academic transcripts, test scores, personal statements, and references.
Graduate schools typically verify applicant information through a variety of methods, including:
* Requesting official transcripts. Official transcripts are transcripts that are sent directly from the student's institution to the graduate school. This ensures that the transcripts are accurate and have not been tampered with.
* Checking test scores. Graduate schools will often verify an applicant's test scores by contacting the testing agency directly. This ensures that the scores are accurate and that the applicant is the person who took the tests.
* Contacting references. Graduate schools will often contact the references listed by an applicant to confirm that the information provided is accurate. This can include information about the applicant's academic performance, work experience, and character.
In some cases, graduate schools may also conduct background checks on applicants. This can include checking for criminal records or credit reports.
By verifying applicant information, graduate schools can help to ensure that they are admitting qualified candidates who will be successful in their programs.