What are the Admissions Requirements for a Masters in Human Resources?
College admission requirements for a masters in human resources will usually depend on the caliber of the school to which a student applies, but there are some common elements that most schools require. Every school wants applicants to think that the selection process is very competitive (and sometimes it is); however, most students will have a good start on the application process with the following requirements satisfied.
At the very least, a student will need to have been awarded a baccalaureate degree from an accredited university. This degree may be in progress during the application progress, so a student may need to rely on submitting a partial transcript to the graduate school.
Other standard elements for most applications include:
- GMAT or GRE test scores
- Letters of recommendation
- Personal statement
- Transcripts
Each school will have different minimum requirements regarding these basic elements, but striving for the best scores possible in classes and on the graduate entrance exam is a good start. Some schools may have a specific GPA required regarding undergraduate school while other schools might require a grade-point average or GRE score in a certain percentile. This means that a student’s test scores would need to be better than a certain percentage of other test takers and college students. For example, Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations requires a student to have a minimum GRE score in the 50th percentile.
Additionally, a student may be required to have proficiency in a certain language where the school is located. Most American schools would require proficiency in English and foreign students would be required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language. Some schools in Canada might use French as a primary language while schools in Mexico would likely require Spanish.
A school may also require an in-person interview instead or in addition to the personal statement. This may require some travel to the site of the university or college.
Differences in the Weight of Requirements
Although just about all schools would require a graduate test, transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement, each school might weigh these application items differently. For example, some schools take test scores very seriously and may automatically deny an applicant who doesn’t meet those rigid requirements.
Other schools might be inclined to consider a student’s application even if there are deficiencies in some areas (such as low GRE scores) when the student has other qualities that would mark him as a suitable candidate for admission. Most schools will let a student know in brochures or on the university website whether the admission criteria is flexible or set in stone.
Getting a Jump on the Competition
Work experience helps tremendously during the application process to graduate school. A student with a bachelor’s degree who has spent time in the work force in human resources would be an attractive candidate for most college graduate degree programs. Towson University, for example, suggests that while work experience isn’t required for admission, it is something that the school values in its candidates.
Deciding to apply to graduate school is a rewarding yet costly endeavor. As with all graduate degree programs, the best way to approach getting into a school that offers a masters in human resources is to make the application as attractive as possible to each school.
