The following article comes from our friends at AdmitSee. We’ve invited them to share their insight about peer mentors in the grad school application process.

As you begin the grad school application process, you will have plenty of opinions at your disposal.  From your parents, to your current educational institution, to grad schools themselves–you may be bombarded with conflicting opinions on where you should apply. Add to that the plethora of free (and sometimes unreliable) information on the web, often written by anonymous sources, and you’re likely no clearer than when you started!

If you’re fortunate enough to have an older sibling with a tight group of friends who’ve taken career paths that interest you, you’re in luck! Spend lots of time talking with these folks about how and why they picked their grad schools, what they like and don’t like about their programs, and what they wish they knew when they were considering their options.

But, if you’re like most applicants, you need to seek out your own mentors.

Often, people with similar interests who are just a year or two ahead of you will be your most effective mentors. There are many reasons for this, but, to start, you will have an easier time connecting with your near-peers than with someone who’s 20 years older than you. You’ll find more common connections and more shared experiences to bond over. A strong personal connection is the foundation for a great mentor-mentee relationship.
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Happy Friday! Here’s a roundup of some of our favorite grad school news and tips from the week:

Succeed as a Nontraditional Grad School Applicant (U.S. News Education)

It might seem like most graduate students come fresh from a bachelor’s degree, but that’s not the case.

Best Majors for GRE Scores in 2013: Philosophy Dominates (Buzz Blog)

ETS has grouped average scores by the test-takers’ intended graduate major, inevitably contributing to the bragging rights of “major” elitists.

Find The Right Graduate School To Avoid Attrition (Graduate Guide)

Just as many individuals are known to leave college before they can finish their undergraduate studies, graduate students sometimes abandon academia before graduation.

Hate the GMAT? 7 Reasons to Take the GRE Instead (Business Because)

You now have options and generally speaking, there are good reasons to take the GRE instead of the GMAT.

Take an Inside Look At Graduate Admissions (U.S. News Education)

Former admissions dean at Columbia University, Northwestern University, Wheaton College, and University of Chicago Booth School of Business shares insider knowledge about the admissions process.

Did we miss your favorite article from the week? Let us know what you’ve been reading in the comments or tweet @ManhattanPrep.

Here’s our weekly roundup of grad school tips and news links. Happy Friday and happy reading!

Graduate Students Can Study Law Without Earning a Juris Doctor (Graduate Guide)

For individuals looking to learn about the U.S. legal system but do not want to earn a Juris Doctor, a credential like a Master of Laws (LLM) may be ideal.

Beat Procrastination with (10+2)*5 (About.com Graduate School)

Here’s a cool technique for conquering your procrastination habits. Pull out your trusty timer and apply the (10+2)*5 formula.

Get a Head Start on Career Planning in Graduate School (U.S. News Education)

Graduate school is an ideal time to undergo mock interviews and prepare for finding employment after graduation.

Grad Schools Less Likely To Admit Applicants With High BMIs: Why People Unconsciously Correlate Weight With Success (Medical Daily)

A new study finds that applicants with higher BMIs are less likely to be admitted after in-person interviews with graduate schools.

Did we miss your favorite article from the week? Let us know what you’ve been reading in the comments or tweet @ManhattanPrep.

Here’s our weekly roundup of grad school tips and news links. Happy Friday and happy reading!

4 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Go Back to School to Change Careers (Brazen Careerist)

If you’re thinking of rebooting your struggling career with a trip back to get another degree, consider these questions first.

What You Can Do Now To Prepare for Applying to Graduate School (About.com Graduate School)

Here are three things that you can do now to keep graduate admissions in mind and to prepare while you’re still earning your undergraduate degree.

How New Graduate Students Should Spend Their Summers (The Chronicle of Higher Education)

For graduate students, summer is often used for substantial research projects. But it’s almost August and many find they haven’t accomplished what they set out to do.

4 Challenges International Graduate Students May Face (U.S. News Education)

Many prospective international graduate students—even if they have obtained a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. college—do not know what to expect from U.S. graduate programs.

50 Tips to Get Your Resume Read (New Grad Life)

Looking to clean up and perfect your resume? Here are 50 tips from New Grad Life to help your resume stand out.

Did we miss your favorite article from the week? Let us know what you’ve been reading in the comments or tweet @ManhattanPrep.

Happy Friday! Here’s our weekly roundup of grad school news and tips:

Set Priorities First to Successfully Adjust to Graduate School (U.S. News Education)

Allowing for time to adjust to a new routine and setting concrete priorities will help ease the transition to graduate school

Is It Too Late For Graduate School? (About.com Graduate School)

About answers a reader’s question about whether anyone can be too old to pursue a graduate degree.

Four Lies You Tell Yourself About Productivity (and How to Stop) (Life Hacker)

When it comes to productivity, you may think you have it mastered but check out these four lies you might be telling yourself.

Balance Academics, Activities as an International Graduate (U.S. News Education)

Develop a well-rounded time management plant to help you balance your academics and social interactions as an international grad student.

Did we miss your favorite article from the week? Let us know what you’ve been reading in the comments or tweet @ManhattanPrep

Happy Friday! Here’s our weekly roundup of grad school tips and news links:

Should You Go to Graduate School? (About.com Graduate School)

In-depth soul-searching is unpleasant, but vital to making a choice you can live with for the next two to seven years. Consider the following questions from About.com.

How Grad School Officials Evaluate International Applicants (U.S. News Education)

Graduate school admissions officials have to consider enrollment goals when looking at international student applications.

Grad Student Lived on a Boat for 14 Months to Escape Student Loan Debt (Business Insider)

UK native Joe Pearce, 23, took extreme measures to stay debt-free while attending graduate school ” he lived on a boat.

Explanation: How Brain Training Can Make You Significantly Smarter (First To Know)

The brain needs exercise in much the same way our muscles do, and the right mental workouts can significantly improve our basic cognitive functions.

Lessons for Parents of International Grad Students (U.S. News Education)

Parents of prospective international students should involve their children in the graduate school selection process.

Did we miss your favorite article from the week? Let us know what you’ve been reading in the comments or tweet @ManhattanPrep

Take a time out to catch up with this week's grad school news!

Here’s a roundup of our favorite GRE links from the week. Enjoy the weekend!

Don’t Be Afraid of Going to Graduate School in the Humanities (Pacific Standard)

Full-time, tenure-track professorships in the humanities are famously scarce. But that’s not a reason to avoid an advanced degree.

3 Concerns of International Grad School Applicants (U.S. News Education)

Here are some answers to common application questions from prospective international graduate students.

How to Choose the Right Graduate Program? Consider Your Personal Life (About.com Graduate School)

Sometimes you have to look beyond academics to choose the right graduate program for you.

3 Key Ways College, Graduate School Differ (U.S. News Education)

Grad School isn’t a continuation of college. Be prepared for larger workloads and more responsibility.

Graduate Degrees with Strong Career Prospects (Graduate Guide)

Here are some of the best fields to consider in graduate school when it comes to the current job market.

Here’s a roundup of our favorite GRE links from the week. Happy Friday and happy reading!

I Have a Low GPA: Should I Apply to Grad School? (About.com Graduate School)

One prospective grad student with a low GPA asks whether it’s best to apply with the risk of not getting accepted to wait to improve his credentials.

You Only Hate Grad School Because You Think You’re Suppose To (Salon)

Imagine that instead of being exposed to the miserable stereotype, you were told about the wonderful flexibility of the academic schedule, the constant intellectual stimulation, and the ability to concentrate on one topic for years at a time.

3 Key Ways College, Graduate School Differ (U.S. News Education)

Grad school isn’t a continuation of college. Be prepared for larger workloads and more responsibility.

What I Wish I Knew in Grad School: Current and Former Students Share 16 Tips (Psych Central)

Psych Central spoke with current and former students from different types of clinical and counseling psychology programs to get their tips for graduate school success.

Did we miss your favorite article from the week? Let us know what you’ve been reading in the comments or tweet @ManhattanPrep

Happy Friday! It’s that time of the week to catch up on some of the top grad school tips and news links:

Intentional Delay: Productive Procrastination (About.com Graduate School)

We all work hard to manage our time well and avoid procrastination, putting tasks off until the last minute. However, intentionally delaying work can have benefits.

Explore Health Insurance Options for Grad Students (U.S. News Education)

This week U.S. News addressed the sixth in a series of questions that admitted graduate school students often ask with information about purchasing health insurance.

Graduation Guide: Graduate School Not For Everyone, But Can Be A Great Experience (The Collegian)

A Graduate Student studying English at Kansas State University outlines the pros and cons of continuing your education after college.

Graduate Schools Need to Improve Career Counseling, Report Says (The Chronicle of Higher Education)

The Chronicle reports on the lack of understanding that graduate students have about the full range of career options available to them once they earn degrees.

Did we miss your favorite article from the week? Let us know what you’ve been reading in the comments or tweet @ManhattanPrep

It’s that time of the week to catch up on some of the top grad school tips and news links from the week. Happy reading!

Sleep in Graduate School: Why Depriving Yourself of Sleep is a Terrible Idea (Grad Hacker)

Cutting back on sleep is never a good solution to getting your work done. In fact the opposite is true: healthy, sound sleep can be your key to success in graduate school.

Overwhelmed with End-of-the Semester Tasks? (About.com Graduate Schol

Whether you’re already in grad school or finishing up the Spring Semester in college, these final weeks can be very overwhelming. Here are some tips to ease the stress.

The Impossible Decision (The New Yorker)

Now that it’s springtime, college students who received acceptance letters to graduate school need to answer the complicated, inevitable question: To go, or not to go?

12 Tips For Increasing Productivity (Forbes)

Forbes has some good news”productivity is something that can be continuously improved. Here are some great pointers to help you focus your efforts and plan intelligently.

Did we miss your favorite article from the week? Let us know what you’ve been reading in the comments or tweet @ManhattanPrep