What do graduate schools look for?

Question

Right now im at a certain university, after I get my bacchelors I want to go somewhere else for my masters and maybe a PH.D. What will graudate schools be looking for to accept me? Or better yet what should I do know so I can be a good candidate?

I'm only a sophmore in college

Answer 1

They are looking for great scores on the GRE.  Practice that one lots before you take it.

Answer 2

It depends on the program, but I'll tell you what science grad programs are looking for, since that's what I have experience with.  They want to see good grades (minimum of 3.0 GPA to apply, since you need to maintain a 3.0 GPA in grad school to remain enrolled, but most programs expect at least a 3.5 or higher), good general GRE scores and subject GRE scores if required, great letters of recommendation, and research experience.  Spending a summer or year doing research, working with an adviser, writing a paper or presenting a poster at a conference, giving a talk, learning how to use the tools of the trade, these are all important skills grad schools are looking for.  Sure, you can learn them in grad school, but they'd rather you had a head start.