I suggest that you become involved in your department's research. IMHO, I think the admissions group would find a demonstrated interest in research more appealing than an IT certification.
Think about a Professor whom you might enjoy working with and then learn about their research. If you find it interesting, then approach them, share your interest and ask if there is anyway you can help.
More than likely they will have something or other they need done which they would be happy to share with you, assuming they felt they could count on you.
They focus on what they want to focus on and you gain valuable trust, exposure, experience and references.
Then, do the work and do it well
Good luck.
[ October 20, 2005: Message edited by: Bill Goldsworthy ]
Increasingly, people seem to misinterpret complexity as sophistication, which is baffling - the incomprehensible should cause suspicion rather than admiration. Possibly this trend results from a mistaken belief that using a somewhat mysterious device confers an aura of power on the user. Niklaus Wirth