Timeline for Applying to Graduate School

 

If you are interested in graduate school, it's never too early to get involved in research or reading professional publications in your field of interest. The formal process of admission begins after your junior year.

 

Between Junior and Senior Year:

  • Start identifying programs in your field, using websites, professional publications or journals, and faculty members as resources.
  • Send for information about these programs. Take note of deadlines for financial aid and admissions applications.
  • Start a list of programs you think you may be interested in. If you can, visit these campuses.
  • Start preparing for standardized tests. Sign up to take the GRE or other admissions test at the end of summer/early fall.
  • Begin investigating scholarships, fellowships, and other sources of funding. Start creating a financial plan for paying for graduate school.

 

Senior Year:

September/October

  • Talk to faculty and alumni to gather more information about programs of particular interest.
  • Finalize the list of programs you are interested in. Make sure you have all application materials.
  • Retake the GRE or other standardized test, if necessary.
  • Start working on your personal statement.
  • Complete and submit financial aid forms. Research scholarships, awards, fellowships, and other sources of funding. Apply for these awards before the deadlines.
  • Begin approaching your references to ask if they are willing to write letters of recommendation.

 

November/December

  • Complete application and personal statement.
  • Make sure that all letters of recommendation have been sent.
  • Request that official transcripts be sent to the schools you are applying to.
  • Mail application packet before deadline. Follow up to make sure all application materials have been received.
  • Attend interviews, if required.
  • Develop a backup plan, in case you aren’t admitted.

 

Spring Semester

  • Visit schools to which you have been accepted, if possible.
  • Accept or decline admissions offers. Most schools will require a firm decision by this time.
  • Write a note to each of your references to let them know what your final decision was, and thanking them for their help
  • Start making plans to pay for graduate school. Once you have an acceptance, information about assistantships should be available from the department.
  • Resist the temptation to slack off on your current classes just because you've been accepted.