GRADUATE SCHOOL APPLICATION TIMELINE

Compiled by Angela Torres, B.A.
& Edwina Reece, B.S.

 

SOPHOMORE/JUNIOR YEAR

 

* Decide what careers interest you and if graduate school is the right direction; weigh pros and cons of graduate school.

* Meet with an advisor: make sure you are taking the necessary classes; Review some school admissions requirements and begin incorporating required classes into your schedule.

* Strive to gain and maintain a competitive GPA.

* Begin taking classes with professors who you will ask to write letters of recommendation; Speak with them outside of class so that they can get to know you.

* Join student organizations/honor societies. Try to take a leadership position within the organization.

* E-mail/speak with current graduate students for information about schools and professors.

* Decide which graduate degree you will seek (masters, doctorate, etc.).

* Research schools to which you may want to apply: narrow list down to 20 schools.

* Try to get involved in research projects to obtain experience.

* Send away for information on graduate school entrance exams (GREs, MATs, etc.).

* Begin saving money for application fees, interview/traveling costs, postage, photocopying, transcripts, etc.

 

SUMMER AFTER JUNIOR YEAR

 

* Write to the 20 schools (or consult their websites) and request graduate school catalogs and application materials—including financial aid information.

* Use the rest of the summer to review the materials, as they arrive; Look at the research interests of faculty members and match them with yours; Narrow your list of schools down to 10.

* Of the 10 schools:

* 2 should be “long shots”: schools whose entrance requirements (GRE and GPA) you do not meet

* 2-3 “borderline”: you may meet the GPA requirement but not the GRE requirements, or vice-versa

* 3-5 “good matches”: those whose average scores/requirements match yours

* 1-2 “almost sure bets”: programs whose requirements you clearly exceed

* E-mail graduate students about the program and ask questions about professors, the university, financial aid, and the area where you will be living.

* Search the internet for independent scholarships and fellowships.

* Prepare a set of index cards for each school to keep track of necessary information including application deadline and checklist of completed materials.

* STUDY for the necessary graduate entrance exam(s); send out registration materials and fees for the exams.

* Plan on taking an early exam in case you need to retake it to improve your scores.

* Prepare a draft of your personal statement.

 

SENIOR YEAR

 

-September-

* Last semester to take courses necessary for admissions (that the graduate schools will review)

* Contact faculty members to request letters of recommendation.

* Request undergraduate transcripts to provide to those who will write your letters of recommendation.

* Prepare your resume for your letter writers.

* Work on your personal statement.

-October-

* Take the required graduate entrance exam.

* Provide faculty members with recommendation forms and transcripts. Also, provide a pre-addressed, stamped envelope for each recommendation. Make sure they are aware of the deadlines.

* Ask faculty members to review your personal statement; make revisions as necessary.

-November-

* Finalize list of schools to which you plan to apply.

* Fill out applications.

-December-

* Request that transcripts from your current and previous schools be sent to the programs to which you are applying.

* Complete applications with January deadlines and mail several weeks before the due date.

* Use checksheet to make sure all materials are included.

* Proofread for grammatical errors and/or misspellings.

* Photocopy all materials before you send them.

* Mail or deliver thank you notes to faculty members who wrote your letters of recommendation.

-January-

* Call departments to which you have applied to be sure they have received your test scores and letters of recommendations (Do this only if they do not send you a “Materials Received” postcard).

* Contact faculty about any outstanding letters of recommendation.

* Mail any remaining applications.

-February - April-

* Try to visit schools to which you have applied especially if you were invited for an interview. If you cannot travel to the school, a phone interview may be possible.

* Most schools will notify you of your status (regular acceptance, provisional acceptance, waiting list, application denied) on or around April 15.

* After receiving acceptance notifications, consult with faculty to make your final decision of acceptance or denial.

* Notify the school whose offer you are accepting as well as those you are declining so that your slot may be given to another student.

* Contact those who wrote you letters of recommendations and inform them of the outcome of your applications.

* If all of your applications are rejected, consult with faculty about your options.

 

 

 

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