Semester 5

  • Continue to define career goals and interests – is graduate school required/beneficial?
  • Schedule and attend graduate school preparation appointments at Career Services and Learning Resource Center (LRC)
  • Begin researching areas of interest, degree programs, and institutions
  • Network with alumni, faculty, parents, and friends about their graduate experiences

Semester 6

  • Create an Excel spreadsheet to organize program requirements and deadlines
  • Begin studying for appropriate graduate admission tests
    • Attend free LRC test prep sessions (ideal to schedule the semester before the test)
  • Speak with faculty/advisers about recommendations – essays and recommendations can make the difference in acceptance

Summer between Year 3 and 4

  • Review application requirements and deadlines and/or rolling admission policies
  • Begin narrowing your list of potential programs/schools
  • Take a sample practice test and determine areas for improvement
  • Register for a summer and/or fall graduate admission test (you can take the test multiple times)
  • Begin drafting your personal statement (application essay)
  • For law, medical, dental, podiatry school, you may need to register for the national application or data assembly service most programs use (example: law schools utilize LSAC common app)
  • Begin your parallel plan – start your job search in case you aren’t accepted into your program

Semester 7

  • Obtain letters of recommendation – give writers at least three weeks’ notice
  • Take the required graduate admission test (or retake if you are not satisfied with your score)
  • Request transcripts to be sent to specific institutions
  • Complete and submit your application
  • Apply for assistantships, fellowships, grants, etc.
  • Continue working your parallel plan – prepare job search materials and apply to several jobs

Semester 8

  • Check with institutions before the deadline to make sure your file is complete
  • Complete FAFSA for financial aid prior to filing deadline
  • Evaluate all offers of admission and financial aid before making your final decision
  • Visit institutions that accept you, accept one offer, and send a deposit if required
  • Decline unwanted offers as soon as possible so others can be offered admission
  • Send thank-you notes to all references and others who have assisted you
  • After graduation, forward an updated final transcript to the institution you chose