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Application Timeline for Graduate School

As early as you think graduate study may be an option for you, begin discussing it with your academic and pre-graduate advisors. They can help you get a good sense of what graduate study entails, the types of graduate programs and degrees that are available, the kind of coursework you should complete as an undergraduate, and the level of scholastic achievement you should aim for in order to be a viable applicant. (Please remember that with every passing semester it is mathematically harder to improve your grade point average.) No later than the fall of your junior year, you need to begin thinking about graduate study in a more systematic manner. Think about the path you would like to take in graduate school and what type of program would be good for you. Additionally, ask questions of your faculty, advisors, friends, classmates, and family, while also doing some basic research on programs of interest to you.

Then in the spring of your junior year (or the year before you graduate and/or apply to graduate school) get down to business.

Spring

• Research programs/schools that interest you
• Talk with faculty members, the pre-graduate advisor, and fellow students about these programs/schools
• Begin requesting information from schools

Summer

• Review the information you have received and decide to which schools you would like to apply.
• Begin writing drafts of your Statement of Purpose. Some programs might ask specific questions and have specific formatting guidelines so be sure to check the applications carefully. It is best to create a statement of purpose that can easily be amended for different applications.
• Register and prepare for any admission tests you will need ( GRE, GMAT, etc.).
• Take practice tests.
• Research financial assistance, including national scholarships, grants, fellowships, assistantships, etc., and determine what type of financial aid, if any, you will need.
• Start saving money for the applications themselves. Schools may ask anywhere from $35 to $90 in application fees
• Visit the campuses of the programs you are strongly considering.

September

• Meet with faculty members to discuss the programs you would like to apply to and start asking for letters of recommendation.
• Have faculty members, advisors, fellow students, and anyone whose opinion you trust help you with your statement of purpose. If you are required to submit other writing samples, a portfolio, or an audition tape, make sure all portions of your applications are well-prepared.
• Develop a timeline and check-list (PDF) for the applications you will be submitting. Many programs have different deadlines for different portions of the application. For instance, most programs strongly recommend you apply up to a month in advance if you are interested in an assistantship or fellowship. Also, financial aid deadlines can be different from general application deadlines.
• Register for admission tests.

October/November

• Finalize the number of schools you will apply to and make sure you have all necessary application materials.
• Take admission tests and request that your scores be sent to the schools you have chosen.
• Double-check timelines for application packages for each school/program.
• Finish your statement of purpose and other materials required for applications.
• Request letters of recommendation AT LEAST ONE MONTH before they are due.
• Request transcripts from the registrar for ALL undergraduate work. If you have taken courses at another university, be sure those are included. If possible, request that additional transcripts be sent as soon as fall grades are submitted.

November/ December

• Send in your applications. Most schools' deadlines range from mid-November through early February. Again, sending in an application three-four weeks before it is due will help you avoid mishaps. If you are applying online, make sure to complete your application before signing out/logging off. Whether you mail or submit your application electronically you should follow up with the admissions office to make sure your application was received. It is a good idea to consider sending applications by certified mail.
• Stay on top of the financial aid process. If you will be applying for loans, start researching your options now.

January/February/March

• Follow up on your applications.
• When you start receiving your letters, prepare to make a decision about which program you will choose. What factors are most important to you? Do you have a back-up plan if you do not get accepted to your top choice? Do you have another back-up plan in case you do not get accepted at all?
• You may be asked to interview for assistantships or scholarships. Try to plan your travel arrangements in advance in case you need to visit more than one school.
• File income taxes. Make multiple copies of your return in case you are asked to submit information for verification. Prepare to fill out the FAFSA and any other financial aid forms.

March/April

• You may be asked to submit final financial aid forms/applications. Keep copies of anything you submit; it will help you to have the information readily available.
• Once you have made your final decision on where you will go to graduate school, kindly notify other schools of your choice.
• Send thank-you notes to anyone who helped you in the application process, especially those who wrote you letters of recommendation, and let them know where you are heading.