TIMETABLE FOR APPLYING

How to Apply to Graduate School 

Once you have made the decision to go to graduate school, the next step, of course, is to apply.  For graduate school, you apply to a specific program or department, even though you may send your materials to a central office.  Your application is evaluated both at the program or department level and at the institution level. 

If at all possible, you should visit campuses where you are interested in studying.  Call the appropriate department in advance to see if you can make appointments to visit with faculty members whose work you know, or who have been recommended to you by faculty at your own institution.  Though your budget may constrain you from visiting every school in which you are interested, the cost of visiting your top schools may be a wise investment. 

A “rule of thumb” is to apply to at least two or three departments that have programs that fit your interests.  Don’t be afraid to set your goals high if you believe you have the ability to succeed in a demanding program.  It bears repeating:  be honest with yourself as you evaluate your plans for graduate study. 

One strategy is to apply to several programs in comparable universities that appeal to you.  Another approach is to apply to different types of institutions.  For example, you might wish to apply to at least one highly prestigious and highly competitive Research University, as well as a major university with fairly large graduate programs where you feel you have a reasonable chance of being accepted.  Whatever your approach, as insurance, you should probably also apply to an institution where you feel fairly certain your application will be received favorably.  If your application is accepted at several institutions, so much the better.  You will have choices. 

Applying to graduate school can be time-consuming, but if you do it carefully and thoughtfully, you improve the chances that your application will be accepted by a program of your choosing.  Since application fees range from $25 to $50, a thoughtful approach to the process may help you get the most out of the money that you have allotted. 

Many institutions have application fee waiver programs for students who show significant financial need.  Your undergraduate financial aid office can furnish a letter or a form if you have received need-based aid. 

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Special Opportunities for Underrepresented and Disadvantaged Students 

Most institutions offer application fee waivers to disadvantaged students and others whom they are actively recruiting to diversify their student body.  If you are a member of a group that has been traditionally underrepresented in graduate programs, you should inquire about application fee waivers.  Grad school bulletins, catalogs, and web sites generally contain this information. 

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TIMETABLE FOR APPLYING TO GRADUATE SCHOOL 

You should begin in the summer before your senior year of college or at least a year before you plan to start graduate school.  Many students who have had graduate school in mind for most of their undergraduate careers start much earlier.  This timetable is approximate, but it offers an idea of the steps you must think about and, roughly, when you must complete each step.  No generalized chart provides the specifics that you will need to meet your personal timeline. 

As you refine your own timeline, then, carefully, examine each application for deadlines.  They may vary significantly.  Keep your timeline updated and follow it. 

Summer

q       Write a draft statement of purpose/personal statement.

q       Start browsing through guides to graduate programs, web sites, and college catalogs. 

August-September

q       Meet with faculty members that you know to discuss your personal statement and learn about possible programs.

q       Ask for letters of recommendation.

q       Begin to develop your personal timeline for the application process.

q       Sign up for required standardized tests. 

October

q       Take standardized tests.

q       Determine the schools to which you plan to apply, and request application materials.

q       Finish you timeline based on each institution’s deadline and financial aid deadlines.

q       Complete your personal statement, adjusting it to meet each application’s specific needs.

q       Order transcripts from all post-secondary institutions (If fall term grades are expected, then check with staff in the registrar’s office to see if a transcript including fall term grades can be sent in time to meet the deadlines of programs to which you are applying). 

November

q       Complete application forms (First, do a draft on a photocopy of the form).

q       Give your recommences all the information that they will need to write recommendations for you for each of your application schools. 

December/January

q       Mail applications.  Even if deadlines are later, it is good to get the applications in early. 

February

q       Contact programs about the possibility of visiting.  Make trips if possible. 

April

q       If you are applying for need based financial aid programs, you may have to file a copy of your federal income tax return.

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