Graduate School Timeline

1
Graduate School Timeline
Ask for advice from your professors, alums and
professionals in your field. Start to review
individual university websites or catalogs. Plan
to enroll in a summer program at an institution
you would like to attend for graduate school. If
you have this opportunity, get to know the
faculty you would like to work with in the
future. Speak to them about their research and
topics you'd be interested in pursuing.
Earn membership in national honor societies. Keep
up your grades. Investigate requirements for
national scholarships and fellowships. Make
plans to prepare for the required standardized
admission testing. Be organized. Keep all
materials and information you gather in one
place. Register for GREs.
3rd Year (Never too early!)
Work with your professors on research projects or
as academic assistants. Consider which
professors might be able to write your letters of
recommendation. Begin to identify programs by
consulting directories, guidebooks and websites.
Seek advice and guidance from your professors.
Get to know them and let them get to know you
as a person as well as a student. Determine
your area(s) of interest.
Review professional journals and gather names of
professors and universities involved in research
projects in your area of interest.  Contact them
to indicate your interest in their work If you
read an article about a research project that
intrigues you, write to the author, ask for
reprints of articles, and the opportunity to
work with them.
Become a regular reader of current research
journals in your field. Make plans to get
practical experience in your field this year and
during the summer. Do research, an internship,
tutor, or volunteer. This demonstrates
commitment. Join and attend meetings/conventions
of professional organizations at the local,
state, and national levels and on- campus clubs
in your field.
DON'T PANIC!!! Most students do not start
serious planning until the summer before their
senior year. So, if your were able to get a head
start, great! If you didn't, then just keep
things moving on schedule during the summer and
in the early fall of your senior year.
Ask for advice from your professors, alumni, and
professionals in your field.  Send for
up-to-date bulletins and catalogs.  Carefully
read each catalog and evaluate programs
according to the factors suggested in this
booklet.  Keep notes on these programs.
As you gain more information, narrow down your
list. Send for application materials.  Check on
application deadline. - When do they begin to
accept applications  - Fixed deadline  -
Rolling admissions policies
Set your own deadlines for when you want to meet
application requirements.  Make photocopies of
application forms and begin to complete them.
Start to think about your statement of purpose 
Register for Graduate Record Examinations.
. Maintain an activity log or calendar to keep
you on track for the Fall semester.
Summer Between 3rd and 4th Year

• Continue or BEGIN TO identify programs in your
  area of interest 
• Consult websites, directories, and guidebooks.
• Review professional journals and gather names.
• of professors and universities involved in
  research
• projects in your area of interest. 
• Contact them to indicate your interest in their
  work.

Investigate requirements for national
scholarships and fellowships if you have not
done so already.  Call the financial aid offices
at these institutions and get as much
information as possible about what is available
and how to apply for it.  Estimate the expenses
related to applying to graduate school and
determine how you will earn any other money you
will need. 
Determine if you meet pre-requisites and your
chances of acceptance.  Compare programs and
make a preliminary list of those you'd like to
apply to.  Take a review course and practice for
the required standardized admissions tests.  If
possible and advisable, visit these institutions.
4th Year!
September