CNS › Career Services › Students

1. Decide whether or not you really want to go to graduate school
   • Why are you going to graduate/professional school?
   • What do you want/hope to get out of the degree?
   • What are your personal/professional goals?
   • Why is graduate school the most appropriate “next step” for you?
   It is a huge investment of time, money, and energy. Make sure it is what you want.
2. Decide which school(s) you want to apply to for admission
   
   • Do your homework – research potential schools. Consider:

     Availability of funding
     Faculty
     Research facilities/libraries
     Ratio of faculty to graduate students
     Degree requirements
     Admission likelihood
     Reputation
     Location
     

   • Obtain a course catalog and application for admission
   • Visit schools and faculty you like, to determine:

     Do I want to live here?
     Can I/do I want to work with this faculty?
     Is the school’s focus area/expertise compatible with mine?
     Are there potential scholarships?
     How available are research opportunities?
     Do I like the surrounding community?
     How cutting-edge are the facilities?
     

3. Select your top 3-5 universities
4. Take the required entrance exams
   • Register for an early session. The earlier the better.
   • Have your scores sent to the schools to which you are applying.
   Suggestion: Prepare by taking practice exams, seeking tutoring in weak areas, and/or taking a prep class.
5. Prepare resume and essay or personal statement
   • These materials assist schools in assessing your enthusiasm for the field of study, your experience, motivation, creativity, and maturity.
   • Have someone proof your work.
6. Complete and mail your applications
   • Start early!!! Finish early!!! It will increase your chance of acceptance.
   • Survey all applications for similarities. Use the same information where applicable.
   • Evaluate and select your references
   • Have your transcripts sent to the universities to which you are applying
   • Write application fee checks!
7. When possible, interview with your top schools
   • Make yourself a “real” person to them, not just an “on-paper” applicant
   • Evaluate the university
8. Collect your acceptance letters
   Compare the offers you receive; consider financial aid, grants, teaching and research opportunities.
9. Select the school that will best help you achieve your goals.

Suggested Graduate School Application Timetable

Source: Timetable provided courtesy of Jester Career Center, The University of Texas @ Austin

Junior Year, Fall and Spring

• Research areas of interest, institutions, and programs
• Talk to advisors about application requirements
• Register and prepare for appropriate graduate admission exams
• Request of student copy of your transcript and check for errors
• If appropriate, obtain letters of recommendation

Junior Year, Summer

• Take required graduate admission exams
• Write for application materials
• Visit institutions of interest, if possible
• Write your application essay and resume
• Check on application deadlines and rolling admission policies
• For medical, dental, osteopathy, podiatry, or law school, you may need to register for the national application or data assembly service most programs use
• Save money for application fees

Senior Year, Fall

• Obtain letters of recommendation
• Take graduate admission exams if you haven’t already
• Send in completed applications, keeping a copy of all materials for yourself
• Register for Graduate and Professional School Financial Aid Service (GAPSFAS) if required

Senior Year, Spring

• Check with all institutions before the deadline to make sure your file is complete
• Visit institutions that accept you
• Send a deposit to your institution of choice
• Notify other schools that accepted you of your decision so they may admit other students
• Send thank-you notes to people who wrote your recommendation letters, informing them of your success!