studenthacks.org

If you’re thinking about going to graduate school, you should begin planning at least 15 months before the program starts.

Here is a typical application timetable:

June to August

• Think about what type of graduate school you want to attend and what you want to achieve.
• Compile a list of potential graduate schools you’d like to attend.
• Visit the grad school websites to see what the application process is like
• Start thinking about who should write recommendations for you
• Research financial aid sources for grad students
• Find out what standardized tests you’ll need to take - and how much time you’ll need to prepare. For example: GMAT (Business School), LSAT (Law School), MCAT (Medical School), GRE (Humanities) . . .
• Research test preparation courses for your program

September

• Request applications if the school’s website doesn’t provide it online
• Register for any standardized tests you need to take
• Write a first draft of your application essay
• Take a test preparation course
• Start visiting graduate schools you are serious about attending
• Request your undergraduate transcripts
• Create a list of schools you plan on applying to (with their application deadlines)

October/November

• Start talking with those people you want to recommend you, and ask them to submit their recommendation within a month
• Take your standardized exam(s)

December

• Write a second draft of your positioning paper
• Submit your applications for financial aid
• Make sure all recommendation letters have been sent in

January

• Complete your final draft of your application essay and have it proofread by several different people
• Submit your loan/scholarship applications
• Send in your application essays, forms, et al. to the schools

February

• Prepare yourself for any upcoming interviews at the grad schools you applied to
• Make sure all the grad schools have received your complete application

Upon Acceptance

• Notify the school you plan on attending
• Plan on leaving your job
• Have a party - and get ready for several years of hard work and drinking tons of coffee

Recommended Reading

• How to Get a Great Recommendation Letter
• How to Write a Killer College Application Essay
• The Nuts and Bolts of Time Management
  

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.