Graduate School Timeline

Begin planning one year before you intend to enter graduate school. This timeline is approximate. Deadlines vary significantly depending on the program and institution.

Rising Senior Summer

• Research schools and academic programs
• Research financial aid
• Visit schools
• Send for applications and materials
• Check application deadlines
• Take test prep courses
• Draft personal statement/essay

Early Fall of Senior Year

• Talk to Career Center Staff and Faculty to discuss personal statement
• Ask for letters of recommendation, giving your recommendors deadlines, addressed, stamped envelopes and any useful materials, like your resume and/or personal statement, to help them write the letter
• Register for and take graduate admission exams
• Request financial aid materials

Late Fall Senior Year

• Request transcripts from registrar
• Complete applications and mail them

Winter Senior Year

• Complete applications and mail them if you have not yet
• Fill out and send financial aid forms (often due before application deadline)
• Check with schools to make sure your file is complete

Spring Senior Year

• Wait for responses from schools
• Solidify financial aid plans
• Visit schools where you are accepted

Make a decision

• Send a deposit to your chosen school
• Notify other institutions that you will not be attending so they can offer the spot to someone else
• Send a thank you to those who wrote you a recommendation letter and inform them of your choice