Graduate School Timeline
The following is adapted from an article written by Tamara Powell, a lecturer in Communication Studies at California State University, and featured on The Muse (https://www.themuse.com/advice/applying-to-grad-school-your-monthbymonth-guide)
To help you get organized, stay on track, and have the best chances for getting into your dream school, we’ve put together a month-by-month guide to the grad school application process. Here’s what you need to know and do, starting now.
Junior Year (Fall)
Time to pull your grades up if your GPA is an issue
Junior Year (Spring)
Decide which fields interest you, then start looking for programs and schools that match your interests.
As part of your research, investigate what kind of financial aid options will be available to you at the various institutions, including grants, loans, fellowships, and assistantships. This will help you weed out programs that you can’t pursue because they don’t offer the level of support you need.
Schedule your entrance exams. You may want to take these exams in the spring of your junior year so you get them out of the way (and have time to retake them if necessary) and can spend the fall filling out your applications and working on your writing samples.
July/August
Most graduate schools look for well-rounded individuals with good grades and some relevant work experience on their resumes. An internship can be an excellent way to gain some professional experience in your chosen field. In some fields, volunteer experiences are also helpful—provided they give you relevant experience and are not simply “envelope stuffing” exercises.
Study for and take Standardized Tests
August is the ideal time to take the standardized tests necessary for admissions because you’ll have time to retake them in the fall if you’re unhappy with your scores.
Start preparing in July (if not earlier). Different techniques work for different people, so think about what kind of study experience you want. The Princeton Review and other standardized test prep organizations frequently offer classes for the LSAT, MCAT, GMAT, and GRE.
Greensboro College offers both GRE and LSAT Test Preparation Programs. For more information, contact Suzanne Sudarth, Director of Certification and Innovative Programs at 336-272-7102, ext. 5760 or via email at suzanne.suddarth@greensboro.edu.
If you prefer to study on your own you can borrow review books from your local or university libraries. Or, look into private tutors, who can be immensely helpful (if you’re willing to cough up the dough).
Test Prep
Links to common standardized tests
- Kaplan
- *GRE: Graduate Record Examination. The most commonly required admission test for grad school. Much like the SAT and ACT, the GRE exam is a broad assessment of your critical thinking, analytical writing, verbal reasoning, and quantitative reasoning skills — all skills developed over the course of many years.
- GMAT – Business
- *LSAT – Law
- DAT – Dental
- MCAT – Medical
- NCLEX-RN – Nursing
- OAT – Optometry
- PCAT – Pharmacy
- VCAT – Veterinary
Chegg also provides testing resources for the GRE and the LSAT
* For information about taking the GRE or LSAT, please contact Suzanne Sudarth, Director of Certification Development, at suzanne.sudarth@greensboro.edu. Scroll to the bottom of this page for information on the GRE and other certification programs available at Greensboro College.
September
Research Financial Aid. Moneygeek.com offers a Grad School Financial Aid Timeline worth taking a look at.
Now is a good time to get a head start on researching financial aid. Start by creating a budget, outlining how much money you’ll need for tuition, housing, books, fees, and living expenses.
Then, make a list of possible funding sources. Most degrees will cost you out of pocket, but some programs offer fellowships and scholarships or work-study opportunities. Learn what federal student aid is available to you, and also research field-specific grants or alumni scholarship opportunities you can apply for.
Select Schools to Apply To
Now is the time to narrow down the programs you’d like to apply to. You don’t have to visit each school at this point, but you should do extensive online research about prospective programs—scoping out things like curriculum, reputation, cost, faculty expertise, support services, and alumni networks. Also comb through their applications and necessary requirements.
Peterson’s Guide to Graduate Schools
DiscoverBusiness.us – Guide to Top Accredited Online MBA Programs and Resources
DiscoverBusiness.us – Guide to Top Accredited Online MBA Programs and Resources- North Carolina
Greensboro College Piedmont Alternative Licensure Program
Greensboro College Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service
Art Therapy graduate programs
U.S. News and World Report Graduate School Rankings
www.jamesmadison.com – The James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation offers one graduate-level fellowship worth up to $24,000 per state. Current and prospective secondary school teachers of American government are eligible to apply.
Write Essays
Each school you apply to will likely require one or more essays (and they’re not all the same topics!). That said, it can be helpful to prepare an overarching personal statement, which you can modify for each school. Then, make a list of the other essay questions you’ll need to answer for each program, and get started writing. Writer’s block is pretty common when you’re writing about yourself, so leave plenty of time for this process and for revisions (definitely have another pair of eyes, or more, read over your work).
Request Letters of Recommendation
Decide which faculty members, employers, or other people you will ask for letters of recommendation. Once you’ve narrowed down your list, send emails to request meetings with each person—whether it’s in person or over the phone, you’ll want to discuss your grad school plans and goals before they start writing.
Depending on how well you know your recommender, he or she may ask you to write a “sample letter.” Many faculty members are pressed for time and find it easier to adjust letters than to write them. If so, don’t panic! Take advantage of a great opportunity to talk yourself up.
Also be prepared to provide each recommender with a copy of your transcript, your statement of purpose, your resume or CV, and each program’s recommendation form.
November
Order Transcripts
Visit your college registrar’s office and order official transcripts to be sent to each program you are applying to. If you’re still in college, you can request that your transcripts be held until fall semester grades are posted, particularly if you think they’ll give your application a boost.
Begin Application Documents
Start filling out online application documents and any supplemental materials required. You won’t need to hit send for another month, but it’s good to get a head start.
Get Organized
Make a timeline of due dates and make sure that your earliest applications are ready. Create a folder (electronic or paper) for each school and make sure that you keep necessary materials for each program separate.
December/January
Send in Applications
Proofread all of your admissions materials and make sure that you’ve filled out every last field on your application form. Then, send them off—fingers crossed!
Confirm Receipt
Make sure that you receive a confirmation statement from each school within two weeks. Contact the admissions office if you do not receive an email, postcard, or letter assuring you they have your application.
February
Prepare for Admissions Interviews
Schools typically begin contacting students for interviews (if this is a part of their admissions process) about 2-4 weeks after application deadlines. At this point, you’ll want to rank the schools that have invited you and accept invitations in order of priority.
For each program you’ll be interviewing with, set up a new folder with everything you’ll need for your visit. Make a list of questions you have for faculty and staff, and prepare answers to questions you think they may ask. You’ll also want to book flights and make travel arrangements.
Secure Financial Aid or Develop a Funding Plan
Determine if you will receive any fellowship or scholarship money and from which departments. If you aren’t offered funding through the school, you’ll need to start on your Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application by assembling required documents, such as bank statements, W-2s, investment records, and federal income tax returns. If you are married, in a domestic partnership, or a dependent you will also need your spouse’s, partner’s, or parents’ tax return.
March/April
Visit Campuses
For each campus you visit, create an itinerary with the program coordinator. Meet with faculty, especially potential advisors or mentors, and ask thoughtful questions. Try to sit in on a few classes and meet with current students, too—anything that might help you picture yourself as a student there. Also plan to spend time checking out the surrounding city—your grad school experience goes far beyond the classroom, so make time to think about if you could live in this location!
Make a Decision
Everyone has a different approach for making important decisions, so stick to your method! Perhaps you make pro/con lists or spreadsheets to calculate the weight of different factors, or, hey, even flip a coin. Go through your process, rank your schools, and make your decision!
Greensboro College Certification Programs
Greensboro College offers a number of non-academic-credit certification programs. Greensboro College alumni and students receive 20% off any non-credit class that they attend. Financial aid cannot be used to pay for non-credit programs.
For more information, contact:
Suzanne Suddarth
Director of Certification and Innovative Programs
336-272-7102, ext. 5760
suzanne.suddarth@greensboro.edu
- GRE Test Preparation Program
- Paralegal Certification Education Program
- SAT/ACT Test Preparation Program
- LSAT Test Preparation Program
- Emerging Leaders Series: Boot Camp or Three-Week Program
- Retirement 101 Program
- Certified Financial Planning Education Program – TBA
