Application Prep and Timelines

Under construction!

We know everyone’s journey is at different stages and grad school planning takes a lot of time. Ideally, you should begin researching possible options for grad school two years before you want to start. There are many time-bound things – GRE exam, application windows, program start dates – that influence this process. We’ll break down each part of the process for you and tell you want you should be focusing on for each section.

1. Decide on Degree Plan

Working with your program advisor, career coaches, and trusted mentors, choose a degree program that will prepare you to meet your career goals. Remember that graduate school is not the end of your journey; it opens up next steps and to help you be successful beyond earning your degree.

Steps to take:

Find out whether you need a terminal degree (the highest degree available in your field) for your career plans

The terminal degree is often, but not always, a doctorate (PhD, EdD, JD, etc)

Many careers may only require a master’s degree (MA, MS, MEd, MSW, MFA, etc)

Talk to people who have the job you want in the future to find out what degree they sought and whether it was the right one

Answer the question: what do I hope to learn during my degree?

Consider whether research is an important part of your educational and/or career goals.

2. Research Programs

Seek feedback and advice from faculty in your undergraduate program about what programs they know well and whether those programs meet your needs. Remember that even highly regarded programs might not serve you well if they don’t specialize in the area you want to gain mastery in. Research or reach out to faculty in programs that interest you and read publications in the field to narrow down what you would like to do. Remember that it is important to get along well with your potential advisor and be able to trust them to complete paperwork on time.

Things to consider when researching schools:

Program offerings

  • Degrees granted (doctorate and/or master’s)
  • Current curriculum and course offerings
  • Faculty research and research assistantships availability
  • Teaching opportunities
  • Faculty
  • Academic advisor
  • Research advisor (if applicable)
  • Clinical supervisor (if applicable)
  • Administrative support

Applicant profile

  • GPA
  • Many schools will have a minimum GPA of 3.0 but not all. Some schools will also vary based on program.
  • Grades after first-year of college or in major courses are often considered more heavily
  • GRE Scores/Other test scores
  • Some schools will post an average score of accepted students
  • High test scores can make up for a low GPA in some cases and vice versa
  • Previous experience

Funding

  • Fellowships/Grants/Scholarships
  • These funding sources provide funding for tuition, stipend, research materials, and/or study-related travel
  • There is no requirement to work outside of the graduate degree program, but individual fellowships may come with other requirements (attending events, doing a presentation on research, etc.)
  • Assistantships
  • Can be for research, teaching, and/or administration
  • Work under the supervision of a member of faculty, usually from your department
  • Generally part time (around 20 hours/week) but some schools allow heavier loads
  • Pays tuition and stipend, often comes with other benefits such as health insurance
  • Usually intended to cover basic living expenses during graduate career
  • State Grants/Resident Tuition
  • Loans

Location

  • Access to institutions, clinical placements, materials, etc.
  • Proximity to family/community
  • Town size, climate, access to hobbies
  • For examples of questions to ask when talking with Admission, faculty, or current students, view our graduate school questions document.

2.5. Track your research

You may find yourself overwhelmed with information or websites while doing grad school research. You may think you’ll remember a certain detail and suddenly find you can’t. We strongly recommend tracking your research, whether it be in an Excel doc, Google sheets, Word document, notebook – put it somewhere you can easily find and sift through. We have our own template for pre-health careers as well as a general grad school planning template.

3. Prepare for Graduate School

To make sure you’re ready for your degree plan:

  • Seek experience in your field
  • Review pre-requisite materials and take any necessary courses
  • Read professional publications in the field
  • Network
  • Prepare for any tests such as the GRE
  • Consider funding opportunities (depending on degree type)

Prior to Enrollment (~1 year before)

GRE

Plan to take this test the October before you application deadline if needed for your program. Visit URGO’s GRE Information and Resource page for more information about this exam.

Prepare Applications

In August/September prior to your application deadline:

  • Identify your schools of interest (try to narrow down to 5-7 depending on the field)
  • Contact faculty in the programs to which you will apply
  • Find out what your application requirements are
  • Contact the graduate admissions office at each school to confirm the materials required if online resources are unclear
  • Identify references and contact to update with your plans
  • For research fields: identify your research interests and possibly a project proposal depending on the program requirements

In October/November prior to your application deadline:

  • Work on Statement of Purpose/Personal Statement, other required essays, and CV/resume
  • Follow-up with references about deadlines
  • Ensure all required materials have been proof-read and uploaded before hitting submit and completing the application

For more information about this process, view our grad school application resource.