Planning to apply to graduate school? It's best to get started early.
Application deadlines for most PhD programs are due in December or January. Masters programs tend to be in January, February or March. Regardless starting early will give you more time to prepare and perfect your application. By applying early you will increase your chances of being admitted. Many programs have a rolling admission process and applications are evaluated as they arrive, versus an all at once approach. Applications are reviewed as they come in so spots fill up as the final deadline arrives.
Below is a sample schedule for a prospective student who wants to enter grad school for the fall semester. This is an ideal scenario which leave you time to create a great application, deal with unforeseen events (missing letters from recommenders, missing transcript, etc.) and be one of the first to submit your application. This schedule will need to be adjusted depending on your schools’ deadline; however the basic timeline remains the same.
April: Begin by researching your desired program using Scholargeek. Take a practice GRE test in our Scholarpedia section. This will allow you to determine how much prep you need to do for the real test.
May: If your practice scores were not high enough, sign up for a GRE prep course to increase your score. The more familiar you are with the test the better you will do. Also this is a good time to register for the real GRE test to reserve your spot.
June: Request information from the schools you are interested in through Scholargeek if you have not already done so. Paying a visit to your alma mater to meet up with former professors can be a huge asset. They can recommend programs and even help you make some connections at your desired university.
July: Take the GRE general test. Depending on your score you may want to take it again. Start working on your statement of purpose
Aug: If necessary register for the November GRE subject test. Contact your recommenders. Finalize your list of prospective universities picking a professor or two whose research interests are similar to your own. Become familiar with their work. Keep perfecting your statement of purpose.
Sept: Request official transcript from your undergraduate school. Follow up with your recommenders see if they would like additional information such as your resume, draft copy of your statement of purpose, etc. so they can use them as a reference when writing your letter of recommendation. Arrange a school visit if possible and reach out to students and professors at your prospective universities.
Oct: Have someone in your chosen field and few well educated, brutally honest friends review you statement of purpose. Take a practice GRE subject test to make sure you’re ready for the real deal in November.
Nov: Take the GRE subject test make sure you’re scores will be sent directly to schools you are applying to. Complete and submit all applications, keeping copies of every section for your records. Check that your recommendations have been sent.
Dec: Use Scholargeek to look for scholarships and grants. Fill out your FAFSA (US residents only) and look into additional funding through Federal and State governments as well as private loans.
Jan: Enjoy the New Year and keep checking in with Scholargeek for new scholarships and grants. Patience is required for this phase of the process.
Feb: You’ve been accepted! Revel in your accomplishment. Make sure your funding for school is in place. Apply for additional funding if needed.
On a final note: Almost every grad school applicant will receive at least one rejection letter. While it’s not fun, it's not the end of the world. Politely contact professors in the department and express your regret at not being admitted. Ask them if they can point out weaknesses in your application or give you some suggestions on how you might increase your chances in the future. This will be important if you choose to re-apply the next year.
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