Process
If you've decided to go to graduate school, you are investing more time and money in your education so that you'll have a bigger payoff later. To make the most of your effort, use these steps to apply for graduate school:
- Begin the search.
- Start researching different graduate programs as early as possible, preferably in your junior year.
- Narrow your selections to the schools you have the best chances of being admitted into.
- Understand the commitment. The application process may take several months. The application cost can be high because it includes:
- Application fees.
- Transcript fees.
- Test registration fees.
- Your time to fill out everything and track down documents.
- Request information.
- Contact the schools you're interested in to request catalogs and application materials.
- Ask for information on the school's financial aid process.
- Attend graduate and professional school recruiting fairs.
- Find out what's needed to apply.
- Ask what standardized tests are required.
- Determine if you need any letters of recommendation, sample projects or portfolios.
- Take graduate entrance exams.
- Make sure you know when registration materials are due.
- Study for the tests in advance. Check online or at your school's library for test prep materials.
- Apply.
- Send in applications to your school choices before the deadlines.
- Begin interviewing.
- You may be interviewed before you are accepted.
- Prove yourself to the graduate school by:
- Researching the college.
- Understanding the school, the graduate program as a whole and the department where you are applying.
- Asking questions and answering their queries in a way that sets you apart.
