Getting into Grad School: A Step-by-Step Application Timeline

You've probably heard it a million times, but it's true--when it comes to applying to graduate school, it's best to be a nerd and get your act together early. This not only allows time to resolve unforeseen problems (a lost transcript, a delinquent recommender), but it actually increases your chances of admission. Applying early may allow you to slip in before the rush and secure a spot in the program you want. Submitting it late lands it in a big pile with the applications of all those other people who are as disorganized as you. You want to stand out from the crowd, not get buried in it.

Program deadlines for fall admission vary, with the most common dates falling between December 1st and February 1st. Pinpoint your deadlines right from the start, aim to get your application in at least two weeks early, and adjust your application schedule from there. Most people intend to enter graduate school in the fall, so we'll limit our schedule here to these applicants. If you plan to apply for admission in another term, simply adjust the schedule accordingly.

• Begin your online research, familiarizing yourself with schools, grad school life, and the ins and outs of the application process. The Advanced Graduate School Search is a good place to start identifying specific schools.
• Take a practice GRE test, either from Cracking the GRE or our online demo. Your score will help you determine how much preparation you'll need for the real deal.
• Sign up for a GRE course, or at the very least, start studying on your own with Cracking the GRE.

• Continue your GRE prep.
• Register for the GRE General Test, if required.
• If you're not already sure, research and decide what your specific area of concentration will be within your field.

• Take the GRE General Test. If you're not happy with your scores, this gives you plenty of time to retake the test(s) by mid October.
• Begin your statement of purpose (also called a personal statement or essay), a requirement for most grad school applications. This will also help you define your grad school goals.
• Take your research up a notch and start to home in on which schools are best suited to your academic and personal interests. Request further information from these schools--you can email schools directly from their Profile pages or from your Advanced Search results. Save the schools you are considering to My Review and bookmark their web pages so you can easily monitor application updates and new information.
• Consider paying a visit to your alma mater to meet up with a few old professors. They are great sources of career advice and can probably recommend some good programs--and maybe even help you make some connections. (It's also a smart way to refresh their memory of who you are and what you're interested in, which will come in handy when it's time to hit them up for letters of recommendation.)
• Start talking to professionals in your prospective field to learn more about what it's really like to do this type of work and long-term opportunities are available.

• Register for the November GRE Subject Test (if necessary). The Subject Tests are still administered on paper and are only given three times a year: November, December, and April. Kick your preparation into high gear.
• Once you've isolated the most appealing schools, pick a professor or two from each program whose interests match up with yours and start to familiarize yourself with their work. Yes, this means it's time to hit the library.
• Remember those professors at your old school with whom you met last month? Pick two or three to as your recommenders. First, send a friendly note telling them your plans and asking if they'd be willing to write you a recommendation. When they get back to you, give them a deadline two weeks earlier than you plan to have your application in. The last thing you want is for a busy and/or absent-minded professor to hold up your entire application.
• Look into merit-based grants and fellowships as possible ways to help finance your education; do a scholarship search on our website and add any financial assistance application deadlines to your schedule.
• Keep polishing your statement of purpose.

• Finalize your list of potential schools.
• Continue to prepare for the GRE Subject Test if you're taking one.
• While we recommend completing your applications online--it's quicker and easier-if you're doing any applications on paper, get a hold of these hard copies now.
• Request official transcripts, paying careful attention to where they should go.
• Send your recommenders the appropriate forms, the latest version of your personal statement, your resume, and stamped-and-addressed envelopes (again, carefully noting where each recommendation should be sent).
• Start making contacts at your prospective schools. Current students are usually willing to answer questions and help you get a feel for the programs. Though many professors are too busy to get back to students, it doesn't hurt to try to touch base, since (often) these are the people who will decide the fate of your application. Even asking a simple question, like whether they'll be teaching the following year, can be a good excuse to start a dialogue-or at least put yourself onto the map of their consciousness.
• If you're visiting your prospective schools (a good idea), set up some informational interview sessions with professors and financial aid officers.

• Refine your personal statement, tailoring it for different schools as necessary. Have someone in the field and a few smart--and frank--friends proofread it for you.
• Take the GRE Subject Test if necessary. Arrange to have scores sent directly to the schools.
• Tie up any other loose ends. Do you know where your recommendations are? Have you made sure all your test scores all been sent to schools? Noted financial aid and scholarship deadlines?

• Complete and submit all applications, keeping two copies of every part for your records.
• Verify that your recommendations have been sent.

• Start focusing on financial aid. Fill out the FAFSA online--to qualify for financial aid, you need to complete the FAFSA as soon after January 1 as possible--and take advantage of our financial aid resources. Look into private loans and any alternate sources of funding available.

• Try to relax while you wait it out. This'll probably be the most relaxing time you'll have for the next several years, so enjoy it while you can!

• Use our online Aid Comparison Calculator to compare aid packages that the schools give you.
• Look into appealing the aid package if the amount of money doesn't meet your needs.
• Investigate applying for alternative loans if the financial aid package still doesn't meet your needs.