Research Programs: Start researching programs that align with your academic and career goals.
Develop List: Create a list of potential programs and pick a professor or two from each program that mirrors your interests.
Admission Events: Search schools for open houses, graduate school fairs, and other admission events and plan to attend when possible.
Gain Experience: Engage in research projects, internships, volunteer or relevant work experience.
Build Relationships: Develop relationships with professors and professionals for future recommendation letters.
Prerequisite Courses: Ensure you complete all required prerequisite courses.
Prep for Exams: Begin preparing for any required standardized tests (e.g., GRE).
Take Standardized Tests: Take the GRE or other required exams.
Shortlist Programs: Narrow down the list of programs you are interested in.
Tour schools and programs: If possible tour schools/programs you are interested in.
Contact Potential Advisors: Reach out to potential advisors or mentors at the programs you’re interested in.
Create a List: Review Application material needed for each program on your shortlist and create an excel sheet with deadlines and what you need for each program.
Brainstorm Recommendations: Brainstorm a list of who can write letters of recommendation for you.
Draft a Resume/CV: Start drafting a Resume/CV that highlights your academic and professional achievements.
Draft Personal Statement/Essays: Start drafting your personal statement/essays you need for each program.
Finalize Personal Statement/Essays: Finalize your drafts of personal statements and essays and have the writing center and other campus resources provide you feedback on them.
Request Recommendations: Ask professors or employers for recommendation letters. It is helpful to send them your resume, personal statement, transcripts or any other information that could be helpful to them to write you a strong letter.
Complete FASFA/Apply to Scholarships: Review the financial aid options for your school and start working on completing the requirements.
Finalize Essays and Statement of Purpose: After receiving feedback, make any final edits to essays and statement of purpose
Finalize Resume/CV: After receiving feedback, make any final edits to resume/CV
Funding Opportunities: Keep an eye out on funding opportunities and apply for them. Sometimes it is helpful to meet with someone at the college about this.
Apply: Start and complete any applications and upload all materials
Order Official Transcripts: If you want your fall grades to be on there, you will need to wait and do this in December after the semester ends, otherwise you can get it done earlier.
Prep for Interviews: Most schools will have an interview component sometime in the Spring, keep an eye out for emails about your interview and in the meantime, practice for them! Make sure to have questions prepared for them as well.
Job Opportunities: Keep an eye out for job opportunities from different universities. Some schools have something similar to what App State has which is called GAPP here where you can interview for multiple positions at once.
Accept/Reject Programs: As you start getting offers, discuss acceptance/rejections with an advisor or faculty member. Make sure you are clear on when you have to make decisions by and inform the programs by that date.