Research areas of interest, programs and universities.
Consult with advisor/department faculty about programs that match your interests and application requirements.
Register and begin to prepare for graduate admissions exams.
Take a free practice exam to get a feel for what the real thing will be like.
Target faculty to ask for letters of recommendation.
Summer before your Senior Year
Take required graduate admissions exam.
Contact schools of interest and obtain application materials.
Visit schools of interest.
Put together a solid draft (if not a completed version) of your personal statement/admission essay.
Make a chart of all application deadlines.
Fall of your Senior Year
Finalize your personal statement. 聽Have it read by AT LEAST one professional staff member in the Student Professional Development Center and/or your faculty advisor.
Ask faculty鈥攁s early as possible鈥攆or letters of recommendation. 聽Do not wait to do this! Give them as much time and consideration as you can. 聽They are doing you a BIG favor.
Take admissions examinations (again, if necessary).
Contact the Registrar鈥檚 office and complete a transcript request for each school to which you鈥檝e applied.
Submit application materials.
Spring of your Senior Year
Follow up before the deadline with each school you鈥檝e applied to and make sure your file is complete.
Visit the schools that accept you and meet with someone in the graduate admissions office if you haven鈥檛 already done so.
Send a deposit to your school of choice.
Once you鈥檝e decided on your school of choice, notify the other universities to which you鈥檝e been accepted so that your spot may be offered to someone on their wait list.
Send thank-you notes to the people who鈥檝e assisted you in your application process; let them know of your acceptance(s) and your decision.