Applying to Grad School

When should I apply?

Application deadlines will vary by school, and can also depend on the individual program within the school. Schools with a rolling admission policy make admissions decisions as applications are received. You should submit your application early, allowing yourself time to respond to incomplete information. An early application can also give the admissions committee a chance to consider your application before they are overwhelmed with other applicants.

Helpful Tips

Develop and maintain a portfolio including letters of references, writing samples and relevant projects.

Create a filing system with a folder for each school you are applying to. File the information about that school, your application and personal statement.

Look at the school's requirements carefully (for example, many MBA programs require or prefer some years of work experience from their candidates).

Make copies of your blank application to practice on before filling in the original.

Request letters of recommendation. Be sure to provide your evaluators with deadlines, stamped and addressed envelopes, a resume, a personal statement and/or a list of activities in which you participated. Follow up with a personal than you to your evaluators.

Arrange for your standardized test scores be sent to your colleges and appropriate departments.

Write multiple drafts of your personal statement and allow as many eyes to review it as possible. Ask for feedback from professors, your career advisor and current graduate students.

Make copies of your completed applications.

Keep your options open by applying to more than one program if possible as most graduate programs are much smaller than undergraduate programs and only admit a selected number each year.