How to Get into a Graduate School Near You

Pursuing a higher degree in a field that you are passionate about will yield personal satisfaction, and, upon completion, more opportunities for better jobs or for a teaching career. Attending school in the same area where you already live saves you the hassle of moving and also gives you the opportunity to visit schools of choice and to talk to professors and staff. Here is a timeline of what you should do to ensure your acceptance.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. A year and a half before you plan to attend school, schedule your GRE(s) about six months in advance. This will give you time to study. Take more time if you have to take subject tests and/or you have been away from school for a long time.
   Also start thinking about your chosen field of study and the topic of your thesis, if doing one. Remember to be a little flexible once you get into a school and pick an adviser, otherwise you might miss opportunities.

2. About a year before your starting date, start visiting schools and meet with professors at the graduate studies department in your chosen major. Sit down with them and explain why you chose this particular school and what you want to do. If you plan to do research, or require an assistantship, or plan to get fellowships, make sure you bring those points up. Overall, try to present yourself as a motivated individual who is able and willing to complete a graduate program.

3. About four months before the first application deadline, start contacting professors from your previous schools, as well as former supervisors, and ask for recommendation letters.Make sure you have them write customized letters for each program that you are applying for. Some schools will have an online application process that will automatically send emails to the references you fill in. It is thus best to start the application process for each school as early as possible.
   Also request official transcripts from your previous learning institutions).

4. When you take your GREs, fill out the top four schools or the schools with the earliest application submission deadlines as score recipients. You can always submit scores to more schools at a later time, and in the meanwhile you might find out you got accepted into one of your top choices. Admission deadlines vary from school to school, from nine months to the beginning of classes to only four months.

5. A month to two weeks from each application deadline, make sure you have all the paperwork and supplementary materials (resume, personal essay, recommendation letters, transcripts).
   
   It's submission time!
   
   If filling out the application online, most of the documents mentioned before will be submitted electronically. But, in addition, make printouts of your GRE scores, essay, resume and send them to the admissions department along with official transcripts and any sealed recommendation letters from professors or supervisors. Alert the admissions department by email of the package.

6. Early in the year you want to start your graduate studies, fill out the FAFSA application. Make sure you have tax data ready. I would recommend doing it at the end of April, after you have submitted your tax returns.

7. Throughout the application process and while waiting for a decision, maintain contact with faculty members from the department you have chosen. Be ready to come in for interviews, especially if you are applying for an assistantship or fellowship.

8. Fellowship programs may have additional applications and paperwork that needs to be filled out once you have been accepted.

9. Good luck!

Resources

• Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)