Sample Timeline
Applying to Graduate or Professional School
(Adapted from the Peterson’s Guide to Graduate Programs, 1996)
Six months prior to applying
• Research areas of interest, institutions, and programs
• Talk with advisors about application requirements
• Register and prepare for graduate admissions exams
• Gather information about scholarships
• Obtain letters of recommendation (provide references with a copy of your resume
Three months prior to applying
• Take required admissions exam(s)
• Request application materials
• Visit institutions of interest
• Write essays and personal statements
• Confirm application deadlines and admissions policies
• For medical, dental, osteopathy, podiatry, or law school, applicants may need to
Fall, one year prior to matriculation
• Obtain letters of recommendation
• Take graduate admissions exams
• Send completed applications
• Obtain a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Financial Aid
Profile, if necessary
Spring, before matriculating in Fall
• Confirm with institutions that file is complete
• Visit institutions that offer admission
• Send deposit to institution of choice
• Notify other institutions of your decision to attend school elsewhere so they can
• Send follow-up letters to people who wrote recommendation letters to inform
