Applying for Graduate School
Deciding to attend graduate school is a big decision that requires
diligence and preparation. The information provided can help you
research programs and prepare for the actual application process.
Faculty are also a great resource for researching programs. The
Career Center can help you with reviewing your personal statement,
narrowing down choices, and developing a professional resume or
curriculum vitae.
Websites for Researching Programs
http://www.gradschools.com/
http://www.gradschoolguides.com/
http://www.petersons.com/
http://www.graduateguide.com/
Graduate Admission Tests
| GRE (General Record Exam ) | www.graduateguide.com |
| MAT (Millers Analogies Test) | http://www.gcsu.edu/testingcenter/mat.htm |
| GMAT (Graduate Management Test/Business) | www.mba.com |
| LSAT (Law School Admission Test) | www.lsac.com |
| MAT (Millers Analogies Test) | www.millersanalogies.com |
| MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) | www.aamc.org/students/mcat |
| VCAT (Veterinary College Admission Test) | https://portal.vmcas.org/ |
| DAT (Dental Admission Test) | www.ada.org/prof/ed/testing |
| OAT (Optometry Admission Test) | www.opted.org |
| PCAT (Pharmacy College Admission Test) | www.pcatweb.info |
Four Year Planning Timeline
Freshman Year
You want to make the right decisions now, so be aware of what programs are looking for by attending the annual Graduate School Fair at GCSU and researching programs online.
If you have already declared a major, meet with your academic advisor to discuss your graduate school interests and develop an initial academic plan.
If you haven't declared a major yet but are thinking about particular types of graduate programs, investigate the types of coursework that might or might not be needed for your graduate school program. Visit Counseling Services to take a career assessment if you're not sure about your academic field of interest.
Get involved in pre-professional organizations on campus that relate to your field of interest.
If your graduate program of choice requires volunteer hours, begin investigating the ways to collect these hours. Your network should consist of the University Career Center, academic advisors, faculty, friends, family, peers, co-workers, supervisors, and anyone else you meet.
Begin making connections with your faculty so that they can provide advice and serve as future recommendations.
Sophomore Year
Finish your general education requirements.
No later than spring advising, declare an academic major and work with your advisor to determine an academic plan.
Select minor and elective courses that may further assist you with planning for graduate school.
If your graduate program of interest requires volunteer hours,
Begin logging required volunteer hours, if needed.
Apply for part-time job, internship, and study abroad opportunities that will strengthen your experience. Both direct and indirect experience adds to your marketability.
Continue to build you network in order to talk to people in your field of interest.
Pursue leadership roles in student organizations.
Junior Year
Continue to evaluate your interest in your major field of study as well as the one you are considering for graduate school. Are you continuing to enjoy your classes, work, and leadership experiences?
Research programs in your field by learning about their faculty and course offerings. If you share the same research interests as the faculty and think the courses sound interesting, then the program may be a good fit for you.
By the second semester, create an application timeline based on your schools and programs of interest that you can follow during your senior year.
Verify which graduate admissions tests are required for your program. While you will need the LSAT for law school and the GMAT for business school, other graduate programs may require the GRE. Begin preparing for the proper graduate admissions test. Register for summer test dates in order to get a jump-start before the fall.
Continue to get experience in your field during the summer before your senior year.
With assistance from the University Career Center, update your resume or curriculum vitae. You may need this document when applying for programs and graduate assistantships. Your professors will also write better recommendations for you if they have a copy.
Senior Year
Realize early that it's always a good idea to have a Plan A and a Plan B. Many seniors will apply to graduate school AND apply for jobs at the same time. Attending career fairs, information sessions, workshops, and interview days coordinated by the University Career Center will help you to make an informed decision about your future.
Narrow down your programs of choice and verify application deadlines. Visiting programs as well as contacting individual faculty members can help you narrow your list.
Ask faculty, staff, and supervisors to write letters of recommendation. Supply them with your resume and information on your program.
Write your personal statement and get feedback from your advisor, the Writing Center, and the Career Center.
Register and take required graduate admissions tests.
Verify procedures for applying for graduate assistantships and research positions.
Apply for admission, paying close attention to application deadlines and when the program review applications. A program might take applications until June; however, if the program uses the rolling admissions process, the admissions committee will review applications as they are received and will not wait until the deadline.
Continue to talk to your network. If you don't get into the program you want, your faculty network, in particular, may be helpful when reviewing alternatives.
Applying to graduate school can be a trying experience. Use your resources on-campus such as Counseling Services and the University Career Center when you need advice and support on what to do next.
