Applying for Graduate School
The University Career Center hosts the Graduate & Professional School Fair each October. Click here for details.
This event offers opportunities for undergraduate students and alumni seeking graduate school opportunities for the first time as well as current graduate students who are interested in pursuing terminal degrees.
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 related to your major. However, many people pursue more specific fields in graduate school that may not be directly related to their undergraduate degree.
The University 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.graduateguide.com
http://www.petersons.com
Do you have the purple graduate school guide?
Pick up your FREE copy of the Graduate School Guide. Graduate School Guides publication is provided free to the University Career Center each year. If you don't have your purple book, stop by Lanier Hall to pick yours up at any time.
Preparation Resources
• Attend the Graduate & Professional School Admissions
Fair held each October in the Student Activities Center.
• The University Career Center has free graduate school guides
for all students. Pick one up in Lanier Hall.
• Meet with a career advisor in the University Career Center.
Contact us to schedule an appointment.
• Talk with faculty on campus who are in the field
you want to pursue
• Use resources in the University Career Center for writing
resumes, curricula vitae and personal statements.
• Prepare for the graduate admission test for your program
• Four Year Planning Timeline
Graduate Admission Tests
GRE (General Record Exam)
MAT (Millers Analogies Test)
GMAT (Graduate Management Test)
LSAT (Law School Admission Test)
MCAT (Medical College Admission Test)
DAT (Dental Admission Test)
PCAT (Pharmacy Admission Test)
VCAT (Veterinary Admission Test) - no longer required
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 Georgia College 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
Attend the Graduate & Professional School Fair to explore graduate school options.
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 within the field, 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.
Create an application timeline based on your schools and programs of interest that you can follow during your senior year.
Some medical professional programs have very early senior year deadlines. Taking your required graduate school exams in the spring of your junior year allows you to take it again if needed.
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.
Stop by the Graduate & Professional School Fair. Talk to schools you are considering and be open to any new ones as well. Personal connections are important.
Narrow down your programs of choice and verify application deadlines.
Contact faculty members or visit the program in order to make a personal connection. You want to choose a program that shares your interests, which is especially important if you want to do academic research. Many students also find their graduate assistantship this way.
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 University 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.
