Outlining the courses for your major and minors in your undergraduate career is a great way to become motivated and stay on track. Seek advice from your advisor to help you graduate on time.
Focus on Your Academics
Meet with your faculty and conduct informational interviews about their graduate school experiences. This will not only help you learn the possibilities with graduate school, but you will start to build relationships with your faculty.
Academics as a Strength
Keeping a high GPA shows discipline, commitment to your field and preparedness for the rigors of graduate school.
Take challenging classes and seek help from tutoring, supplemental instruction, or teaching assistants for aid in coursework.
Visit Undergraduate Research to learn how to get started in undergraduate research. Speak with people in your field to learn if undergraduate research is needed for a graduate degree in your discipline.
Visit Experiential Learning to learn how to get start with experiences to help build your portfolio. Speak with people in your field to learn if internships and experiences are more competitive for a graduate degree in your discipline.
Learn about and apply to Summer Research opportunities at other institutions to learn more about a potential graduate school you would want to attend.
Try to take it to the next level. If you are already engaged with research or experiential learning, make sure to start presenting on your experiences or publish your research in an undergraduate journal.
After you have actively engaged, it will be easy to collect your poster presentations, digital stories, or publications so that you have artifacts to display in interviews or an ePortfolio.
Learn how to find mentors and make meaningful connections with your professors and staff at the university. If you had an influential class, make sure to keep in touch with that faculty member each semester.
When requesting recommendation letters, be sure to ask faculty ahead of time and organize so that your requests give faculty plenty of time to write a strong letter for you.
After faculty or people in industry write you letters of recommendation for graduate school, do not forget to thank them with a personalized, written thank you note to help you in your future academic goals.
Take time to reflect on your academic journey so far. How have you made it to where you are now? And how has that helped you create a clearer picture of what you want to accomplish in the future?
Use artifacts from your engagement activities, like undergraduate research and experiential learning, to create eye-catching pieces to showcase on an online portfolio. Find programs, like Knights of Distinction, that help you create your portfolio.
Depending on the institution and programs you are applying to, there will be different prompts and styles to write your personal statement, statement of purpose, or research statements.
After drafting your essays, visit the University Writing Center for help in reviewing. You can also ask faculty, graduate students and staff to review your statement for help in the iterative writing process.
Explore your career goals through coursework, high impact practices, like research and internships, and informational interviewing faculty and people in industry. Schedule an appointment with an AAP Peer Advisor for help.
Discuss your goal of graduate school and ask faculty and people in industry for advice on which graduate school programs to look into. Sometime a quick search on the internet will help you find exactly what you are looking for in a graduate program. Check out the next AAP Workshop for help.
Create a list of your top 10 graduate programs you would like to apply to. Start to weigh your priorities and narrow down the list until it is manageable to deeply research each program. Schedule an appointment with an AAP Peer Advisor to help.
After deeply researching all programs, finalize your list of graduate programs and start creating a list of pieces your need for each application along with their deadlines.
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE), or other admissions tests, can be a large part of the application process. Register and prepare by studying in advance. Schedule an appointment with an AAP Peer Advisor for help in creating a study schedule.
Plan Your Fellowships and Graduate School Applications
Don’t get too overwhelmed with fellowship and graduate school applications. Outline what you have to collect, complete and request before deadlines.
Start Submitting Applications
Start your applications early so that you can see the requirements for each application. How long should you draft your statements? Where should your transcripts be sent to the school?
Write a statement that speaks to your skills and academic strengths. Complete a resume, or curriculum vitae, with the help of Career Services.
Order official transcripts from all of the academic institutions you have attended.
Learn the art of asking professors and staff members for strong recommendation letters that speak to your intellectual abilities and character. Check out the next AAP Workshop to help you get started.
Accept Offers by April 15th
Let graduate schools know in time whether or not you will attend.