Meet with your Academic Advisor to outline your undergraduate course plan on Pegasus Path to stay on track and motivated in your major.
Focus on Your Academics
Engage in the classroom, utilize faculty office hours and tutoring, and learn new study techniques to help you prepare for graduate school.
Meet with faculty and staff consistently to ask for guidance and find mentors while you prepare for graduate school.
Explore Career Goals
Visit Career Services and attend career fairs to decide if graduate school is needed for your professional goals.
Engage in on-campus student organizations and service learning opportunities.
Complete Centsible Knights’ “GradReady” Modules to prepare for the graduate school process financially.
Reflect on Your Experiences
Write a reflection piece on your experiences and how it has helped you prepare for your career and graduate school.
Learn about the Graduate School Application Process through AAP resources, workshops and advising.
Continue to Focus on Your Academics
Meet with faculty and advisors throughout the year consistently to build mentoring relationships. This will help your GPA.
Conduct informational interviews to learn more about career pathways.
Continue to Get Involved and Give Back
Develop relationships with student organization advisors or staff and seek leadership positions.
Engage in Undergraduate Research
Search for and approach faculty conducting research in a topic of interest to you.
Investigate if summer research programs are right for you and apply to programs that align with your graduate school interests.
Build Your Network
Join professional organizations and search for conferences to attend.
Start saving for the graduate school application process (i.e. GRE fees, application fees, etc.)
Establish an online portfolio and continue to build your educational story.
Learn about strategically building your portfolio through AAP modules, workshops, virtual fairs, or advising.
Engage in Undergraduate Research
Participate in a summer research opportunity at your current or external institution.
Apply to AAP Programs
Apply to the Research and Mentoring Program (RAMP) and the McNair Scholars program.
Reflect on Your Experiences
Practice writing about steps you’ve taken to actively build your educational story to prepare for graduate school.
Learn about strategically building your portfolio through AAP modules, workshops, virtual fairs, or advising.
Identify Graduate Programs and Schools
Establish criteria like cost, faculty, and accreditation to compare/contrast programs.
Engage in Undergraduate Research
Start an independent research project or help develop an existing research project.
Continue to Get Involved and Give Back
Seek leadership positions in student organizations or volunteer organizations to master skills needed before applying to graduate programs.
Create a budget to track your spending so that you reach your savings goals.
Strategize your applications to match graduate programs of interest.
Attend Graduate School Fairs
Speak to Graduate Program Coordinators and learn more about the programs that are of interest.
Start Studying for Admissions Tests
Use extra resources to help create a study plan for tests (e.g. GRE).
Maintain Relationships with Faculty
Meet with faculty regularly to update them on additions to your resume.
Reflect on Your Experiences
Create a digital story reflecting on your preparation for graduate school and articulating your career/educational goals.
Learn about strategically building your portfolio through AAP modules, workshops, virtual fairs, or advising.
Plan to Apply to Graduate Programs
Develop a plan to meet all deadlines and criteria of your top programs.
Identify Network with Possible Recommenders
Be attentive to specific program requirements for letters of recommendation.
Learn About Funding Options
Find information on fellowships, assistantships, or other funding opportunities (internal and external).
Continue to Engage in Undergraduate Research
Present your research and university showcases or conferences.
Gather Information about Your Top Graduate Programs
Apply for Visitation Programs and attend Grad School Fairs.
Register and Continue to Study for Admissions Tests
Take Free Practice Tests and utilize free resources to stay on track with your study plan.
Reflect on Your Experiences
Take note of your wellness and skills, then collate learning artifacts for an ePortfolio.
Further Explore Grad Prep Resources from AAP
Further master your skills by building your portfolio through AAP modules, workshops, virtual fairs, or advising.
Finalize List of Graduate Programs
Create a timeline to submit all application pieces by each deadline.
Ask Faculty for Letters of Recommendation
Ask your recommenders early and send reminders closer to when deadlines approach.
Continue to Study and Take Admissions Tests
Master test-taking skills, and plan to take admissions tests in summer or early fall.
Draft Admissions Essays
Understand which statements are needed and practice several writing prompts.
Continue to Learn about Funding Options
Find information on fellowships, assistantships, or other funding opportunities (internal and external).
Engage in a Summer Research Opportunities
Master your research skills by participating in external or internal summer research programs.
Continue to Connect with Admissions Coordinators and Faculty
Ask admissions coordinators and faculty questions at your desired graduate school(s) to stay connected.
Visit Campuses and Meet with Students and Faculty
Learn about and apply to visitation days that may take place in the fall.
Reflect on Your Experiences
Create an ePortfolio to share on your emails to faculty, resume, or CV to showcase your mastered skills and artifacts.
Further Explore Grad Prep Resources from AAP
Further master your skills by building your portfolio through AAP modules, workshops, virtual fairs, or advising.
Take the GRE Again, If Needed
Learn from previous errors, study and try it again.
Finish and Submit Fellowship Applications
Make sure recommendations, transcripts and statements are submitted.
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.
Ask Professors For Feedback On Your Statements
Construct a powerful personal statement. Get multiple people to provide constructive criticisms that will help you grow.
Find answers to questions you may have directly from representatives of your graduate school programs of interest.
Meet graduate school recruiters and learn about different graduate programs.
Get tips on how to build up your resume and apply to graduate school.
Submit Your Applications
Make sure recommendations, transcripts and statements are submitted.
Participate in Graduate Program Campus Visitations
Many graduate schools offer interested students an opportunity to meet faculty members and current graduate students.
Attend Visitation Events for Prospective Scholars
Many graduate schools invite potential students to, interviews with their entire department. Learn how to ask the right questions and impress.
Share your research among colleagues in your field. Expand your network.
Accept Offers by April 15th
Let graduate schools know in time whether or not you will attend.
Send in Final Transcripts
Order your transcripts and send them to your new graduate school program.
Continue coursework and improve your undergraduate GPA.
Find a job opportunity and continue engaging your field from a different perspective.
Join a research lab in your field in order to better prepare for graduate school.
Gain more specialized skills in your field to augment the quality of your work as a researcher.