Checklist

Career Development Center

Junior Year, Fall/Spring  

_____ Research areas of interest, institutions and programs.  A number of resources are available on the web and in the CDC resource room, 101 Botany.

_____ Talk to the departmental advisor in your discipline or pre-professional program about your interests and application requirements.

_____ Register and prepare for appropriate graduate admission tests.

_____ Investigate fellowships and scholarships.

Senior Year, Summer 

_____ Take required graduate admission tests.

_____ Download or email/ write for application materials.

_____ Visit schools, if possible.

_____ Investigate assistantship positions with each institution and how to apply if interested.

_____ Check on application deadlines and rolling admissions policies.

_____ Write statement of purpose essay and target toward each institution.  Have advisors review and critique.

_____ For medical, dental, osteopathy, podiatry, or law school, register for the national application assembly service.

Senior Year, Fall  

_____ Obtain letters of recommendation

_____ Take graduate admission tests if you haven't already.

_____ Meet all deadlines in sending completed applications.

_____ Complete Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and other financial aid forms as required.

Senior Year, Spring  

_____ Check with all institutions to make sure your file is complete.

_____ If possible, visit institutions that accept you.

_____ Send a deposit to your institution of choice.

_____ Notify other universities that you are no longer interested.

_____ Send thank-you notes to faculty and others who wrote your recommendations.

Adapted from Levy, J.L. and Workman, E.R. (2001), "Applying to Graduate and Professional Schools," Peterson's Guide to Graduate & Professional Programs