Guide to Getting Into Graduate School > Graduate School Timeline

Sophomore year

• Get involved in research. A Ph.D. is a research degree, and universities want to see research.

Fall and spring, junior year year

• Research institutions and programs of interest.
• Put together a list of application requirements. Talk to your advisor to see if you need to take some extra classes before applying.
• Register (and prepare for!) the GRE and any other required admission tests.
• Look into national scholarships.
• Obtain letters of recommendation.

Summer before senior year

• Take the GRE and any other required admission tests.
• Go to the websites for schools you are interested in applying to and print out the application materials.
• Visit schools of interest, if possible.
• Write your letters of intent, personal statements, and essays.
• Check the application deadlines.

Fall, senior year

• Obtain letters of recommendation.
• Send in completed applications.
• Complete your FAFSA, if required.

Sophomore year

• Check with the schools before the deadline to make sure that your file is complete.
• Visit schools that accept you. Select a school, and then send them a deposit.
• Notify other universities that accepted you of your decision so that someone else can take your spot.
• Send thank-you notes to those who wrote your recommendations, and let them know of your success.