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What
to do and when to do it
Getting
into Graduate School requires plenty of time, consideration,
planning and research. The best way to make this process more
manageable and increase your chances of success is to start
early.
Sophomore/Junior
Year
- Explore
career options to identify your goal and determine if graduate
school would enhance your preparation.
- Begin
talking to your Academic Advisor and Career Counselors in
Career and Academic Planning about Graduate
School Options. Explore programs to consider, and identify
experiences to seek out or undergraduate courses to take
which might strengthen your application
- Discuss
your interest in graduate school with faculty connected
to your field of interest. They can provide insight, personal
experiences, and points of contact.
- Begin
researching possible programs by attending Graduate School
Fairs, review directories or visit graduate school websites.
-
Become familiar with entrance test requirements, and begin
preparation by taking
a practice test or enrolling in a preparation course.
Consider taking required entrance tests in spring of your
Junior year so you can compare your scores to the profile
of accepted applicants and determine if you need to retake
it to adjust your preparation.
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Senior Year
Early Fall Semester
- Register
for required entrance tests and take as early in senior
year as possible.
- Review
materials from schools you are considering to determine
which you are most interested in, and how many you will
apply to.
- Collect
all application materials and review carefully. Make note
of deadlines, essay questions, and reference forms
- Write
draft of application essays or statements of purpose. Have
these carefully reviewed by faculty, your advisor, or the
The University Writing Center to help you finalize
a draft.
- Identify
the number and types of references needed, and approach
potential reference writers with your request.
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Mid-
Fall Semester
- Print
and fill out a Transcript
Request Form and submit in person to the Registration
Center in Warren Hall. Request that the Transcript be held
until Fall semester grades are posted.
- Investigate
financial assistance like assistantships, fellowships, or
financial aid options; complete necessary application procedures
for these funding sources
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Late Fall Semester
- Complete
all materials needed for programs you are submitting applications
to.
- Submit
your application materials in the requested format (mail,
online, etc)
- Keep
records of your application process for each school, noting
date submitted, confirmation received, follow-up necessary.
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Early
Spring Semester
- Some
programs include interviews
as part of the admissions process, and these are often conducted
in early spring semester (but check with the programs you
are applying to for specific dates and details).
- Prepare
yourself for interviews by considering ways to articulate
why you are interested in each program, questions you interested
in asking, and practicing your interview skills.
- Don't forget
to send Thank You notes after each interview!
- Fill
out and submit any Financial Aid forms needed.
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Late Spring Semester
- Keep
track of your acceptances and rejections as they come in.
Discuss your options, decisions or concerns with your advisor,
faculty mentors or career counselor.
- Send
correspondence to the program you accept admission to, and
to the programs you decline admission offers to.
- Complete
another Transcript
Request Form, and ask the JMU Registrar to hold the
request until spring grades are posted.
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