• Keep your grades up. Graduate programs sometimes place a heavy emphasis on GPA.
• Understand standardized tests. Most graduate programs require applying students to complete an assessment like the GRE, LSAT, MCAT, etc. Identify when and where the tests are being administered and plan accordingly.  
• Generate a list of possible graduate school options.
• Research graduate programs with the following questions in mind: “What do you want out of a program?”, “Are there faculty conducting the kind of research that you are interested in?” or “Will the program offer significant opportunities?” Consider the following aspects of each program you investigate:
  • Geographical location
  • Faculty in specialty area
  • Costs 
  • Financial aid available
  • Practical experience
  • Where the graduates are working
  • Housing opportunities
  • Diversity within the program
  • Resources available 
  • Facilities (labs, research centers, etc.)
  • Reputation
  • Reinforce current relationships with professors to secure future recommendations letters. Current professors can also be a great source of information since they have completed an advanced degree.

JUNIOR YEAR: Summer 

• Study and take the respective standardized test or schedule a date for the fall.
• Narrow your school choice. Decide on one or two favorites, as well as one or two backups. The Peterson’s guide and GradSchools.com include a list of programs that can be filtered by location, size, degree type, etc.
• Arrange a visit to your schools of interest to connect with current students and become familiar with the schools’ environment, if possible.
• Request application materials from graduate schools or ask questions about the online application system. Check other application requirements and ensure that you know the due date for everything.
• Does your online image need a clean up? If an admission counselor were to find you on Facebook, Instagram or TikTok, would it hurt your candidacy?
• Update your resume and have it reviewed by the Feller Center.  

September/October

• Keep track of your school information, deadlines, application materials, and recommendations with this application tracking document. 
• Depending on your area of study, consider researching the faculty within your desired program to examine their research interest. If you locate a professor of interest, you may contact him/her to express interest and ask questions. Professors are very busy, so be sure to have a reason for sending an email/leaving a message, and be careful with the time you are requesting. Read this article on emailing future PhD Advisors from Psychology Today.
• Request letters of recommendation from faculty. Give your recommenders the following information: 
  • An overview of your experiences and/or a copy of your resume. 
  • Deadline date. List a date that is a week or two before the actual date.
  • Name of the school and program in which you are applying.
  • Instructions on how to submit the recommendations (via email, a database system or a letter). 
  • Review the do's and don'ts of asking for letters of recommendation
• Draft your statement of purpose. Consult the instructions for each graduate program regarding the state of purpose, as directions may vary. Make an appointment with the UMD Writing Center to have it reviewed. 
• Take any required standardized test!  
• Attend area graduate school fairs to network with admission counselors and gain inside information.
• Research scholarships and potential sources of financial aid available through each program you apply to. 

November/December

• Follow-up with professors to ensure recommendations have been sent and send thank you notes/emails.
• Have official transcripts sent.  
• Polish off your statement of purpose. 
• Complete application forms adhering to stated deadlines.

January/February

• Submit applications adhering to stated deadlines. Ensure you have a record of all of the documentation you submit.  Submit your application early to avoid last minute rushes and complicated situations.
• Fill out FAFSA after January 1st to apply for financial aid.  Remember, you will eventually have to include a copy of your federal income tax return.
• Check with the graduate program to ensure that all required application materials have arrived. 
• Prepare for a phone and/or an on-campus admission interview (optional in some cases; required in others).

March/April

• Make a decision. After you have heard from all of the schools, send your acceptance and declination letters promptly.
• Finally, the process is over! Do not forget to send thank you letters to all the people that helped you, such as recommenders, friends, etc. Stay in contact with your recommenders because you never know when you may need them again. 

• Fellowships & Grants: generally, requires an application and when granted, the recipients receive a “stipend” or awarded money. The recipients may be obligated to conduct research or particular duties outlined by the fellowship or grant.
• Research Assistantships: money awarded in exchange for the recipient’s research assistance, usually within their graduate studies area.
• Teaching Assistantships: money awarded in exchange for the recipients teaching of college courses, usually within their graduate studies area. 
• Administrative Assistantships: position that contains a stipend for the completion of administrative task in an academic or student affairs university office. Graduate students in programs like Student Personnel or Counseling usually apply for this type of financial aid.

The Directory of Fully Funded Graduate Programs and Full Funding Awards, by ProFellow

• GI Bill: Affords Veterans money to finance undergraduate or graduate studies.
• Military:  Can often get support for graduate and professional education in exchange for a commitment to future military service.
• Volunteering: AmeriCorps offer a one-time educational stipend to accepted volunteers who complete a 9-month service commitment. Peace Corps and other similar programs offer combined graduate school and service opportunities.
• Public Service and Student Debt: Analysis of Existing Benefits and Options for Public Service Organizations
• Loans: Parents or students may borrow money under the federal loan program upon meeting certain qualifications. The loans tend to have lower interest rates than private sector loans and require repayment. 

Banks/Credit Unions: Parents or students may qualify for a private sector educational loan. Loans must be repaid with interest.

Employer Sponsorship: Some organizations fund additional education. The catch is they usually expect you to continue working for them after you complete your degree to recoup their investment.

• Personal Statement Guidelines
• Create an outline with this chart
• Tips for Writing Winning Personal Statements
• Examples: statement of purpose
• Why You Shouldn’t Use ChatGPT to Write Your Grad School Admissions Essays

• Preparing for the Grad School Admissions Interview
• 10 popular questions with sample responses 
• Five FAQs about interviewing for graduate school

Thinking About Grad School @ UMD? These YouTube Resources Can Help!

• Application Fee Waivers
• Eligibility for BTAA FreeApp Waivers
• Funding Opportunities