Graduate School Timeline
Sophomore/Junior Year
- Define Career Goals and determine if graduate school is right for you
- Explore and Research Graduate Programs:
- Peterson’s Guide
- Gradschools.com
- Graduate School Guide
- (Catalogs available in Career Services Office)
- US News and World Report, Best Graduate Schools
- Visit Graduate School Websites to learn about:
- Program requirements
- Application deadlines
- Identify potential “Letters of Recommendation” writers
- Review your unofficial transcripts to check for any discrepancies
- Begin drafting your Purpose Statement and/or Entrance Essay
- Financial Aid options and additional opportunities such as: Graduate Assistantships, Teacher Assistantships, Graduate/Research Fellowships, National Scholarships http://www.scholarshipsandgrants.us/
- Identify Graduate Entrance Exams the programs to which you are applying require, and visit these sites to learn more about the exams, testing site/dates, and practice information:
- GRE (Graduate Record Examination)
- GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test)
- LSAT (Law School Admission Test)
- MCAT (Medical College Admission Test)
- DAT (Dental Admission Test)
- PCAT (Pharmacy College Admission Test)
- VMCAS (Veterinary Medical College Application Service)
- MAT (Miller Analogies Test)
- Praxis I (or PPST)
- NBPTS (National Board for Professional Teaching Standards)
- TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)/TSE (Test of Spoken English)
Senior Year
- Take Graduate Admission Tests if you haven’t already
- Complete the final draft of your Purpose Statement
- Make an appointment with Career Services staff to review
- Obtain Letters of Recommendation from distinguished faculty who can speak on your ability to meet the rigors of graduate level coursework
- Order Official Transcripts from the Registrar’s Office
- Complete Applications, make sure they are error-free, and later follow up to make sure your application materials/files are complete
- After receiving acceptance letter(s), Select graduate school, and send in Deposit
- Apply for Financial Aid
- Visit Prospective Campuses if able
- Write Thank You Notes to those who helped you/wrote letters on your behalf
Graduate or Professional schools attended by Daemen students 2012 + 2013 (PDF)