Start the process of applying for graduate school 16 to 24 months in advance of matriculation. View key tasks you are recommended to complete each semester below.
Prepare for Graduate School
College to Graduate School (UNIV 421) is a one-credit course for second semester juniors and seniors focusing on the transition to graduate school. You will learn about application and testing options and strategies, interviewing skills, budgeting and financial planning, and career development.
Register for this class through Patriot Web.
Depending on your goals, graduate school can open the door to a new and exciting career for you. Certain career fields will require additional education passed the Bachelor of Arts or Science degree, but it is a big decision! Weigh the value of a graduate degree in terms of earning potential, entry into a profession, advancement, and competitiveness as well as:
- Time commitment
- Financial considerations
- Personal adjustments while in school
- Your readiness to pursue graduate level work
Choosing a School
When choosing a school, research is key.
Utilize these databases to help you identify a school, program, and location:
And try learning about these few things:
Faculty
Number of faculty, credentials and reputation
Academic Program
Accreditation, course offerings, rate of completion, admissions policies, reputation and ranking
Resources
Facilities for students, cost of living, financial support, housing, and transportation
Students
Satisfaction with program, gender and ethnic diversity, employment, and professional accomplishments of graduates
Application Process
When applying to graduate schools, tailor the way you present yourself and your achievements to each specific program. You may be required to supply these items in order to be considered for admission:
- Completed application and fee
- Official undergraduate transcript(s)
- Personal essay/statement of purpose
- The essay can be a challenging part of the application, but it is a key component to tell YOUR story to the admissions committee. We encourage you to review these resources for additional tips, and samples:
- Write a Graduate School Essay that Will Knock Their Socks Off
- Read our graduate school personal statement examples and in depth analysis of a sample personal statement for graduate school for tips on your own essay:
- 3 Successful Graduate School Personal Statement Examples | PrepScholor GREPrep
- Writing sample, portfolio, audition as requested
- Some departments require uploading a writing sample with the admission application in the space provided. Please be sure to review the document before uploading and submitting the application.
- Graduate School Writing Samples (PDF)
- Writing Sample | The Graduate School - Princeton
- Required entrance exam scores
- Letters of recommendations
NOTE: The Writing Center helps with writing personal statements.
Entrance Exams
Schools will designate which, if any, qualifying examinations are required for your chosen discipline. Plan to take the appropriate entrance examination during your junior year or at the latest during the fall of your senior year if you plan to go on to graduate school immediately after college.
Types of entrance exams
- Graduate Records Exam (GRE)
- Miller Analogies Test (MAT)
- Law School Admissions Test (LSAT)
- Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT)
- Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT)
- Dental Aptitude Test (DAT)
- Veterinary Aptitude Test (VAT)
- Optometry Admissions Test (OAT)
- Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT)
- Teacher Testing (PRAXIS)
The Graduate School Process
Spring
Research areas of interest, institutions, and programs.
Talk to your career counselor and professors about interests, schools, and application requirements.
Summer
Register and prepare for appropriate entrance exams.
Investigate national scholarships.
Contact schools for application materials.
Fall
Check Mason's Graduate Admissions for local graduate admissions events.
Take required entrance exams.
Visit institutions of interest.
Write your application essays.
Check application deadlines and rolling admission policies.
Register for the national centralized services application or data assembly service your program uses, e.g. for medical, dental, osteopathy, podiatry, or law school.
Winter
Obtain letters of recommendation.
Send in completed applications.
Spring
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Check with all institutions before the deadline to make sure your file is complete.
Visit the institutions that accept you.
Send a deposit to your institution of choice.
Notify other institutions that accepted you of your decision so that they may admit students on their waiting list.
Send thank you notes to people who wrote recommendation letters informing them of your success.