Applying to Graduate School Timeline
This document contains a sample suggested meline checklist of acon items to support the graduate school applicaon
process. While following this meline may be helpful in organizing a mely and eecve applicaon experience, students
may complete acvies according to their needs and the requirements of their desired schools/programs. If intending
to go to graduate school for a professional program (Medical School, Law School, Nursing, Business School) there may
be other types of acvies to consider in preparaon for these applicaons. Addional resources related to applying
to professional programs can be found at the end of this document. The Career Center has a variety of services and
materials available to assist you in planning your graduate or professional school applicaons. For more informaon
about the Career Center, visit www.career.fsu.edu
ITEMS COMMONLY USED TO EVALUATE GRADUATE SCHOOL APPLICANTS
Graduate schools may consider a variety of materials when evaluang your applicaons. Below is a list of the most
commonly requested items used for evaluaon of a candidate’s applicaon for graduate school. Keep in mind that
each graduate program is dierent and may require materials or acons not included in this list. Always check with the
schools to which you are applying to make sure you have submied all necessary materials by established deadlines.
General Applicaon - You will be asked to ll out a general applicaon form that includes idenfying informaon and
asks you to indicate the program to which you are applying. These are oen done online and will have funcons that
allow you to aach addional applicaon materials prior to subming.
Transcripts – Graduate schools almost always require candidates to submit transcripts from all colleges aended,
regardless of whether or not a degree was obtained. Some will want “ocial transcripts” which must be requested
from the registrar and submied in sealed envelopes. Some schools will allow candidates to submit unocial
transcripts (which may sll have to be requested from the registrar) at the me of applicaon which can be scanned
and aached as an electronic document to your online applicaon. If you are allowed to submit unocial transcripts
with the original applicaon, you may need to provide ocial transcripts upon acceptance. Make sure you pay
aenon whether a school requires ocial or unocial transcripts at the me of applicaon!
Grade Point Average (GPA) - Most graduate schools will look at your undergraduate GPA as part of the applicaon
process. They may be concerned with your cumulave GPA, subject-specic GPA, or both. Most graduate programs
will publish GPA ranges of successful applicants on their websites or in printed informaon materials.
Graduate Examinaon Scores - Many graduate programs require applicants to take specic admissions tests and
submit scores for their review. The most common graduate exam is the Graduate Record Examinaon (GRE) which
has both a general test consisng of quantave, verbal, and analycal wring secons as well as subject-specic
tests that may be required for graduate admissions. It is very important to know which graduate exam(s) are required
by your program of interest. Some acronyms for other graduate admissions exams include GMAT (oen used for
business school applicaons), MCAT (medical school), LSAT (law school), DAT (dental school), etc.
Personal Statement - Personal statements are essays submied with the general applicaon. It is usually
between 500 and 1000 words, but schools vary on word and page limits. Personal statements may include a
specic prompt to discuss, informaon related to why applicants are interested in graduate school, their reasons for
choosing a parcular program/occupaon, personal goals/passions related to their desire to pursue graduate
educaon, accomplishments and awards, descripons of research/work experience, applicant career goals, etc.
Have your personal statement reviewed by mulple individuals prior to subming your applicaon. The Career
Center provides free drop-in advising where you can have your personal statement criqued.
Recommendaons - Graduate applicaons oen require recommendaon leers and/or rang forms. Generally, 2-3
recommendaons are expected by individuals who can vouch for your ability to succeed in graduate school. Graduate
programs prefer your recommenders be faculty members you have worked with/learned from academically or
managers/supervisors who have overseen your professional work. Mentors and colleagues can serve as references if
they can speak to your relevant abilies. Avoid using personal relaons as recommenders, such as family members
and friends.
Resume or Curriculum Vitae - You may be asked to submit a resume or curriculum vitae (longer academic
resume) so that admissions commiees can evaluate your relevant experience (i.e., work, experienal learning,
and/or research experiences). For help wring resumes and curriculum vitas, drop into the Career Center and
speak with a Career Advisor and/or visit the Career Center website at www.career.fsu.edu.
Wring/Work Sample - Some graduate programs will ask you to submit a sample of your wring or porolio
items as part of your applicaon. Follow direcons for what kinds of samples to submit. If you are unsure, call
the admissions oce or department to which you are applying to clarify.
Related Coursework - Somemes admissions commiees will look favorably on applicants who have taken
coursework related to the subject they wish to study in graduate school. For example, many graduate programs
like to see coursework in research methods and/or stascs in preparaon for graduate research.
Interview - Some graduate programs require applicants to interview as part of the applicaon process. Usually,
this happens aer applicaons are submied and the faculty have idened their top candidates. Interviews
can be conducted via phone, live video call, or in person. If you need help preparing for an interview, drop into
the Career Center and speak with a Career Advisor.
Deadlines – Perhaps one of the most important items of the graduate applicaon is the deadline! It is
imperave that all required materials be submied by the program’s deadline, which is usually publicly posted
on their website. Keep in mind that some schools require two applicaons, one to a general graduate school,
and one to your desired graduate program. It is recommended you keep track of all required applicaon
deadlines.
APPLICATION TIMELINE
FIRST YEAR
Become familiar with campus resources and services to help you acclimate to college life.
- The FSU Division of Student Aairs has excellent resources to support your transion to college. Visit their
website at: studentaairs.fsu.edu to nd ways to access services, become involved on campus, make friends,
and nd support.
Visit an academic advisor to discuss the FSU Mapping system, potenal academic pathways, and opons for
coursework enrollment.
- For help idenfying your academic advisor, visit Advising First: advisingrst.fsu.edu
Drop-in at the Career Center for assistance in exploring your values, interests, and skills and how these may
relate to your choice of a potenal major/occupaon.
- You can access several resources online at career.fsu.edu and/or drop-in to speak with a career advisor
Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM.
Begin a pracce of aending faculty oce hours to gain strategies for maintaining a high GPA and
strengthen relaonships with faculty and begin culvang potenal graduate school references.
Consider joining the Garnet and Gold Scholar Society: garnetandgoldscholar.fsu.edu
Explore opons to parcipate in research related to your eld of interest.
- The Center for Undergraduate Research provides support and guidance for undergraduates seeking
research opportunies. Visit their website for more informaon and resources: cre.fsu.edu
SOPHOMORE YEAR
Get involved in acvies (on or o campus) that relate to your values, interests, skills, or potenal elds of interest.
- NoleCentral is a helpful FSU website that has lisngs for FSU student groups and organizaons and informaon
regarding on-campus events: nolecentral.dsa.fsu.edu
Choose a major and check-in with your academic advisor to stay on-track to with your program MAP. Both the Career
Center and Advising First can assist you with choosing a major.
Visit the Career Center and/or your designated college Career Liaison to explore graduate school/occupaonal opons
related to your interests and career goals.
- Drop-in hours for career advising at the Career Center are 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. To
idenfy your Career Liaison, visit: career.fsu.edu/About-Us/Contact-Us/Career-Center-Liaisons
- Use links on the Career Center Library’s website under “Secon III: Educaon” to research programs and schools:
career.fsu.edu/Resources/Career-Center-Library
- Review the “Going to Graduate School” Career Guide on the Career Center website: career.fsu.edu/Resources/
Career-Guides
- To view resources related to FSU graduate programs, visit The Graduate School website at: gradschool.fsu.edu
Explore opons for parcipang in experienal learning opportunies related to your eld(s) of interest, such as
internships, co-ops, and job shadowing.
- Visit the Career Center’s drop-in advising hours or your college Career Liaison for assistance in locang and preparing
for experienal learning opportunies
- Use Career Center online resources to aid your search for experienal learning opportunies:
• Career Center Experienal Learning informaon page: career.fsu.edu/Students/Gain-Experience
• Career Guide (“Making the Most of Experienal Learning Opportunies” and “Job Shadowing and Informaon
Interviews”) : career.fsu.edu/Resources/Career-Guides
• Career Center Library links: career.fsu.edu/Resources/Career-Center-Library
JUNIOR YEAR
1st Semester
Aend the Career Center’s Graduate and Professional School Fair to learn about graduate programs and connect with
college/university personnel from a variety of higher educaon instuons.
Research and idenfy graduate programs/schools you might be interested in aending. Consider length of program,
cost, locaon, size of program, cultural t, faculty research t, alumni employment data, etc. Become familiar with the
applicaon requirements and deadlines for these schools. Most department webpages for graduate programs have data
and informaon about these topics. You might also consider contacng department admissions representaves with
specic quesons.
Create an applicaon acon plan to assemble materials necessary for graduate school applicaons in accordance with
applicaon deadlines associated with your specic schools of interest. For assistance creang your plan, visit the Career
Center.
Culvate references for use in applicaons by creang and maintaining meaningful relaonships with professors,
mentors, faculty advisors, and supervisors.
Explore opportunies for taking leadership posions in organizaons with which you are involved.
Apply for/parcipate in research opportunies related to your eld of interest. You may consider developing your own
research independently or parcipang in a faculty-led research iniave on-campus.
2nd Semester
Connue to apply for/parcipate in experienal learning opportunies related to your eld(s) of interest.
Prepare for/take graduate school admissions examinaons according to requirements for your programs of interest
(GRE, LSAT, MCAT, GMAT, etc.). Keep in mind that each examinaon has dierent melines for reporng results. You will
want to make sure you give yourself enough me to prepare for the exam and for results to be reported to your desired
schools by the applicaon deadline.
- The Career Center Library’s Secon III: Educaon has selected graduate school applicaon and entrance examinaon
resources available for your review.
- The Tesng and Educaon Resource Center (TERC) at FSU has resources regarding preparaon for graduate school
entrance examinaons: www.lib.fsu.edu/eresource/tesng-and-educaon-resource-center-terc
Review faculty informaon at desired programs to idenfy research t. It may be helpful to reach out to faculty you
are interested in working with to inquire about specic projects and areas of interest for future research. Also consider
contacng desired programs to speak with current graduate students about their experiences in the program. These
contacts may also be on program websites.
Explore graduate school funding opons including scholarships, nancial aid, assistantships, tuion waivers, and
external funding opons. Schools and individual programs may have varied types of funding, so it is important to clarify
what is available with the specic program/school to which you are applying. Below are some general funding resources:
- FSU Oce of Financial Aid: nancialaid.fsu.edu
- FSU Oce of Graduate Fellowships and Awards: ogfa.fsu.edu
- FSU Oce of Naonal Fellowships: hp://onf.fsu.edu/Fellowships/By-Purpose-of-Study/Graduate-School
- US News “Paying for Graduate School” resource page: www.usnews.com/educaon/best-graduate-schools/top-
graduate-schools/paying
- Graduate/Professional School Student Aid informaon from the Federal Government: studentaid.ed.gov/sa/sites/
default/les/graduate-professional-funding-info.pdf
Begin craing your personal statements and assembling other applicaon materials required by your programs of interest.
You can have these reviewed by Career Advisors at the Career Center.
- Review the Career Center’s “Wring Personal Statements” Guide at: career.fsu.edu/Resources/Career-Guides
SENIOR YEAR
Aend the Career Center’s Graduate and Professional School Fair to obtain addional graduate school informaon and
network with college/university personnel from your desired instuons.
Reach out to potenal reference contacts to ask if they will be willing to serve as your reference. Be sure to give references
several weeks to cra and submit their references (do not wait unl the last minute before the applicaon deadline!); give
them a copy of your résumé /CV and let them know the deadline by which the reference is needed.
If you have not already, take your graduate entrance examinaons and have test scores sent to desired instuons.
Finish assembling applicaon materials (test scores, personal statement, references, wring sample, résumé/CV, transcripts,
etc.) and complete applicaons by the deadline
Connue to parcipate in extracurricular and experienal learning acvies related to your eld of interest.
Complete interviews or applicaons/interviews for nancial support (e.g. assistantships, fellowships, scholarships), if
necessary according to the deadlines required by your programs of interest.
Review admission decisions and decide which program to aend. For help organizing your decision-making process, visit
the Career Center for drop-in career advising. For general help related to decision making, review the Career Center’s info on
career decision making at career.fsu.edu/Students/Plan-Your-Career/Career-Decision-Making
AFTER RECEIVING YOUR DECISIONS…
If you were not admied this me…
If you were not admied, consider ways to improve your applicaon for the next round. You may ask for feedback from
admissions representaves or faculty within your desired programs. Consider steps you might take between now and your
future applicaons to improve your chances of acceptance next me.
If you were admied without funding…
If you were admied without funding, consider alternate opons for funding your graduate school experience. There may
be external funding sources with available funds or other on-campus experiences that can oer you nancial support. Speak
with department representaves from your desired programs and the campus nancial aid oce to determine what opons/
resources might be available to help you.
ADDITIONAL ONLINE RESOURCES FOR APPLYING TO GRADUATE OR PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS
General Graduate School Resources
• www.GradSchools.com
• www.Petersons.com
• Naonal Center for Educaon Stascs College Navigator informaon tool: nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
Professional School
• Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) – www.lsac.org
• FSU Pre-Law Website – prelaw.fsu.edu
• Associaon of American Medical Schools (Student/Applicant Informaon Pages) - hps://students-residents.aamc.org/
search/?q=premed.pdf
• FSU Pre-Health & Pre-Med Advising – hp://med.fsu.edu/index.cfm?page=AdvisingOutreach.home
• Health Professions Advising Oce Pre-Medical Handbook – med.fsu.edu/userles/le/PreMedHandbook.pdf
• American Associaon of Colleges of Nursing Guide to Graduate Nursing Programs: www.aacn.nche.edu/publicaons/
brochures/GradStudentsBrochure.pdf
• Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) Business School Applicaon Timeline and Checklist: www.mba.com/
us/plan-for-business-school/apply-to-school/general-applicaon-advice/applicaon-checklist.aspx
*available in alternave format
