The following timeline can also serve as your professional/graduate school planning checklist:
Spring of Junior Year
Begin asking faculty, advisors and professionals about graduate programs in your field.
Identify and read professional journals in the field. Learn as much as you can about the current research.
Identify the leading researchers and institutions for your field of interest.
Visit Career Services for information on graduate and professional school programs.
Develop as many options as you can; then eliminate some by researching them before you leave for the summer.
Register and prepare for graduate admission tests.
Summer
Call or write the remaining schools on your list for applications and program information.
Look over the materials you receive and continue narrowing your list.
Contact admissions offices for information on acceptance rates, test score, and GPA ranges.
Ask for information on placement rates and typical employers for each program.
Talk to professionals in the field regarding their research and employment opportunities.
Identify Davidson alumni currently enrolled or recently graduated from the program and contact them.
Begin writing your personal statement, which must be modified for each school.
If you haven’t done so, register and prepare for admission tests.
September
When school starts, finish narrowing your list of schools.
Begin asking for letters of recommendation.
Continue working on your personal statement.
Check on application deadlines and rolling or early admissions policies.
Read the applications thoroughly and prepare any other materials requested.
For medical, dental or law school register with the appropriate application and data assembly service.
October
Submit completed applications for any early decision programs.
Prepare for and take graduate admissions exams if you haven’t done so already.
Contact schools to schedule visits during fall semester.
Continue to gather and complete the necessary application materials.
November
Continue to send applications, paying close attention to deadlines.
A good rule of thumb is to submit your applications by Thanksgiving Break or shortly thereafter.
Follow up with graduate schools to confirm that all necessary application materials have arrived.