Planning for graduate school is a process that is aided by enthusiasm and energy as you explore your educational and career goals and determine how graduate school may help you reach them. Depending on the year you decide to start planning for graduate study, junior year or senior year, determines how you should proceed in the planning process.

Junior Year

Senior Year

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Junior Year

• Use Internet sites such as www.petersons.com/graduate, and www.gradschools.com to help search for schools with programs in your field.
• Utilize the Internet and the universities' web pages. Many schools have their catalogs and applications online. Access these on the Internet or send for them.
• Consult appropriate graduate school reference books such as Peterson's books on graduate programs, “Directory of Graduate Programs", "The Official Guide to MBA Programs", and "Graduate Study in Psychology."
• Draft your Admissions Essay/Statement of Purpose.
• Visit institutions of interest, if possible.
• Consult your department advisor on the following points:
  ~ Courses you should take in your senior year. Inquire about departmental honors requirements. (You need 60 credits of letter grades at Hunter to be eligible for graduation with general college honors).
  ~ Recommendations for graduate schools with a program and a distinguished faculty in your field.
  ~ Names of other faculty members or specialists in your field of interest to whom you can write for information or advice.
  ~ Special sources of funding in your particular area of interest.

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Senior Year

Check List

• Take the appropriate graduate admissions test(s), if you haven't already done so.
• Select the schools to which you wish to apply.
• Apply for any scholarships for which you may be eligible.
• Submit the required financial aid forms by January (for September admissions).
• Complete the application process:
  ~ Request letters of recommendation.
  ~ Arrange for your undergraduate transcript(s) to be sent.
  ~ Write your Admissions Essay/Statement of Purpose (Your statement should be specific to the school to which you are applying).
  ~ Prepare any necessary financial statements for financial aid.
  ~ Send any supplemental materials that are required or recommended.
  ~ Check with all institutions before the deadline to make sure your file is complete. The cost of applying to a number of graduate schools adds up. If you have financial need ask the graduate school if there is an application fee waiver policy.

Many graduate schools use self-managed applications, which mean that the student sends all the materials (application, sealed transcripts and letters of recommendation, etc.) together in one envelope.

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