Preparing for Graduate or Professional School

Timeline
for Preparation

*This
timeline is centered on students planning to enter graduate programs after
graduation. If you are taking time off or are returning to school, you can
still follow this same outline to keep you on track!

Junior Year, Spring

The spring semester in
your junior year is an ideal time to begin to research and plan for graduate
school if you intend to enroll the fall after graduation. This timing allows
you to gather as much information as possible and prepare quality application
materials. Research programs and schools in which you are interested and make a
list of your desired schools so that you can prioritize the ones that are of
highest interest. While you can choose however many schools to which you want
to apply, remember that there are application fees for each so also be
discerning about which schools will fit your interests.

Senior Year, Fall

During the fall of your
senior year you will be busy with schoolwork and enjoying your final semesters
at Saint Mary’s. However, most graduate school applications are due either late
in the fall semester or very early in the spring so this fall semester is when
you need to be concentrating on taking your entrance exams, developing an
exceptional personal statement, and completing your other application requirements.
You should notify anyone you are intending to ask for a “Letter of
Recommendation” early in the semester so that they too can prepare a quality
reference for you. Let them know the date by which you need to receive their
letter to send with the rest of your application materials. If the due date for
your program is during the spring, you should attempt to have most of your
materials prepared by the time you return in January as the last semester of
your college years will be very busy.

Senior Year, Spring

If your application
materials were not due already, this is the semester they will be due. Your
first priority should be sending your application in on time if not earlier. DO NOT be late sending in any portion of
your application including your letters of recommendation. Once your
application has been submitted, you will want to ensure you do not have any
other obligations. Some programs desire for candidates to visit the campus and
have an interview. Some programs will need you to secure an assistantship of
some kind before offering admission. Make sure that you have met ALL the
requirements outside of the processed application. If you have any questions
regarding the process, contact the program chair or director as they will be
able to best answer your inquiries.

Post-Graduation, Summer

CONGRATS! Hopefully
all of your hard work has paid off and by now you have been accepted into the
program of your choice. Now is the time to prepare to move to your new city. If
graduate school did not work out this year, you can always apply in the years
to come. Evaluate your application, have someone else evaluate your
application. Are there changes you could make or experiences you could have
that would make you a better candidate for the next round? Do not give up
simply because this year graduate school did not work out. You are always
welcome back in the Career Crossings Office for help on the next round!

Letters
of Recommendation

Most programs will ask for three (3) letters of recommendation. The task of choosing your recommenders can sometimes be
overwhelming. Here are some tips for identifying your letter-writers:

• Because
  you are a student, you should identify at least one professor if not two
  to write your recommendations. Graduate programs want to know that you are
  intellectually prepared and capable to handle their specific program. Your
  faculty members can speak to this ability in you better than most.
• Another
  person who may be a good recommender would be someone on campus or in your
  community that has served as an advisor to you. This person may be an
  advisor in a club or organization you have been a part of, your on-campus
  job supervisor, your off-campus supervisor, the director with whom you
  volunteer, anyone who would be able to speak about your personal character
  rather than your academic aptitude.
• Try
  to avoid having a family member write your recommendation. While they
  probably do know you best, most people who read a recommendation from a
  family member or close friend would automatically assume that there is
  bias in the letter and perhaps not give it as much credit as it deserves.
  Try to find someone other than family or close family friends that have
  not interacted with you on either an academic or professional level.