USC Resident Student Learning

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TimeLine For Applying to Graduate School

Sophomore and Junior Years- Actively enhance your resume by becoming a leader in various organizations and clubs on campus. Attend your faculty’s office hours, join research projects, or make internship connections to gain valuable references for your future application.

Summer before Senior year- Write a statement of purpose, this draft should include why you want to be admitted to the program you’re applying to. Browse directories and graduate programs. Study for the GRE, take a prep course or simply buy a book, familiarize yourself with its structure and time constraints.

Statement of Purpose writing tips

Senior Year
September- You should meet with your faculty and mentors to discuss receiving a reference letter from each of them (typically 3-5 references). Be sure to write them thank you letters if they agree. By now you should also have signed up for the GRE, and have been preparing for it.

GRE web site
This is the Graduate Records Examinations and is a requirement for entrance into most graduate schools
MAT web site
This is the Miller Analogies Test and may be accepted in place of the GRE. The MAT is typically less common among high education programs.

October- Take your GRE. Continue working on your Statement of purpose. Narrow your list of graduate programs to 6-8. Be aware that each school has their own admissions policies, procedures, and deadlines. For example every school may require you to send a statement of purpose, but you should carefully tailor it to each program that you are applying to.

November- Give your references the forms they need, allow them plenty of time to write your recommendation, along with the addresses they’ll need and postage. Order your transcripts from your registrar’s office and have them sent to the appropriate schools.

December- Complete your final statement of purpose for each school. Finish your applications and make copies for yourself. Take note of when you sent them out and ask for confirmation from the mailing service that the school has received the application. By now you should have narrowed your list of programs to three to four schools.

January- All applications should be mailed in by now and completed. Schools often times do not receive certain parts of your application (or they lose them!). Call every school and make sure they have your GRE scores, references, transcripts, and completed application. Also fill out all financial aid that you may qualify for, including special grants, and most importantly the FAFSA. Contact schools about their interview process, and make arrangements accordingly. Many schools have an interview process for obtaining an assistantship.

February- Typically most programs conduct interviews during the month of February for assistantships. Prepare to interview, take advantage of mock interview sessions at your school’s career center.

March/April- Most programs and employers will begin to notify candidates during this time period. Make your final decision and commit to the program of your choice!

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