Meredith College : Career Center : Application Information

Graduate School Application Information

Application Timeline
Sophomore
Junior
Senior

Sophomore Year

Select your major
Make good grades
Develop your analytical, writing, and research skills, which are skills that graduate/professional schools value
Build positive relationships with faculty in your chosen major

Junior Year - Fall and Spring

Maintain a high G.P.A.
Establish your plan of action for considering/attending graduate/professional school
Attend a graduate school workshop to determine your interest in attending graduate school
Research programs, schools and areas of interests
- Visit school websites, request information
- Review graduate school guides and directories
Talk to faculty, advisors and current students within the graduate programs you're considering about application requirements
Discuss the graduate programs you're considering with your Meredith College faculty and advisors
Gather information on the required standardized admission test and take a practice test
Explore options for obtaining financial aid and funding graduate/professional school
Determine whether or not you'll attend immediately following graduation

Junior Year - Summer

Identify faculty members who would be able to write strong letters of recommendation
Write a draft of your personal statement

Senior Year - Fall

Register for and take the appropriate standardized test
Request letters of recommendation from faculty members
Order your official transcripts that will include your senior fall grades from the Registrar's Office
Fine-tune your personal statement and submit it to the Career Center and faculty advisor for review
Complete and mail your applications, which will include your application form, personal statement, official transcripts, financial aid application (scholarships, fellowships, assistantships) and letters of recommendation

Senior Year - Spring

Visit prospective campuses if possible and talk to faculty and students.
Confirm that your "application package" to each school is complete. Check with the graduate admissions office and the academic department.
Evaluate acceptances and rejections
Send in the required deposit to the school of your choice and contact other schools and decline acceptances
Write thank you notes to the individuals who helped you during this process

The Graduate/Professional School Application Package

A typical graduate school application package consists of:

Note: Professional schools may have additional requirements for the application package.