1. Applying to Graduate School: Timeline
IMPORTANT *Meet with advisors & career counselors to make sure everything is in order for graduation
and future plans; you can also meet with professors. Visit the Behavioral Academic Career Counseling
(BACC) website: http://homepages.wmich.edu/%7Emalott/rd/bacc/index.html
Summer before & year of expected graduation:
o Study, study, study for the GRE! Take regular practice exams.
o Compile list of potential schools and programs you may wish to apply to. The Graduate Study in
Psychology and gradschools.com are some good resources.
September:
o Apply in August or the first weeks of September to take the GRE(s) in October (at the latest if
possible). Contact the programs that seem to be a good match and ask for additional information
about the program and financial aid. Ask for an application packet if available.
o Contact the graduate programs that seem to be a good match and ask for additional information
about the program and financial aid. Ask for an application packet if available
October:
o Take the GRE(s) and request scores be sent to the schools which you plan to apply to.
o Plan your application strategy: pay attention to deadlines, materials to include and budget money
for application fees.
o Record goals for each week to achieve while applying.
o Begin contacting those whom you may request letters of recommendation from.
November:
o Retake the GRE if necessary
o Request undergraduate transcripts to be sent to institutions you are applying to by the earliest
deadline.
o Prepare resume to be used in application packets and to give to those who will write you letters of
recommendation.
o Finalize asking for letters of rec. & supply them with information to use when writing such as:
GPA(s), GRE scores, transcripts, and schools you are applying to, resume, etc.
• Include stamped envelopes addressed to each program the recommender will send a letter
to. You may wish to include self-addressed, stamped postcards to be sent to the
programs with instructions to send to you when they have received the letters of
recommendation.
December:
o Write essays that you may need to include in application packets, and have them critiqued.
o Finalize financial aid & application forms.
o Carefully prepare each packet and photocopy materials; consider sending by registered mail.
January:
o Begin preparing for possible pre-selection interviews (set aside money & materials).
o Contact people who wrote letters of rec. and thank them (consider sending a thank you note or
letter).
o Follow up to make sure your applications are complete.
February:
o Write thank-you notes to profs who wrote letters of rec
March/April:
o Accept or decline offers.
o If you are not accepted, consider other possible options: Better your chances to apply again, or
consider possible job openings now.
o If accepted, finalize arrangements for attending & contact the individuals whom wrote letters of
rec. to inform them of the outcome.
Reference:
(2002) Getting In: A Step-by-Step Plan for Gaining Admission to Graduate School in Psychology. American
Psychological Association, 6-7.

2. Reference:
(2002) Getting In: A Step-by-Step Plan for Gaining Admission to Graduate School in Psychology. American
Psychological Association, 6-7.