Pursuing Graduate School:
Tips and Timelines
1. First Steps: (Freshman and Sophomore Years)
 As you work with Career Development Specialists, your academic advisors and your
professors to decide upon majors and careers, you will learn that some careers require
graduate degrees to become a professional in those fields. Depending upon the industry,
master’s degrees or doctoral degrees may be needed to advance in the field.
2. Confirming your Interest in Graduate School (Junior Year)
 Talk with faculty, advisors, and professionals about graduate programs in your field.
 Some programs are generally full-time and in person such as medical, dental or law
schools, as well as doctoral programs in therapies, science and social sciences. Many
other programs such as Master in Business Administration (MBA), Master in Social
Work, Education, Engineering, Counseling or Public Health/Healthcare Administration
will be offered on a part-time basis during evenings, weekends, all online or in a hybrid
format. Programs in the arts may be offered during the day or in the evenings.
 Identify and read professional journals in the field. Learn as much as you can about the
current research and trends. Identify the leading researchers and institutions for your
field of interest. Investigate the institutions where these experts teach and consider
whether those programs are a good fit for you.
 Begin researching graduate programs. (See resources in the next section.)
 Research required (or most common) admission tests for your chosen graduate program
and investigate preparation options. Consider online and/or workbook self-study
programs and classroom/instructor-led preparation programs. Determine when you will
need to start studying and develop a study plan.
3. Research Graduate Programs (Anytime)
Consider these sources, both formal and informal, to provide you valuable information on
graduate programs.
Professional Associations: Many professional associations have information for students about
graduate schools in their field.
Professors: Ask your undergraduate professors about programs in their discipline. The
professors may even be able to recommend some programs.
Rankings: Publications such as U.S. News and World Report provide rankings which give an
understanding of the nationally known programs in specific fields. A benefit of highly ranked
programs is name recognition when job seeking. However, rankings do not tell you about the
professors, politics, job placement records, or financial aid possibilities nor do they inform you if
the school/program is the right fit for you.
Saint Louis University Career Services, Student Success Center, BSC, Suite 331, careers@slu.edu, 314-977-2828
Graduate Program Catalogs/Admissions Applications: Most programs have a course catalog
and admissions application materials available online. If you have questions about the
application materials, call or email using the contact information online.
Contact Program Personnel: If you have questions about the program itself, direct them to the
department chairperson or their graduate programs coordinator. This also shows your interest in
their program. Be sure your questions are not able to be answered by reading the website
information about the program. Program/admission personnel will take note of your interaction,
so be sure to be polite and respectful.
Classes: This is a great option if you live near any of the programs you are considering. Taking
a class from the program of interest is an excellent opportunity to determine if the program,
professors, and students are a good fit for you. You can also talk to the students and see how the
program operates.
Selected Resources: Below are a few suggestions of resources, not an exhaustive list. Consult
resources/faculty in your discipline for specifics to your field.
Online:
Gradschools.com - http://www.gradschools.com/
National Association of Graduate/Professional Students - http://www.nagps.org/
Council of Graduate Schools - http://www.cgsnet.org/Default.aspx?tabid=199
Peterson’s Guide - http://www.petersons.com/Default.asp?ShowTab=gr
U.S. News and World Report Graduate School http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/grad/rankings/rankindex_brief.php
Princeton Review - http://www.princetonreview.com/home.asp
SLU Resources:
Pius Library - http://slulink.slu.edu/; Graduate School - http://www.slu.edu/graduate/;
Career Services – http://careers.slu.edu/;
Writing Center - http://www.slu.edu/academic-support/university-writing-services
4. Sources of Funding for Graduate School
Once you’ve started researching programs, you will also want to investigate how to finance your
graduate education. The money is out there and many sources are for graduate programs only;
the challenge is in finding it. Be sure to research financial aid, scholarship, fellowship and
assistantship deadlines—they are often earlier than application deadlines. More funding is
available for full-time graduate students than part-time students although most part-time students
are working full-time and many employers may include tuition remission as a benefit.
Graduate Assistantships:
Assistantships are provided by the university in exchange for services or work, usually on a parttime (10 or 20 hours per week) basis. Assistantships may be awarded based on need, academic
merit, or appropriate experience. The award may offer a monthly stipend, a full or partial tuition
waiver, or both.
Saint Louis University Career Services, Student Success Center, BSC, Suite 331, careers@slu.edu, 314-977-2828
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Teaching Assistantships: Teach undergraduate courses part-time. A T.A. position is
an important and valuable experience for those planning a career in college teaching.
Research Assistantships: Conduct research under the supervision of faculty
members. Also valuable for those pursuing college faculty positions; research
assistantships can sometimes be used to meet degree requirements.
Residence Life, Student Affairs and Counseling Assistantships: These usually
involve a combination of administrative work and counseling or advising in offices
such as academic advising, career services, student activities/programming,
admissions, or other relevant areas. Residence Life assistantships will generally
require you to live in undergraduate housing, and usually offer room, board, and a
stipend (and possibly a tuition waiver). These assistantships are often part of
programs in student affairs, psychology, social work, or counseling but are not always
limited to students in these fields.
Graduate Fellowships:
Fellowships are outright grant for graduate study or research which do not require any work or
service in return. Some examples of well-known fellowships are the Rhodes, Fulbright, Rotary
and Watson. Many of these types of awards require institutional support from a faculty member
from your undergraduate degree; in other words, you cannot apply for them on your own. In
addition to these well-known fellowships, there are other opportunities available through SLU or
through the institutions to which you are applying. To be competitive for these awards, seek out
your faculty advisor early (junior year) to learn more about opportunities.
Other Financial Resources:
 Loans, Grants, Part- or full-time employment.
 Military -There are programs available for several graduate/professional
programs. Often the military will offer tuition and living expenses support in
return for a pre-stated number of years of military (often officer-level) service
upon completing your degree.
 Employers – Some employers will reimburse education costs for employees who
continue their education in a field related to their employment.
Online Databases:
Federal Student Aid: Financial Aid Funding - http://studentaid.ed.gov/ FinAid.com www.finaid.org;
FastWEB – www.fastWEB.com; College Board’s Scholarship Search – www.collegeboard.org;
CollegeNET MACH25 – www.collegenet.com;
Scholarship Listings -www.college-scholarships.com/free_scholarship_searches.htm
Resources for Specific Populations:
Scholarships for Minorities; United College Negro Fund;
GEM Fellowships – Engineering and Science
ERA Minority Dissertation Fellowships; Resources for Women in Science;
American Association of University Women Fellowships
Saint Louis University Career Services, Student Success Center, BSC, Suite 331, careers@slu.edu, 314-977-2828
Samples of Other Grants and Fellowships:
Research Council; Mellon Fellowships; The Rhodes Scholarship Trust; NSF Graduate Funding;
Graduate Assistantship Directory
5. You’ve Decided that Graduate School is for You: Prepare for Application Process
Complete these steps in approximately this order. Consult a Career Development Specialist
and/or faculty in your major to determine exact timelines for your programs of interest.
 Develop personal criteria important to you in making a decision on a graduate program
such as distance from family; size of school or program; degrees offered; part-time, fulltime or online courses.
 Investigate scholarship, assistantship, and financial aid options.
 Consider:
o Acceptance rates
o Test scores and GPA ranges for students accepted to the program
o Internship, research and/or clinical experience
o Placement rates for graduates
o Typical employers of graduates
 Identify SLU alumni currently enrolled or recently graduated from your programs of
interest by connecting with faculty in your department, your personal network, and
LinkedIn. Contact them to find out more about the programs.
 Register, study, and take the required admission exam. Scores must be sent directly to
the schools from the exam organization. There is often an additional cost associated with
sending scores to multiple schools; determine which schools are of highest interest to
warrant sending scores.
 For medical, dental, and law school, register with the appropriate application and data
assembly service (LSDAS, AMCAS). These services collect your materials and forward
them to your schools.
 Create a list of institutions to which you will apply. The number of schools you select
varies greatly depending on your personal criteria and preferences. It is common to apply
to five or six programs; however, for highly selective programs, applying to more than
ten schools is not uncommon.
6. Application Process
 Write your personal statement which needs to be modified for each school. Be sure to
ask a faculty member to review your personal statement and make use of The Writing
Center. The following resources are also helpful:
– Statement of Purpose.com http://www.statementofpurpose.com/
– Donald Asher’s Graduate Admissions Essays.
– How to Write a Winning Personal Statement for Graduate School and Professional
School by Richard J. Stelzer.
 Perfect Personal Statements: Law, Business, Medical, Graduate School by
Mark Alan Stewart. Create or update your resume/curriculum vitae.
Have a Career Development Specialist and faculty member in your field critique it.
 Ask faculty members for letters of recommendation. Send a brief note asking
professors for their assistance. Usually you will need at least three letters of
Saint Louis University Career Services, Student Success Center, BSC, Suite 331, careers@slu.edu, 314-977-2828
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recommendation, but be sure to check the requirements in the application materials you
receive from the schools.
– Provide these individuals with a deadline 2 weeks prior to when you plan to have
your application materials complete.
– Send them the appropriate form, the latest version of your personal statement,
resume, stamped and addressed envelopes, and any details specific to individual
programs/schools.
Based on the information received from the schools, develop a timeline for the
application process which includes all deadlines. Consider creating a spreadsheet or
other system for tracking your applications.
Order official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions even those from which
you did not earn a degree. Usually, the transcript must be sent directly from the school
attended to the schools you are applying to or the data assembly service. Some schools
charge a fee to send an official transcript.
Research the professors in the programs you are applying to and learn about their areas
of expertise. Read journal articles they have written about their research.
Complete online applications. Many are online and may include multiple portions. For
example, you may need to apply to the overall graduate school at the institution and be
accepted to your individual program.
It is advisable to send applications by Thanksgiving Break or shortly thereafter (for
traditional, non-medical field programs). Some programs have early deadlines such as
December while others have deadlines in January or February. Be sure to check when
your applications are due. Keep complete copies of all the application materials you have
sent.
Consider whether you need to apply to student work positions (graduate assistantships)
separately from your graduate school applications. Contact your programs of interest to
determine the best sources for finding and applying for these opportunities. Determine
appropriate timelines for doing so based on what you learn from each program.
Follow up with the programs to which you have applied and verify receipt of all the
application materials. You are responsible for verifications of your application materials
being received. Typically, schools do not track down your missing application materials
(this includes letters of recommendation).
Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online – to qualify for
financial aid you need to complete the FAFSA as soon after January 1 as possible. Look
into private loans and any alternative sources of funding available. Apply for graduate
assistantships as needed and appropriate for your programs of interest.
You’re Accepted: Making a Decision
 When you’ve been accepted, compare the financial aid packages offered to you. Make a
decision!
 If you have not already visited, make a trip to the school you consider your top choice.
 Notify other institutions to which you have applied so they can remove your name from
their process.
 Send thank-you notes to those who wrote recommendation letters letting them know of
your future plans.
Saint Louis University Career Services, Student Success Center, BSC, Suite 331, careers@slu.edu, 314-977-2828