Graduate School Timeline

First and Sophomore Years

1. Begin thinking about graduate school in your first two years of college. It may not be in your plans at this time, but it is in your interest to keep many doors open in your future, because plans do change during the course of your undergraduate years.

2. Be aware of the application process and what you can do in your early years as an undergraduate to increase your chances of being accepted into graduate school. The application process for graduate school is similar to the process you successfully completed to get into college. Although the process differs among graduate programs, the usual steps in the process are listed at the end of this section, and it is beneficial to read it now to better prepare you for the application process.

3. Start a file or "portfolio" with copies of all papers and projects completed in your courses that are at all significant, and especially those completed in sociology courses. When you apply for graduate school it may be useful to submit a really outstanding paper to demonstrate your writing, research, and/or analytical skills.

4. Start a file that has a running list of significant activities, awards, leadership positions, and so forth. When you need to compile such a list as a senior for applications and for your reference letter referees, the process will be made very easy by having kept this list.

Junior Year

1. Prepare for the GRE using a CD or book designed for this purpose. Take the GRE late in your junior year to get that part of the application process out of the way. This will allow you to take the exam a second time before the application is due. You should take some time to review algebra and geometry before taking the exam.

2. Investigate graduate school programs to see which ones suit your interests, qualifications, and budget. Begin writing to graduate schools during your junior year to help you decide on programs that are suited to your interests. Keep in mind the rankings of schools, because this will affect your ability to get employment when you complete your graduate education. A good place to begin is with the Guide to Graduate Departments mentioned above. You want to find schools that are strong in your particular areas of interest within the discipline, and you want to find where the professors are who are outstanding in your field. Find out about the faculty members of any program in which you are particularly interested. Read their research, and express an interest in those areas. You might want to choose an Independent Studies topic in related areas. Any faculty member doing research would certainly be interested in applicants who have done work in the same area. You can make yourself a valuable asset to that professor.

3. Develop relationships with professors who can later write letters of recommendation for you.

4. You may want to visit some the schools during your junior year or the summer between  your junior and senior year.

Senior Year

1. You'll be sending off your applications during the early part of your senior year. Make sure you send everything that is requested, and be sure everything is sent to the proper place (Graduate Office, Sociology Department, etc.). Your file will not be considered until it is complete, and it is your responsibility to make sure that all parts, including the letters of recommendation, arrive before the formal closing date. There are no exceptions and no excuses accepted for late applications. Call the department a couple of weeks before the closing date to make sure all parts have arrived and your application is complete. Because many schools use a rolling admission, it is important to complete your application for graduate school and for financial aid as early as possible. Preference may be given to early applicants for both admission into the program and for financial aid.

It will be to your advantage to apply to a Ph.D. program, even if you think you will stop after completing work on your Master's. Recently, acceptance into graduate school has become very competitive, and some schools only accept or give priority to students who already have their Master's degree. So, along with applying to Ph.D. graduate programs, you may want to also apply to universities that only offer a Master's degree, and if that's the only school to which you are accepted, you can later apply to a Ph.D. program.

2. When filling out applications, type everything!

3. Obtain letters of recommendation from professors.

4. Stress your capabilities! What do you have to offer to the department? Try to put yourself in their place, and think about what you would want to hear from someone applying to your department. You want your application to reflect the fact that you strive for excellence in everything that you do. Make your application specific to the school, and mention the name of the school in your Statement of Purpose or Letter of Intent