Applying To Grad School

Why apply to graduate school?

Graduate students at graduation ceremony wearing caps

If you’re not sure grad school is the right step for you, we share our top reasons to apply.

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Application timeline

Clock for grad school application timeline

Find out what to do and when during the grad school application process.

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Choosing a graduate school

External view of a U.S graduate school

We help you create a shortlist of grad schools best suited to you.

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Personal statements

Student thinking about grad school personal statement

We show you how to write a successful personal statement for your grad school application.

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FAQs

Question mark sign

There are many reasons to apply to graduate school.

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Admissions tests

Students taking grad school admissions tests

How to prepare for your grad school admissions test and give your best performance on the day.

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Interviews

Grad school students waiting for interview

How to ace your grad school interview.

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Scholarships

Grad school applicant talking to tutors about scholarships

How to get funding for your grad school course.

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When should I apply to grad school?

We recommend you follow the timeline below to make sure you submit your application(s) on time:

May

Begin researching grad schools you're interested in. Take a GRE practice test, which will help you determine how much preparation you'll need for the actual test.

June

Sign up for a GRE test prep course, and register for the GRE general test if you need to.

July

Ask schools that interest you for more information about their programs.

Consider paying a visit to your college and talking to your previous tutors. They can recommend good grad school programs and may even be able to introduce you to some contacts.

August

Take the GRE general test. If you're not happy with your scores, sign up to take it again. Start drafting your statement of purpose.

September

Register for the November GRE subject test (if necessary).

Finalise your shortlist of schools, and familiarise yourself with the professors who share your research interests at each school. Contact your recommenders, and keep revising and improving your statement of purpose.

October

Request official transcripts from your undergraduate institution. Send your recommenders supplemental materials (like your resume, personal statement, etc.) that they can use as a reference.

Make contact with students and professors at your prospective schools. Arrange a campus visit if you can.

November

Ask someone in the field and a few of your trusted friends and family to read through your personal statement and get their feedback.

Take the GRE subject test, and check that your scores will be sent directly to your chosen schools.

December

Complete and submit all your grad school applications, keeping copies of every section for your records. Check that your recommendations have been sent to your schools.

Is it hard to get into grad school?

It's important to remember that grad school is different to college.

Even with the same acceptance rate as undergrad schools, grad schools are still harder to get into, if only for the fact that you're competing with the cream of the crop.

And this doesn't allow for the fact that some programs are a lot more competitive than undergraduate schools. This means you need to be prepared to spend lots of time writing an amazing application to be successful.

What GPA do I need to get into grad school?

The most common GPA needed for grad school is 3.0, though exact grad school GPA expectations can vary a lot by program.

Some schools set a strict GPA limit , which generally range between 2.5 and 3.5, but you may be able to apply (and get accepted) even with a lower GPA.

How long does it take to get accepted to grad school?

This depends on the school ranking, program ranking, admit ratio, admit percentage, popularity of the school or program etc but in general, don't expect a reply until April or later.
 
Generally it takes between 3 and 4 months to receive a response.

Can I get into grad school with a low GPA?

If your GPA is below 3.0, then it's still possible to get into grad school.
 
There are places out there that will accept students with a lower GPA, although in some cases, they may place more ephasise on the GRE or GMAT score, and whether you show that you can study hard and apply yourself.
 
Do your research and see which schools consider students with a lower GPA, and ask them for more information on their admissions procedure and how you can give yourself the best chance of being offered a place.