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Graduate School Applications

Recommended Application Timeline

You should begin the application process at least one year before you plan to start graduate/professional school. Deadlines for specific programs vary greatly, so be sure to research them in advance. Here’s a preparation timeline you can follow to get the right things done at the right times—and to best prepare yourself for eventual success.

All times indicated here are approximate. If you do not fall within this timeline, it doesn't mean that you are behind!

Recommended timeline for graduate school applications

Summer
12-15+ Months Before

Action Steps for 12-15 Months Before:

Reflect on personal and professional goals to determine if graduate school is right for you.
Discuss your plans and options with trusted mentors, advisors, family, alumni, etc.
Identify key considerations you will be looking for in a graduate program (e.g., location, cost, program, faculty, ranking, financial aid, etc.).
Begin researching and evaluating programs.
Identify and build relationships with potential letter of recommendation writers (faculty, instructors, advisors, supervisors, etc.).
Contact admissions officers, faculty, and students/alumni for your program(s) of interest to get more information, determine fit, and build relationships.
Get organized! Learn about the admissions criteria and timelines of your applications.
Begin narrowing down your list of program options, ultimately selecting two to five that you’ll apply to.
Study and register for entrance exams, if necessary.

Fall
8-12 Months Before

Action Steps for 8-12 Months Before:

Take the required entrance exams.
Order official transcripts from One Stop.
Gather application materials and feedback on your personal statement and resume/CV.
Ask for letters of recommendation at least four weeks in advance of the deadline.
Learn about funding/financial aid opportunities.
Submit your application and supporting materials by the deadline(s).

Winter/Spring
4-8 Months Before

Action Steps for 4-8 Months Before:

Send thank-you notes to your recommenders.
Prepare for and complete interviews, if necessary.
Patiently await admissions decisions.
Contact schools about the possibility of visiting.
Consider multiple options and make a decision!

Spring/Summer
1-4 Months Before

Action Steps for 1-4 Months Before:

Secure or finalize your housing, if relocating.
Confirm funding letters, submit required financial aid forms, and sign any Teaching or Research Assistant contracts.
Send final official transcripts and upload required immunization and health records to student health services
Verify whether you are enrolling in the university student health plan or waiving coverage with an external provider prior to the deadline.
Ask your advisor or program coordinator for preliminary reading lists, software requirements, or lab protocols to review before starting.
Walk your daily commute to locate your department building, advisor's office, primary libraries, and scope out quiet study spots.
Shift your sleep schedule, plan meal-prep strategies, and block off focus time to adjust to the increased workload.
Rest! You've done so much great work to get to this point. Take care of yourself!

Grad School Application

Each school's application process will have slightly different requirements and requests from you. Below is a a general list of items you’ll typically need to include with your graduate school applications. But, be sure to review all the application instructions and deadlines thoroughly.

Resume or CV

Most graduate school applications will ask for some document that highlights your relevant skills, qualities and experiences. For U.S. schools, this will likely either be a resume or a curriculum vitae (CV).

The primary differences between these two document types are their length, what is included, and what each is more helpful for:

CV: A document of any length that records your most relevant academic and work-related experiences, awards, extra-curricular activities, etc.
Resume: One or two page document that highlights your relevant experiences for a specific opportunity.

If you are given the option to choose between these two documents for your submission, we suggest creating a CV instead of a resume to best be able to highlight your professional and academic skills.

To learn more about each of these documents, visit the Resume page of the Career Toolbox or the CV page of the Career Toolbox.

Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation are letters written by people in your professional and/or academic life who can speak to (and give examples of) your strongest qualities, your best skills/competencies and abilities, your commitment to a particular field, and your potential to contribute to the target program’s field of study and related careers.

The recommendation letter process can take a while, so be sure to plan in advance. Reach out to your contacts to request a letter of recommendation at least 6 weeks prior to submission (as early as possible is best), occasionally check in with them, offer them your resume and/or other materials for reference, and send them polite reminders as needed.

Who To Ask For Letters of Recommendation

Ultimately, it's most important to find people to write letters of recommendation who can knowingly speak to your positive attributes, skills, and capabilities:

If applying for a research or rigorous academic program, prioritize people who can speak to your skills in academic or research settings, as those will be the skills and qualities that are most relevant to a graduate school program. (e.g. primary academic & research mentors, professors in upper-level/major-related courses).
If you are applying for a professionally-focused degree (e.g. MBA, MSW), it's important to include managers or senior mentors from any relevant work experience. This can also be helpful if you are 2+ years out from graduating from your undergrad.

How to Ask For Letters of Recommendation

Asking for letters of recommendation can feel intimidating. However, it doesn’t have to be time-consuming or complicated. You simply need to find out if they would be willing to write a persuasive letter that reflects who you are and the good work you do. We recommend sharing your decision and reasons for pursuing graduate school, explaining why you have chosen them as a potential recommender, make the ask (with plenty of advance notice), and then expressing your appreciation of their support.

While asking in person is always recommended, a simple email can also be just as effective. It might look something like this:

Hi Dr. Blackstone,

Thank you for helping me so much after our class sessions this past semester. I have enjoyed getting to know you a bit and, especially, gaining a better understanding of how what we’re learning in class applies to our everyday lives.

I’m writing with a question for you. Next year, I will be applying to a graduate program in [professor’s discipline]. Given your knowledge of the field and your experience observing me as a student, I am wondering if you would be willing to write me a letter of recommendation?

If so, I would greatly appreciate it—and I could stop by your office sometime soon, at your convenience, to discuss the details.

Thanks again!

Carlos Montgomery

Tip: Help Your Letter Writers Help You

All of the people who agree to write letters for you have busy jobs, appointments, and possibly other students seeking recommendations as well. So do everything you can to make your request relatively simple for them.

Meet with each of them briefly and give them everything you can from the following list:

Relevant information about the school(s) or graduate program(s) you’re applying to.
Your thoughts on what you see as your strongest qualities and skills (especially in the context of the Core Career Competencies that signify your career readiness).
A copy of your résumé or CV and academic transcript and/or a printed summary of your involvement in student organizations and groups.
A list noting which key academic courses you’ve completed and how well you’ve done in them.
A draft of your personal statement, if you wrote one for your graduate school applications.
Any other information that you think might be helpful.

During the meeting, share why you have chosen this individual as a writer and what your academic and professional goals are.

Give each person an early deadline, and be sure to thank them, too! After all: They’re giving you a significant amount of their time and energy, as well as their support.

Entrance Exams

Some graduate and professional schools require applicants to take some type of entrance exam (often called an admissions test) to be considered. As you research graduate/professional schools, pay close attention to which test(s), if any, is required.

The most commonly required entrance exam is the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Many professional school programs require specific tests:

Business school: GMAT
Dental school: DAT
Law school: LSAT
Medical school: MCAT
Optometry school: OAT

Testing centers often have wait times of two to four weeks for the popular exams, so plan accordingly. To register for an entrance exam, visit the website of the one you need to take. The Educational Testing Service website is an excellent resource for general information.

The U of M Library's test prep guide includes a number of helpful links, including GRE prep books with full online access as well as other resources.

When to Take the Entrance Exams

When you should actually take your entrance exam depends on which exam you’re taking, the type of graduate program you’re pursuing, and when you want to start graduate school.

If you're unsure of the timeline you should pursue, start by researching or contacting your professional or graduate program(s) of interest. Depending on when you plan to apply, you want to allow a few months prior to the application deadline for proper test processing, and even more time if you want to be able to take the exam more than once.

Generally speaking, if you're taking the GRE and you want to attend graduate school immediately after you finish your bachelor's degree, you should take the test at least one year before you want to start your graduate program. Again, though, be sure to review information for your specific profession and test requirements carefully (for example, medical school applications tend to open much earlier than Fall, so prospective applicants would need to take the MCAT sooner).

Tip: Save Money on Entrance Exams

Your ability to pay for graduate school entrance exams and preparation materials (like the GRE, GMAT, LSAT, or MCAT) should not have an impact on your success. Below are a few strategies for saving money in the entrance exam process:

Virtually all major exam administrators offer fee waivers or discounts (often 50% to 100% off) for applicants who demonstrate financial need or participate in specific undergrad programs
There are a plethora of free resources for studying for the exams.
- Official test makers offer high-quality free practice tools (e.g., ETS's free GRE practice tests, Khan Academy's MCAT/LSAT materials, or official GMAT Starter Kits).
- The UMN Library, as well as many public libraries nearby, stock test prep books along with online database subscriptions (like LearningExpress Library) that include full-length practice exams for free.
- If you prefer physical books, check platforms like ThriftBooks, eBay, or Reddit/Facebook student exchange groups for previous editions. Test formats rarely change drastically year-to-year, so they will likely contain relevant information still.
When you take the exam, you will have the option to send 4–5 official score reports to target universities for free on or right after test day. Make sure to plan your school list in advance so you don't pay $20–$35 per additional report later.

Graduate School Interviews

After you've submitted your graduate school application materials, some programs will want to interview you, either in person during a campus visit or via video/phone (i.e., a virtual interview).

An interview is a chance for you to elaborate on your academic and professional talents, for you and the school/program you’re considering to learn more about each other, and possibly for you to demonstrate how you communicate and collaborate in group settings (if it’s a group interview).

Identify two or three key talking points that you want to express during your interview when you have the opening to do so. Also, prepare at least five questions to ask your interviewers, ones that go beyond the information you can find online. For instance, what information would you need to know in order to decide if this is a right fit for you?

To learn more about general interview preparation and strategies, visit the Interview page of the Career Toolkit module.

Graduate School Essays

Personal Statements

For most graduate school applications, you'll be required to write a personal statement (or statement of purpose). The personal statement can be a major factor in the admissions decision. It is a critical part of your application materials because it is your opportunity to provide more in-depth detail about your background and goals for pursuing graduate school. This essay also serves as a sample of your writing ability to the graduate program.

Some programs will identify specific prompts/questions for you to address in your statement. If no specific prompts are given, craft your personal statement as a narrative essay. In other words, since your statement is personal, and thus about you, share your unique story by reflecting on topics such as your background, various identities, academic pursuits, relevant challenges and/or accomplishments, values, personal motivation for graduate school, and why that particular program interests you.

Read the instructions very carefully, follow the required format, and be sure to keep your statement within the word count or page limit. To prepare for writing your statement, take some time to review the following reflection prompts:

Identify 1-3 meaningful experiences from your life that relate to your motivations for pursuing graduate or professional school. What did you learn from these experiences?
Think about a time you faced a challenge in your life. How did it impact you? How did you work through this challenge?
What academic interests/opportunities have you pursued previously? How do they connect with your goals for graduate school?
What skills/competencies/qualities have you developed? How would you contribute these to the graduate program?
How do your various identities shape your perspectives?
What are your top values, and how do they connect with the graduate programs you’re applying to and your future career path?

Resources: Get Writing Support

Need help drafting or reviewing your graduate school essays? Make an appointment with a CLA Career Coach and/or theU of M’s Center for Writing for support! You should also consider getting feedback on them from professors and others in your chosen field.

Additionally, Minnesota English Language Program (MELP) offers free, in-person English as a Second Language support to international undergraduate students at the University of Minnesota.

Statements of Purpose

Most graduate programs will request a statement of purpose (or personal statement–sometimes used interchangeably) as part of the application. Similar to a personal statement, the statement of purpose can be a major factor in the admissions decision and is a critical part of your application materials because it is your opportunity to provide more in-depth detail about yourself as a candidate, your academic goals, and your alignment with the program. This essay can also serve as a sample of your writing ability to the graduate program.

Where a statement of purpose differs from a personal statement is that it typically focuses more specifically on your academic background and less on personal history (though, it can depend on the program and their exact essay requirements). As such, your statement of purpose should focus on your academic qualifications, your research interests, why you are drawn to that particular program, which faculty you want to work with, and how your academic and professional goals relate to that program.

Some programs will identify specific prompts/questions for you to address in your statement of purpose. For applications that do not include specific questions to address in your statement, consider this general guideline of what to include:

Your motivation to pursue this particular discipline/field of study
Your academic credentials and experiences that prepare you for graduate study
Your research topics of interest; specific research questions
Which program faculty you want to work with and why their research areas interest you
Discuss the value and contribution you would bring to the program
Demonstrate that you have a realistic sense of the field and the training required
Your academic and professional goals and how you plan to achieve them

Diversity Statements

Diversity statements are becoming a common requirement of graduate school applications and some job applications. A diversity statement is a document that displays your commitment to diversity and inclusion work, talks about your experiences with diverse populations, and/or shares how you will contribute to the diverse community within the program and school you’re applying to.

Engaging diversity cultivates awareness of one's own identity and cultural background and that of others through an exploration of domains of diversity, which may include: race, ethnicity, country of origin, sexual orientation, ability, class, gender, age, spirituality, etc. There is not one, single way to write a diversity statement, so consider all of the various experiences you’ve had, both in and outside of the classroom, that have contributed to your perspectives.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

I have something on my application that I'm nervous will impact my ability get into the program. How do I address it?

If there is a part of your application that you feel needs context or an explanation (e.g. a dip in grades, a low exam score, a gap in a resume or CV), you can submit an optional extenuating circumstances document. This document allows you the opportunity to provide an explanation of, or give context to, something on your application.

Extenuating circumstances documents can be hard to write! Here are a few tips, tricks, and strategies that you can use:

Be brief and speak in broad generalities. You do not need to provide specific details of your circumstances. Oftentimes, these serve as a distraction rather than explaining.
- Example: "In my second year in the College of Liberal Arts, I experienced a loss of a close family member, which impacted my ability to focus on my academics."
- Example: "In the spring of 2025, I was diagnosed with a chronic illness. The treatment program I underwent took significant time, which means that I was unable to participate in any extracurricular activities, and had to drop a course partway through the semester."
Connect it back to your strength and resilience. Undergoing hardships can give you a unique perspective, and builds resilience which is a valuable skill to have. Make sure to include notes on how you grew from the experience, what steps you took to get back on track, or skills you used to cope.
- Example: "Though this was a difficult time in my life, I was able to get the support I needed through using on-campus resources and from my community. With this support, I was able to improve my grades the following semester."
- Example: "Through coordinating this treatment schedule, I learned how to manage my time effectively, advocate for my needs, and how to balance productivity and rest. This knowledge helped me find a successful balance to finish out my time in college successfully."

How do I request letters of recommendation if I plan to take a gap year(s)?

Taking a gap year or two before applying to graduate school? No problem! Here are some tips for requesting letters of recommendation after taking time off from school:

Build and maintain relationships with faculty, and other letter writers, prior to graduation. Visit office hours, share some things about how their work/research/course interests you, and let them know that you are thinking about graduate school in the future. Ask questions about their experiences, get their advice, and follow up!
Ask in advance for a future letter of recommendation. If you know you are planning to take a gap year, mention that as part of your plan, and ask them if they would be willing to write a letter of recommendation when it’s time for you to apply. Ensure you have multiple forms of contact information for them so you can get in touch quickly in the future. Another option would be for them to write the letter now, and you can save it for future use (Note: this can sometimes create challenges because the letter can't be tailored to particular programs).
Stay in touch periodically and share life updates. Share what you are doing and/or learning in your gap year experiences, send thank you notes acknowledging their impact on you, and ask how they would like to stay in touch. This will help them remember you later on and recall what you’ve been up to.
Ask again and provide information. When it comes time to ask for the letter, start by thanking them for agreeing to write a letter for you (this also serves as a reminder for them) and let them know that you are ready to begin applying for programs. Share details about each program you are applying for, making sure to include any deadlines or instructions that recommenders should be aware of. You can also share drafts of your application materials with them, such as your resume/cv and personal statement. Also, hang on to key papers or assignments from the courses you took from faculty writing your letters so that you can share this with them to remind them of your time in their courses.

Do graduate school applications look different outside of the U.S.?

Yes, graduate school applications can look significantly different from country to country. U.S. graduate admissions typically use a holistic model, which involves looking at essays, broad coursework, leadership, and test scores. Alternatively, some countries will focus more on your previous academics, and want fewer personal details in application materials.

It's important to do research on the norms of the country you are submitting applications for before submitting. We suggest looking for guidance on GoinGlobalLinks to an external site. through HandshakeLinks to an external site.Links to an external site. to find geographically relevant advice and resources.