Stay One Step Ahead

Spring of Junior Year
  • Begin asking faculty, advisors, professionals, and the Career Services staff about graduate programs in your field. 
  • Identify and read professional journals in the field. Learn as much as you can about the current research.
  • Identify the leading researchers and institutions for your field of interest. 
  • Visit Career Services for information on graduate and professional school programs. 
  • Develop as many options as you can; then eliminate some by researching them before you leave for the summer (a spreadsheet approach is helpful).
  • Register and prepare for graduate admission tests. 
Summer after Junior Year
  • Call or write the remaining schools on your list for applications and program information. 
  • Look over the materials you receive and continue narrowing your list. 
  • Contact admissions offices for information on acceptance rates, test score, and GPA ranges. 
  • Ask for information on placement rates and typical employers for each program. 
  • Talk to professionals in the field regarding their research and employment opportunities. 
  • Identify Hendrix alumni currently enrolled or recently graduated from the program and contact them. 
  • Begin writing your personal statement, which must be modified for each school. 
  • If you haven’t done so, register and prepare for admission tests. 
September of Senior Year
  • When school starts, finish narrowing your list of schools. 
  • Begin asking for letters of recommendation. 
  • Continue working on your personal statement.  Have advisors, faculty and Career Services staff review each statement and make recommendations.
  • Check on application deadlines and rolling or early admissions policies. 
  • Read the applications thoroughly and prepare any other materials requested. 
  • For medical, dental or law school register with the appropriate application and data assembly service. 
October of Senior Year
  • Submit completed applications for any early decision programs. 
  • Prepare for and take graduate admissions exams if you haven’t done so already. 
  • Contact schools to schedule visits during fall semester. 
  • Continue to gather and complete the necessary application materials. 
November of Senior Year
  • Continue to send applications, paying close attention to deadlines. 
  • A good rule of thumb is to submit your applications by Thanksgiving Break. 
  • Follow up with graduate schools to confirm that all necessary application materials have arrived.