Tips and Tricks for Graduate School

How Do I Apply for Graduate School? The following 20 steps can help guide you through this process! 1)Decide on the general field you want to study (e.g., Psychology) 2)Decide broadly where (and where not) you would wish to study (e.g., USA, Canada, UK, Australia etc.) 3)Identify which schools offer graduate programs in your field of interest (e.g., 10/14 schools in Canada offer psychology programs) 4)Narrow your focus onto what specialized area you wish to study in (e.g., Social Psychology)

How Do I Apply for Graduate School? 5) Group the schools into three groups: love, like, dislike (it might help to talk to students currently attending) 6) Print off all application materials for the schools that you would love, and like, to apply to 7) Create a calendar with all application deadlines 8) Create a list of what documents are needed (e.g., reference letters, personal statements, birth certificates) 9) Start a savings account for applications and standardized tests —they can run anywhere from $80-$200 an application/exam, just to apply!

How Do I Apply for Graduate School? 10) Determine what supplementary documents are needed and by when (e.g., GRE Scores) 11) Start filling out the application and contacting your references (you want to give them lot’s of time!) 12) If your program requires you to apply with a supervisor, remember to contact the supervisor at the school of your choice long before the application deadline (are they even taking on students?) 13) Take advantage of the services on campus to improve your writing (e.g., Centre for Scholarly Communication)

How Do I Apply for Graduate School? 14) Contact your references and ask if they would be willing to write you a STRONG letter of reference, not just a good letter of reference (more on this in a bit) 15) Have a friend or family member check over all your documents prior to submitting (an extra set of eyes can be very helpful!) 16) Submit all documents to your schools of choice prior to the deadline—late applications will not be accepted! 17) Follow-up/confirm receipt of your application (be patient because sometimes it can take a while)

How Do I Apply for Graduate School? 18) Take note of when decisions will be made –if you have not heard a week after the announcement date, follow up with the Faculty/College of Graduate Studies at your chosen school 19) Whether you are accepted/waitlisted/not accepted, make sure you inform your references 20) Even if you are not accepted this year, keep on trying! Every year is a brand new year to apply, with a whole new set of applications. Keep positive. If you are accepted, congratulate yourself on your great achievement, and the opening of an exciting chapter of your life!