Prepare for Graduate School

What is on this page:

• Creating a School List: Researching Programs
• Becoming Competitive
• Application Timeline
  • Sample Timeline (no gap) 
  • Sample Timelines (includes 1+ Gap Year) 
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Suggested Workshops
• Resources

Creating a School List: Where Should I Apply?

Once you can identify academic and professional goals and the field and degree that interests you, it is time to begin investigating what programs are out there. 

Researching Programs

To have the best experience in graduate school, you will need to do your homework and identify programs that best match your goals and interests. You want to make sure you’re a great fit for the program, but that the program is also a good fit for you.

Careful research of programs is essential because even though two programs may have the same name or offer the same degree, programs can be quite different. Web research is the best place to start, but it can be more time-consuming than you think. For this reason, it is never too early to begin identifying programs. Another way of identifying programs is by looking at research coming out of your field. What articles inspire you? What researchers are publishing in your area(s) of interest? Find out at which institution they are based.

Web Research

Google is a great place to start, but also consider search engines on websites like Petersons.com or the Princeton Review.

Start with a search engine to quickly get the names of programs, but then go directly to program websites. You will find more extensive, up-to-date, and accurate information on the institution’s page.

Network

Also, harness your network. Ask professors and graduate students in your major department about what they know about certain programs, and ask them for recommendations based on your goals and interests. This is also a great conversation starter that allows you to share your goals and interests surrounding graduate school if you feel intimidated to approach potential letter writers. Ask them to share their paths to their degrees. Where did your professor complete their master’s and doctorate? You may find out that teaching assistants (TAs) you have at UC Davis did their master’s elsewhere and may have information about another institution to offer.

Graduate and Law School Fair

Consider attending our annual Graduate and Law School Fair at UC Davis, a public event where attendees can explore graduate and law programs and speak directly with admissions staff. Attendees can learn more from the program representatives about their application process, the program’s faculty, culture, curriculum, and financial support (including scholarships and fellowships).

Questions

In your research, the broad questions you want to consider are the following:

• What is the culture of the program? What do they value?
• What makes them unique among similar programs?
• What reputation does the program have among academics?
• How does this program fit or not fit my goals and interests?

To answer these broad questions, consider the following facets of the program:

• Program accreditation; state, private, or for-profit
• Degree(s) or specialization(s) offered
• Competitiveness of the program
• Average time to degree/graduation rates
• Job placement of graduates
• Location, climate, and size of the program
• Research facilities, labs
• Demographic makeup of campus population
• Costs: tuition, materials, relocation, housing
• Availability of financial aid and fellowships
• Funding, and what type (teaching assistant/student researcher)
• Faculty-to-student ratio
• Curriculum and courses
• Interdisciplinary freedom
• Faculty research interests and research activity level
• Sub-disciplines covered, theoretical or applied
• Available student services, graduate student union

If you are considering a research-based program, sharing research interests with the faculty is essential, especially for Ph.D. programs. There needs to be multiple people who can mentor you in a thesis or dissertation project--multiple because professors can go on sabbatical, retire, or leave the institution, so you want options. This is particularly true for Ph.D. programs because the timeline to the degree largely rests on your individual progress. A shorter time to degree is also a good sign. You could read into this statistic and assume students are well supported and mentored, and competitive for funding and fellowships. A longer time to degree could imply the opposite (and would mean more of a time and financial commitment on your part). However, time to degree will naturally differ from STEM versus non-STEM, with STEM degrees (and sometimes experimental social sciences) skewing shorter.

For professional degrees, look at the credentials of the faculty. Are they experienced and/or practicing professionals? Are they full-time, tenured faculty, or are they part-time adjuncts or lecturers? Pay special attention to statistics regarding job placement, since your degree may map very directly to a profession and may not offer the same flexibility as a more general degree once you are on the job market. Also, read very closely about opportunities for internships and the nature of required practicums. Where will you be applying your skills, and what partnerships does the program have with other organizations, industries, the government, etc.? How will you be supported in your practicums? This is also relevant as you consider credential programs and student teaching requirements. Do they integrate theoretical courses and applied student teaching side by side (preferred), or do you enter the classroom after the first year? Who will supervise you and provide you with feedback? Can they guarantee that your supervisor will hold a credential in your area (preferred)?

Once you have determined the program is a good fit for your goals and interests, you can begin researching and collecting information on application deadlines and required materials, covered in the next section. How many programs you choose to apply to is a personal choice, but 6-8 may be recommended so that you have options. Make sure to also identify programs with differing acceptance rates, i.e., reach schools and safety schools to keep options open.

Becoming Competitive: How do I prepare myself?

To be a competitive applicant, you must go beyond your grades. Many applicants will have strong GPAs, but what have they accomplished outside of the classroom? Below are many ways to help yourself stand out as an applicant. 

• Participate in undergraduate research - Undergraduate Research Center
• Join an undergraduate research cohort program - Undergraduate Research Center - Funding and sponsored programs
• Apply for competitive fellowships and grants:
  • Undergraduate Research Center - Awards
  • Prestigious Scholarships
• Participate in a summer research institute
• Secure an internship that gets you hands-on knowledge about your future profession - Connect with the Career Center or find an internship using Handshake
• Engage in leadership development at the Center for Leadership Learning
• Support a cause you believe in as an advocate, volunteer, or activist

Application Timeline

By now, you have identified programs and have determined what materials are required to apply, but how should you go about organizing yourself and your materials? First, consider the following questions:

• When do you want to start graduate school? Right after you graduate? Do you have the time to apply during the fall quarter of your senior year when you are still in school, and have you gained enough experience to be informed and competitive?
• Would a gap year be ideal for your needs? Do you want to focus on preparing application materials after you have already finished school, giving you some more time in your senior year to pursue additional opportunities and courses?
• Are you still forming your professional goals and interests? Would gap years be more appropriate so that you can grow, mature, work, and explore?

Creating Your Timeline

Determining your start time is the first step to designing your timeline. In addition to the above questions, read through the following to help you decide your start time.

No gap year

• Are you considering a research graduate degree, and you have already built up momentum in your research
• Have a current network you can leverage
• Have very clear academic and professional goals and don’t need more time to explore
• Have the time and resources to apply while still in school
• Are you planning on entering a teaching credential program
• Are interested in a career where a grad degree is required for an entry-level position

A single gap year

• Are still exploring your goals and interests
• Have opportunities and coursework set up for your senior year that you want to fully include in your application
• Need some more time to repair your GPA
• Want to work to gain professional experience and network before grad school, or to pursue an opportunity abroad
• Want more time to identify and apply to fellowships
• Want time to work before entering grad school to set money aside

Multiple gap years

• Are still exploring your goals and interests
• Have a competitive job offer or opportunity
• Want to work to gain professional experience and network to deepen your experience in your grad program
• May be entering an industry where your employer might fund an advanced degree
• Want to strategically pursue an advanced degree when it would most benefit you in your career trajectory (ex. M.B.A.)
• Want time to work before entering grad school to set money aside

Note that many programs may allow you to defer entrance for a year, meaning you could apply assuming no gap, and then decide to still take a gap year, deferring but still maintaining your offer. Additionally, if you apply during your senior year and don’t get into your preferred program, you can take a gap year and reapply. Programs encourage students to reapply, as whether or not you are accepted has much to do with factors beyond your application. One example may be that you applied for a Ph.D. program to work with a specific professor who currently has numerous advisees or is going on sabbatical, or maybe there were numerous other applicants also interested in your specialization, so the competition in that area for that cohort was abnormally elevated, but may not be the following year. In this vein, do make sure to reach out to professors, especially for programs where you will choose an advisor, to verify that they are taking on new students or have room in their lab.

Sample Timelines

Sample Timeline (no gap)

Below is a long-term timeline for those planning on entering graduate school immediately after graduating from UC Davis. The sample timeline is a suggested sequence to follow, but everyone’s path will be unique to them.

• Junior Year
  Begin exploring graduate programs that align with your interests. This is a great time to gain relevant experience in your field through research, internships, or extracurricular activities. Start building strong relationships with faculty or mentors who could write compelling letters of recommendation.
• Summer Before Senior Year
  Use this time to work on the bulk of your graduate school applications. Draft your personal statements, update your resume/CV, and gather necessary materials. Be sure to check each program’s application deadlines as they often fall in the early part of senior year.
• Fall of Senior Year
  Finalize and submit your applications. This is also when many fellowship and scholarship deadlines occur, so stay organized and keep track of all submission dates.
• Winter and Spring Quarters
  Connect with programs, attend interviews if applicable, and apply for funding opportunities. This is also the waiting period for admissions decisions.
• Summer After Graduation
  Prepare for the transition—whether that means relocating, registering for classes, or attending orientation events.

Sample Timelines That Include a Gap

If you are considering a gap year, you will adjust the timeline accordingly (see below). Notice the gap is moreso between your graduation date and start time for grad school, and less between your graduation date and your application deadlines, which is only really the summer. If you feel too strained to apply to graduate programs while still in school (fall quarter of your senior year), a gap year can be a nice option.

Activity

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Frequently Asked Questions

• What experiences should I pursue?
• To stand out as an applicant and develop your skills, it is important to pursue experiences outside of the classroom: research, internships, relevant work experience, volunteering, study abroad, activism, etc. What you decide to participate in helps to build your identity and demonstrate your sustained investment in your field and specific interests.
• Is research experience expected?
• Research experience will always help you to be competitive for any program, given the transferable skills you are able to develop: time and project management, analytical/critical thinking, academic writing, etc. If you are applying to research-based master’s (culminating in a thesis) or doctoral degree programs, research experience becomes even more valuable. Beyond becoming a competitive applicant, you should participate in research as an undergraduate to make sure you enjoy it! Graduate Admission Requirements: How do I apply? 

Suggested Workshops

Attend one of our workshops to learn more about these topics and more! View our schedule of workshops offered this term here. 

• Grad School 101

Resources

• Career Counseling, Exploration
  • Career Center (including career courses)
• Researching Programs
  • Peterson's Grad School Search Tool
  • Princeton Review: Grad School Search
• Seeking Experiences
  • Career Center (including fairs)
  • Center for Leadership Learning
  • Undergraduate Research Center (programs)
• Skill Development
  • AATC Subject Support (Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Math, Physics, Statistics, Writing)
  • AATC Success Coaching and Learning Strategies (Time Management, Study Strategies, Goal Setting)
  • Citation management tools (options through the UC Davis Library)

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