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It is never too early to start thinking about your career and graduate school! Taking steps to prepare during your undergraduate years can save you time and potential worry as you approach graduate school.
Keep in mind, some graduate programs have an application deadline one year before the intended start date!
Recommended Timeline
- Think about your interests, strengths, and career goals
- If you are exploring majors, be sure to check out our Exploratory Advising website and our Career Readiness website for helpful tips and worksheets
- Free online career and interest assessments are linked in the “Additional Resources” section below.
- Visit graduate program websites in your chosen discipline and find out what prerequisites these programs have. Possibly talk to a program director or program coordinator.
- In some cases, it is not required to have an undergraduate degree in the same discipline as your intended graduate program. The earlier you research program requirements, the easier it will be to fit these courses into your undergraduate schedule if they are not already part of your degree requirements.
- Consider joining clubs and/or professional organizations related to your intended field.
- Start building experience, both as a way to learn more about your field, and to help distinguish your application for admission.
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- Service Learning courses combine community service with academic learning. This approach allows you to work on projects that address community needs while integrating the experience with your coursework and reflections.
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- Internships allow students to gain hands-on experience through a structured internship, which involves working on projects related to your field of study within a professional setting. This experience helps build practical skills, workforce knowledge, and professional connections.
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- The Undergraduate Teaching Assistant program provides students with a paid opportunity to work under the supervision of a professor to gain hands-on experience in an MSU classroom.
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- The Undergraduate Research & Creative Scholarship program offers research and funding opportunities to students, as well as guidance on presenting and publishing.
- Begin researching financial aid and thinking about how you plan to pay for graduate school.
- Begin researching specific graduate programs and their admission requirements.
- Start preparing/studying for your entrance exam (if required), and apply for fee waivers and/or funding through MSU Denver’s Graduate School and Professional Licensure program!
- Summer:
- Narrow your list of schools to those you will apply to.
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- Double check admission requirements and applications deadlines.
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- Contact each school’s Admissions Office to inquire about application fee waivers. MSU Denver’s Graduate School and Professional Licensure program might also be a resource for help with application fee costs.
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- Research scholarships and grants offered by your institutions as well as those offered by outside organizations. Take note of application requirements and begin working on drafts of those applications.
- Fall:
- Take your entrance exam, if applicable.
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- Draft your personal statement/letter of intent, and your responses to any other questions/writing prompts required for each application.
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- Update your resume or curriculum vitae (CV).
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- Order your official transcripts and entrance exam scores (if applicable), to be sent to each program you are applying to.
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- Submit your application materials!
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- Double check that your recommendation letters, transcripts, and test scores were also received by each institution.
- Spring:
- Submit your scholarship applications.
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- Apply for federal and institutional financial aid.
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- Head over to the “What to Expect After Submitting Your Application” page for additional information!
Additional Resources
Contact Information
Email: [email protected]
Campus Location:
Administration Building (AD)
Suite 270
(meetings by appointment only)