What Happens After You Apply to Graduate School?
After you apply to graduate school, your application is reviewed for completeness and then evaluated by faculty in your academic department. You may be asked to interview before you receive an admission decision. While you wait, you can prepare for interviews, continue building academic or professional experience, visit campuses, and research your options.
Who actually reviews your graduate school application?
Your application is reviewed by faculty in the academic department you’re applying to. These faculty members make a recommendation to the Graduate School, which then evaluates your credentials before the dean makes the final admission decision. Depending on the program, you may even be familiar with some of the faculty members reviewing your application.
What can you do while waiting for a graduate school admission decision?
Waiting for a graduate school decision can feel daunting, especially when it may seem like your next step is out of your hands. But submitting your application doesn’t mean you have to put everything else on hold.
Keep learning
Use this time to continue developing the skills and knowledge that matter to you and your field. Consider taking a course, earning a certification or attending a workshop. You can also strengthen skills you already have by reviewing material, practicing relevant software, and keeping up with current research in your field.
Keep building experience
If you’re already working, interning, volunteering, or pursuing other professional opportunities in your desired field, continue building on these experiences.
This can also be a good time to explore new opportunities. Consider freelance work, research opportunities or other short term projects in your field while you wait for your decision. There’s no need to take on something just to add another line to your resume. Look for opportunities that genuinely interest you, support your professional goals, or help you prepare for graduate-level study.
Practice interview skills
If your program requires an interview, use this time to prepare. Research common interview questions for your field or program and practice answering questions about your academic interests, experience and goals. Ask friends, family members, professors or mentors to conduct a practice interview with you.
Plan a campus visit
Depending on where your school is located, this may be a good time to plan a campus visit. Graduate schools typically do not provide funding for campus visits, so you may need to cover the cost yourself. However, visiting campus can be an important part of deciding whether a program is right for you.
If the school is far away or money is tight, consider waiting until you have been accepted. That way, you can focus your time and resources on visiting the schools you are seriously considering and use the experience to help make your final decision.
Be patient with the timeline
Different graduate programs have different review processes and timelines, so you may not hear back right away. Not hearing from a program immediately does not necessarily mean anything is wrong. Give the process time and try not to read too much into the wait.
In the meantime, check your email and application portal regularly for updates, requests for additional information, or next steps. If you have not heard from a program by the timeframe they provided, it is appropriate to reach out and politely ask about the status of the admissions process. However, avoid contacting the program too frequently or before the stated timeline has passed.
Don't put your life on hold
While you’re waiting for a decision, remember that graduate school is only one part of your life. Take that trip, spend time with the people you care about, or make time for a hobby you’ve been putting off. You can prepare for graduate school while still enjoying life right now.
What happens if I get accepted to grad school?
First: Celebrate!
Congratulations on your acceptance! Being accepted to graduate school is a monumental moment, and you should be proud of all the work that brought you to this point. Celebrate with the people who supported you along the way.
Then: Read the offer carefully
Once you’re accepted to a graduate program, you’ll receive information about how to accept your offer and complete the next steps. While it may be tempting to accept right away, take some time to review the offer and make sure the program fits your academic, professional and financial goals. Changing your plans after accepting an offer can create complications for both you and the program, and can come off as unprofessional.
Before accepting, look for:
- Acceptance deadline - Know how long you have to consider your decision and when you need to respond.
- Enrollment requirements - Review any requirements you must complete before enrolling, such as submitting a deposit, providing final transcripts or completing prerequisite coursework.
- Funding opportunities - Understand tuition, fees and available financial support.
- Graduate assistantships - Look for graduate assistantship opportunities in your department or program. These positions allow you to work while pursuing your degree and often provide a stipend, tuition assistance or both.
- Research opportunities - Explore research opportunities in your department or research projects faculty members are working on that align with your interests. Some opportunities may offer a stipend, hourly pay or other funding.
- Required documents - Make note of any documents you need to submit before enrolling, such as transcripts, immunization records or proof of residency.
- Important enrollment or orientation dates - Keep track of important dates for submitting required materials, registering for classes, attending orientation and completing other enrollment steps.
Make your decision
If you’re considering multiple graduate programs, compare what each program offers and how it fits into your goals and circumstances.
Consider:
- Program structure - How many hours will you take each semester? How long will the program take to complete? Will you complete a thesis, dissertation, or other major project?
- Cost & funding - How much will the program cost, and what funding is available? Consider the overall value of the program in relation to its cost.
- Location - How far is the school from where you live? Is the program offered online, in person, or in a hybrid format?
- Faculty - Do the faculty members’ areas of expertise and research align with your own goals and interests?
- Career goals - What do you want to do after graduate school, and how will this degree help you reach those goals?
- Resources - What academic, professional, and campus resources are available to help you succeed?
Start preparing
Once you’ve accepted your offer, it’s time to start preparing for your first semester. Your program may provide a checklist of next steps, but you should also make sure you:
- Register for classes
- Attend orientation
- Get familiar with campus
- Start planning your schedule and balancing your commitments
- Prepare to relocate if you’re moving for graduate school. Start planning your housing, transportation, and other logistics.
What if I don’t get accepted to grad school?
Not being accepted to a graduate program can be disappointing, but it does not necessarily mean you were unqualified or that graduate school is not the right path for you. Often, there are factors such as limited spots, lack of funding, or other admissions considerations that extend beyond the strength of your application.
If you decide to reapply or apply to other programs, don’t submit the same materials without making improvements. Use the time between applications to strengthen your application, whether that means gaining additional experience, improving your personal statement, getting more interview practice, or updating your recommendations. Make meaningful improvements so you feel confident submitting your application again.
When someone does not gain admission to their desired program, it can help to pursue opportunities to gain relevant experience. What constitutes relevant experience will differ depending on the program. Examples include working with a faculty member on research, working with people such as in sales or customer service, volunteer work leading a project or initiative, or working in a technical field through a job. It is especially important to update application materials so that the program can understand the additional skills and expertise you have the second time you apply. Often, this means updating the CV or resume and updating the cover letter. The latter may require more than a few additional sentences. Really telling the story of the experience and skills you would bring may require revising the entire letter to feature what you have done.
Don't forget to thank your recommendation writers
Your recommendation writers have taken the time to support your graduate school application, so be sure to thank them for their help. If you’re accepted, let them know where you’ll be attending and share your good news. If you aren’t accepted, still thank them for their time and support. Either way, you should let them know you appreciate their help through the process.