Prepare for Graduate School

Testing

Utah State University Career Design Center provides proctored admissions exams. Please contact the Career Design Center by calling 435.797.1004 or visiting the Professional Testing Website.

Graduate & Professional School Admission Exams

GRE: General, all-purpose graduate school admission test. Offered various days a week.
MAT: Graduate admission est for use in selected programs. Offered various days a week.
GMAT: Computer based entrance exam for business schools. Offered weekly.
LSAT: Law school entrance exam. Offered four times a week.
MCAT: Entrance exam for medical school. Offered 12 times a year.

General Admissions Timeline

Please note each program has unique admissions scheduling. When applying, always refer to the individual program and insttution.

May (A year before desired entrance year):

• Research potential schools and contact their academic advisors/program directors to determine information about the program and its requirements.
• Take practice exams—contact or research graduate programs to identify their test requirements.
• Be aware that institutions have different deadlines—you may want to record these in an Excel spreadsheet to stay organized.

June:

• Register for the entrance exam(s).

July:

• Contact professors at your current university who are in the field of study that you are interested in and conduct informational interviews.
• Contact program coordinators and collect graduate school literature if you still need to.
• If you have an undergraduate-level course that is required and it is not part of your undergraduate program, register for this course in the coming semesters.

August:

• Take the entrance exam.
• Begin writing your personal statement.

September:

• FInalize who you will ask for strong, positive recommendation letters—ask them in writing for the recommendation.
• Continue working on your personal statement.
• Finalize a list of top graduate programs.

October:

• Send supportive information to your recommenders (graduate program information, resume, personal statement, transcripts, etc.).
• Arrange campus visits to prospective universities.
• Request official transcripts to be sent to prospective graduate programs.
• Contact professors or current students at the program(s) of choice and conduct informational interviews.

November:

• Review your personal statement with a Career Coach and the USU Writing Center.
• Send thank you notes to all of your recommenders.
• Apply for Financial Aid (FAFSA).

December:

• Submit all applications

January:

• Contact the program coordinator about assistantships and fellowships.

April-May:

• Receive acceptance letter(s).
• Decide on the most appropriate school for you.
• Send another thank you note to your recommenders, informing them of your acceptance to the program.
• Notify your Career Coach of your acceptance and decision.

Statements of Purpose & Letters of Intent

When writing your graduate school statement of purpose, review the school's requirements (i.e., prompts, structure, word count, etc.) and follow instructions carefully. Showcase your passions, goals, and what you bring to the program. Keep your statement concise and personal, sharing relevant experiences or challenges. Convey why you're a strong applicant, address setbacks, and emphasize positive qualities. Duscuss program specifics and how they align with your long-term goals.

Be sure to tailor your statement for each program you apply to and have it reviewed by trusted individuals and the USU Writing Center for proofreading and refinement. Remember, writing a statement of purpose/letter of intent is a process, so be prepared to write multiple drafts.

Statement Structure

First Paragraph	Why this field of study? Why are you a good candidate for this graduate program? Why are you interested in this specific graduate school/program?*
Second Paragraph	What are your best qualifications for being accepted in this program? Academically? Work Experience? Volunteer Involvement? Research? Certifications?
Third Paragraph	Tie your long-term goals to your admission to each graduate program. Be clear about your intent

*Omit if the statement of purpose is submitted through a Centralized Application Service where all universities can access the same document

References & Letters of Recommendation

How to Ask	Instead of saying “Could you be a reference for me?” say something like: “I am applying for _________________. Do you feel you know me well enough to write me a strong recommendation for this position? Asking the question this way triggers a discussion of what the program is about and how this person’s specific perspective about you could be relevant and influential to your audience. In addition, ask the reference about their preferred ways to be contacted (k.e., e-mail, cell phone, etc.) and include this on your reference list.
What to Provide Your Recommenders	Your resume/CV and statement of purpose/letter of intent Summary of the program mission, vision, what they are looking for, and how you fit with the program/institution.
Follow-up	Always send a thank-you note to each of your references and keep them posted on your application progress.

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