I have been training for my first marathon for some time. Even though the marathon is months away, I get up every morning at 6 a.m. to be able to fit in my 40-50 miles of running weekly that I need to be ready. For me, the marathon is about setting goals, challenging myself, staying motivated, preparing physically and mentally, and the discipline it takes for me to be successful.

As I wrote drafts of this article about graduate school during my marathon training, I came to realize how many similarities there are to my journey towards my marathon and preparing for a graduate education. Preparing for graduate school requires even more time than a marathon, and more extensive preparation. Getting ready for graduate school involves doing the work it takes to have a high GPA, doing research, and taking the right courses so that you are academically ready for the challenge of graduate school. The same things that make runners successful, such as endurance, discipline, dedication, preparation, consistent training, and motivation, will get you in shape to be successful in graduate school. Here are some step by step preparations:

1. Set a goal, evaluate yourself, and make a commitment

Saying you will do something and actually putting in the necessary preparation to do it successfully are two different things. I had to set my goal (finish a marathon), evaluate myself (Am I physically and mentally capable of the training ahead of me?) and commit to doing what I need to do to be successful (getting up for 6 a.m. runs). The same is true with graduate school — you must decide that you want to have the door to graduate school open as an option for the future. This involves learning about yourself and defining your personal goals.

Do you have a particular interest or passion in a field? What is exciting? A good way to find answers to this question is by getting involved in campus activities that help you learn about your interests, what you enjoy, and what you do well. Then make a commitment to do what you need to do to best prepare yourself for graduate school.

Learn about different types of graduate programs. They range from doctoral programs that can take six or seven years, to more professional master’s programs in applied fields like social work, business or teaching. Master’s programs are often two or three years. An advanced degree can result in better paying job and opportunities to move up in a company or an organization.

2. Do your homework and get yourself ready

The most critical part of a preparation for a marathon is actually running lots and lots of miles. You came to college to learn, so don’t let anything get in the way of your good grades. If you do not do this, you may be closing doors in your future, or may not get an internship or get accepted to a graduate program that will make a big difference in your career.

Remember that looking for a graduate school is completely different than looking for an undergraduate school. First and foremost, individuals entering graduate school should have a clear idea of what they want to study. In addition, you are also looking for a formula for you to be successful. This formula involves things like good grades, participating in research, and taking advantage of the career center available here at OSU. A critical piece is finding your “coach” — someone to guide you, help you understand the terrain, and assist in preparing you for graduate school. These graduate school “coaches” are professors.

Professors can be a tremendous help in your graduate school journey. They can tell you about different fields and graduate programs. They have already run the marathon of graduate school. They can mentor and guide you throughout your college career, and might have opportunities for you to participate in research or other activities with them.

Deciding to dive in to your education and begin research as an undergraduate will be beneficial to you. Ohio State is one of the few universities that can offer so many different options and opportunities to undergraduates, so you might as well take advantage of services you are paying for!

3. Final preparations and actually running the race

Race day is near. Though marathoners have been training for months, you have been training for years. It is important to begin narrowing down your search to specific programs and universities. Asking professors in the field in areas in which you are interested is a great way to get information on strong programs. It is also important to remember that a university’s general prestige might not be all that relevant to your graduate career—what you are looking for is solid programs in your area of specialization. Finding the right fit between your career and research interests and opportunities provided by the individual program is one important key to finding the right program for you.

Ohio State might be a great choice for you, with over 100 graduate programs and over 10,000 students pursuing graduate educations. Yet there are thousands of programs around the country with different strengths and specialties, and it is worth your time to do some exploration into them.

Yolanda Zepeda, assistant director of graduate education and diversity with the Committee on Institutional Cooperation, shared tips about looking for graduate programs and questions to ask. Zepeda said, “With the Internet and email, you have a great start to learning about graduate programs, and connecting with graduate students and professors in those programs. A good understanding of your own needs will help you decide which programs are right for you.”

Zepeda continued by saying, “Applying to graduate school can be expensive, so think carefully about your choices. Remember that your choice of graduate program will shape your intellectual development, your professional opportunities, and your network of mentors and peers.”

The application process has similarities with road races. You are one of many people applying for a program who also have trained extensively and are prepared to run. You might be a great runner in your neighborhood, but now you see hundreds, if not thousands, of people around you who are just as prepared and trained as you are, if not more. And only a few will win prizes. Graduate school can be like this, with many highly qualified candidates competing for a very few spots in a program. And once you get admitted, there is further competition for funding, as not all students receive assistance to go to graduate school (see box at bottom of the page).

The bottom line is that you cannot control your competition. All you can do is go out and run the very best race you can. And for most runners, we are not competing against others running. We do the best we can and prepare for the day the best way we know how. That should be your goal for applying for admission to graduate school.

I am confident that I am prepared to achieve my goal of finishing my first marathon. This will not happen because of luck, but because I have trained well, prepared myself, and am ready for it. Good luck to you in your graduate school marathon!