Graduate School preparation begins with your first quarter. You worked hard to be admitted to Ohio State, so it is time to put that effort to work. You may already have a plan in mind for professional school — becoming a physician or an attorney, receiving an MBA or a Ph.D., or you just may want to leave your options open and explore the possibilities.

Despite what your plans are, you will never have to work harder academically than during your first year. Training yourself to excel at academics is a full-time job. It is similar to the way an athlete trains for a long-distance competition. In terms of time, there are 168 hours each week; and 40 hours per week should be dedicated to your academics. You must go to class, do the assigned readings, complete the homework and the labs. This leaves you with 128 remaining hours to make use of as you will. Hopefully this time will include sleeping, eating, taking care of mental and physical wellbeing, as well as recreation time.

Pacing yourself right from the beginning is very important. A strong GPA will be your best ally when applying to graduate schools, applying for financial aid, and obtaining assistantship positions. Do not allow your undergraduate GPA to drop below 3.0, since good grades in your first and second year will sustain you as you enter the more challenging curriculum in your major area.

If you are exploring your possibilities, you must answer the question, “Why do I want to go to graduate school?” Two common reasons why people pursue graduate degrees are: intellectual curiosity triggered by a field of study that interests the student greatly and the professional advancement/development that gaining an additional degree represents on a student’s career.

Got the grades, then what is next? It is recommended to become involved in undergraduate research no later than your second year. Sophomores and juniors can volunteer, get a wage payroll job in your department or in a lab, or even go for an independent study. Ideally, during your first year, you begin to explore the resources that are available at OSU and, soon after, you become actively involved. The Office of Undergraduate Research (http://ugresearch.adm.ohio-state.edu) is one of such resources.

Never stop seeking opportunities to gain knowledge and experience. Attend and participate in professional societies and meetings. Attend scholarly events on campus; speakers in areas of interest, research presentations and forums. Participate in a summer research experience such as SROP at OSU. Hundreds of similar research possibilities exist across the nation. You can visit our last issue at http://quepasa.osu.edu/issues/au07/index.htm for related information.

Go visit your faculty and instructors during their office hours, even if you don’t have a problem. Remember the importance of building a good rapport. Ask questions. Learn how they got to where they are at this point in their careers.

For those who are serious about graduate school, the following timeline can be useful as a reference:

Summer before your senior year:
• Draft a personal statement of your academic and professional goals.
• Explore graduate programs. Gain familiarity with the research, entrance requirements, and deadlines.
• Contact graduate programs that interest you and request information.
• Prepare for the GRE, MCAT, GMAT, or LSAT exam.
• Ask faculty for recommendations. Make it easy for them to write you strong recommendations by preparing a resume or CV and setting up a time to meet with you.
September:
• Share your personal statement with faculty who know you.
• Consult your campus writing center to review your statements.

October:
• Take the GRE, MCAT (in the summer), GMAT or LSAT.
• Revise your personal statement, tailoring it to your chosen graduate programs.
• Verify everything you will need to complete your applications.

November:
• Download application forms and complete a draft.
• Submit completed applications.

December:
• Submit your applications.

January:
• Follow up to ensure that supporting documents were received.
• Fill out any appropriate financial aid or scholarship paperwork.

February:
• Visit your prospective programs, if possible.

April 1:
• You should expect to receive admission letters by this date.

April 15:
• You must accept or decline offers of admission.

For more information on graduate school, please visit

http://gradsch.ohio-state.edu

; or contact Cyndi Freeman at

freeman-fail.1@osu.edu