This timetable is suggested by Peterson's Annual Guides to Graduate Study and represents the ideal for most students. However, requirements vary by school and should be noted.

• Research institutions offering graduate programs in your area of interest.
• Talk to your academic advisor about graduate school in general, and ask for advice on programs to research.
• Narrow your selection to two or three institutions.
• Investigation national and local scholarships.

• Find out which admission exams are required and pick up test bulletins.
• Request the school catalog, application materials, and financial aid information online or by telephone.
• Write to the prospective department for additional information regarding graduate assistantships offered by the university. Pay close attention to application deadlines.
• Visit the institutions of interest.
• Check on application deadlines and admissions procedures.
• Begin to prepare your application forms and application essay.
• For medical, dental, osteopathy, podiatry, or law school, you may need to register for the national application or data assembly service most programs use.

• Obtain letters of recommendation.
• Take graduate admissions tests if you haven't already.
• Send in completed applications and other required materials by the deadline to both the Graduate Admissions Office and the prospective department.
• Send a deposit to your institution of choice.
• Register for the Graduate and Professional Financial Aid Service if required.

• Check with all institutions before the deadline to make sure your application file is complete.
• Prepare for a visit and possible interview with institutions that have an interest in you.
• Notify other colleges and universities that accepted you of your acceptance to a program, so they may admit students on their waiting list.
• Send thank you notes to people who wrote your recommendation letters, informing them of your success.