Preparing for Grad School

The process of applying to graduate school can feel like an additional course on top of your already busy semester. To help you plan ahead, we’ve put together a few resources to get you started and ready for application season.

Research

Before you start looking into what programs to apply to, you want to make sure that you do, in fact, need grad school for the career you want.

• Jot down a few careers that you would like to explore based on your program or interests to start. Our favourite career websites are Career Cruising (contact the Career Centre for a username and password) and Canada Job Bank.
• Once you’ve clarified the need for further education, you can start searching for programs that align with your interests online. Use University Study, Ontario Colleges or book an appointment with our consultants for some direction on finding programs.

Connect

Make sure you reach out to a few key people and let them know you are considering grad school.

• If it’s a mentor you admire, you can talk to them about how helpful a grad degree will be in that field.
• A professor might be able to offer some insights about which program would be a good fit for your interests and career goals.
• A few trusted family and friends can act as a sounding board to share your ideas and cheer you on.
• And of course, you can always reach out to our consultants for any further education support you may need.

Make lists

Grad school applications require serious organization skills. As you research your programs, you want to:

• Keep track of important information such as deadlines, admission requirements, application packages, etc.
• Put together a list of application components (personal statements, resumés) and administrative components (transcripts, scholarship applications) to complete. 

Schedule

Treat the application process like a course:

• Schedule deadlines for yourself to have your personal statement draft completed.
• Update your resumé.
• Chat to your professors about your references.
• Order your transcripts.

Check out the resources available on Navigator to help with creating strong application documents. The more time and space you give yourself, the less overwhelming the process will be.

Review and Apply

Ask a few close people to review your application documents or schedule an appointment with us for some feedback.

Before clicking that final button, make sure you’ve done a final review of what you’re submitting by proofreading your documents and double-checking application personal information.

When you’re ready... submit!