The Narrowing Down Process
The number of schools you should apply to will depend on your own qualifications and the type of programs you are trying to enter.
- Compare your qualifications with admission requirements: this will rule in and rule out programs.
- From the research and evaluation you have done, determine what programs match what you are looking for.
- Evaluate your financial situation. Applying to graduate schools can get quite expensive.
Here are some of the costs to anticipate:- Application fees, $30 to $50. Check on eligibility for fee waivers.
- Standardized test registration fees
- Fees for sending scores to additional schools
- Fees for requesting each transcript you order
- Tuition for test preparation courses
- Purchase of test preparation materials
- Postage, including possibly mailing some materials by registered mail or overnight delivery
- Purchase of envelopes,postcards, stationary
- Duplicating costs
- Travel expenses involved in visiting campuses
- Determine how much money you will need and actually have available to spend on applying to schools.
- Based on your budget and your qualifications, determine the number of schools you can apply to. Consider:
- Applying to at least one prestigious or highly competitive school and to at least one at a larger university that offers many programs and accepts a large number of students.
- Applying to as many as you can whose requirements you meet.
- Not applying to programs you know you will never attend! It will waste your time, energy, and money!
- Then:
- Rank the schools according to your first, second, third, fourth choice etc, and according to your probability of being accepted.
- Discuss your list with Drew professors.
- Ask for their advice and recommendations.
- Make a final list.
- Begin the formal application process.