PLANNING CALENDAR FOR GRADUATE SCHOOL

Click to Navigate to another Section Main Page Getting Started For the Undecided Student Interest/Aptitude Inventories On-Line Personality Assessments On-Line 4 Year Planning Calendar for Your Career Planning Calendar for Graduate School Sample Resumes and Tips Interviewing and Resume Resources On-Line Current St. Croix Employment Opportunities Current St. Thomas Employment Opportunities Current Off-Island Job Opportunities Job Search Resources On-Line Top Workplace Skills Selecting a Graduate School Applying to Graduate School Budgeting and Financial Aid Peer Counseling Library Holdings - STX

 FRESHMAN YEAR - It is never too early to plan for the future


Build strong academic, language, mathematics and critical thinking skills by taking challenging  courses




Study hard and get excellent grades




Strengthen your vocabulary by increasing your reading




Become involved in U.V.I clubs and organizations


 

SOPHOMORE YEAR - Concentrate on academic preparation and get involved in clubs, organizations, or community  service


Begin to consider what your major will be. Take a Personality Assessment On-Line and  an Interest/Aptitude Inventory On-Line


Meet with your advisor to discuss your proposed plan of study




Volunteer - a great way to identify your interests and to develop skills




Visit the Counseling and Placement Office - it's never too early to start researching graduate schools  or surf the Web and check out university home pages.
http://www.mit.edu:8001/people/cdemello/univ.html


Consider working in your field of interest over the summer as an intern or volunteer.



JUNIOR YEAR - Begin graduate school selection

Begin to research programs in your field. Collect school catalogs, contact professional/licensing  organizations, speak to current students/graduates
of interesting programs, use reference books or Internet links.




Identify which standardized tests are required for admission, and take
a diagnostic test to evaluate how close you are to score requirements.




Try http://www.ets.org or see Testing Strategies.




Choose a test date for the GRE and any Subject Test. It's best to take the tests on separate  dates.  Consider the General Test in June following your Junior Year (allowing an  October/December  retake, if necessary) and an October Subject Test date in your Senior Year  (allowing a December  retake, if necessary).




Begin to make a preliminary list of graduate schools you would like to investigate further. Surf  the  Internet and use the resources in the Counseling and Placement Office or library.
Click Selecting a Graduate School.




Be optimistic and realistic when applying. Practice for your GRE, Subject Tests, GMAT,  GLAT,  MCAT, or whatever tests you are required to take but remember that testing is not the  sole criteria.  Your course selection, GPA, letters of recommendations, personal statement,  leadership, and  relevant experience will count more!!




Contact Graduate Schools which interest you to request applications, literature, and financial  aid  information. Use the university home pages.




Visit Graduate Schools on your short list if at all possible. Otherwise talk directly to the admissions  offices by telephone. Consider requesting the email addresses of current students in  your program  of interest.




Volunteer or intern in your field of interest. Discuss your career interests with professionals  currently  in the field.


 

SENIOR YEAR - Apply and decide on Graduate School


Collect all applications required for application and financial aid.




Check application deadlines and create your own timetable.




Register and take all required tests.




Select those who will write your recommendations and distribute any forms. See Recommendation  Letters.




Make photocopies of all applications.




Be sure to make personal contact with each admissions and financial aid office. If you can't  personally visit; use the  telephone, email or consider NACAC's College Fair On-Line  http://www.OnlineCollegeFair.com.


Arrange for your U.V.I transcript to be sent to your schools.




Write your personal statements. See Personal Statement

.


Apply for assistantships, scholarships, and financial aid.
See Budgeting and Financial Aid.




Have official test results sent to your schools and check with each school to be certain that all  required information  has been received. Don't wait for them to contact you!




Keep working on your grades! Courses continue to count throughout the senior year.




Send in your deposit as soon as you have decided where you want to attend from those graduate  schools that  accepted you. Contact the housing office to secure housing arrangements (if needed).




Have your final transcript sent to the graduate school in June. Know when the payment for tuition,  room and board  (if applicable) is due. If necessary, ask the financial aid office about a possible  payment plan that will allow for you  to pay in installments.




 During the summer, look for information from the school about housing, orientation, course selection,  etc.

C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s ! !
Go forth with confidence and enthusiasm, willingness to adapt and
determination to succeed academically and personally.

 
 
   

For more information about Counseling and Placement, please contact Doris Farrington-Hepburn at (340) 692-4187 or send email to dfarrin@uvi.edu. For more information about the University of the Virgin Islands, contact the Public Relations Office at (340) 693-1057.

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