Grad School Application Checklist: Step One

In applying to graduate school, here are some essential documents to have handy. For some of these documents, you have total control over them, whereas, for others, you have little or no control over them. For this post, I will list the documents you have no control over in their production (1-3) so that you can have these documents available as soon as possible in case you do not have any at the moment.

1. Academic Transcripts
   Transcripts are required during the application process as proof of your academic performance. Usually, you will have to request your transcripts from your post-secondary institutions, which might take time. The length of time depends on your institution. Therefore, you must have this available or request for them ahead of time before you start the application process.
2. Recommendations/Supporting/Reference Letters
   Every school requires a number of recommendation letters when you apply to graduate school. For most US schools, you will be required to provide emails of your recommenders or referees when filling out the forms. It’s essential to reach out early to people you believe can serve as your recommenders and seek their approval to use their emails and other details when applying. Informing your recommenders in advance allows them time to meet your timelines.

Your recommenders could consist of your professors/lecturers, employers, etc. It’s important to always have at least one professor or someone who taught you at the university level in your list of recommenders because grad school is about academics and research and the audience who will read your application materials are interested in knowing the assessment of a person who has ever taught you.

3. Passport
   Most schools require a form of national identification when filling out the grad school application forms. Please, get a passport ASAP!
4. Application fees
   Almost every school requires an application fee before one can submit their final application. Although this, in some instances, is something one has control over, preparing for this ahead of time is essential as well. Once you intend to apply to graduate school, it is vital to save money for that. Few schools allow application fee waiver and in my new post, I will delve into how to request an application fee waiver.

Once you have these documents, scan them and save them in a folder you label “Grad School” on your desktop, Google Drive, or any other place where you can easily access them.

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