Preparing for Graduate School
Considering graduate school, but unsure where to begin? Start here.
Think Through Logistics
When asking yourself if you are ready for graduate school or professional education, think through the logistics. It is a worthwhile investment in yourself and your future that is made easier if you determine your plan in advance of committing to a program.
- Write out your goals. Writing out goals helps you narrow your focus and follow-through in a timely manner.
- Consider your support system. Think through how best to balance personal and professional schedules and responsibilities with your graduate studies. Talk with your family about temporary adjustments that may be needed to support your academic pursuits. Check with your employer to see if they support your efforts, possibility allowing for flexible working hours or funding for professional development.
- Evaluate your candidacy. Review application requirements to see if you meet the general prerequisites of your desired program, or if there may be steps you need to take to become a competitive candidate before applying. This will also help you update your resume or CV to highlight your skills and experiences that make you a good fit for your program of choice, as well as prepare your essay and other required application documents.
Do Your Research
Carefully review the institutions in which you are interested and the programs they offer in or related to your field. Find out if the program offers the flexibility you need, such as evening, weekend or online courses. Check on application requirements and deadlines to help you establish a timeline for applying.
For UT Dallas, it may be helpful for you to:
- Explore our graduate degrees, cross-disciplinary programs and professional and teaching certificates.
- Review the many types of research conducted at UTD and our recent research news.
- Discover the programs and resources available to power entrepreneurial dreams through our Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
- Tour our campus, in-person or through our virtual tour.
- Learn about the guaranteed tuition plan and find out your estimated cost of attendance.
- Familiarize yourself with application and documentation deadlines.
- Deadlines and available terms of entry may vary by program. Contact the program to which you are applying to verify their deadlines and other admission information.
- International applicants: Review the international student requirements that may affect you.
Start Applying
Once you’ve decided your direction of study and have a plan in place to support your goals, go for it!
Review our Steps to Apply page to begin. We look forward to receiving your application.
