Every day of 2018
you need to start preparing for your application
or else next year you'll realize
you’re still short of the relevant experience required by your dream school
then frantically scramble for an internship
all while struggling under a heavy academic workload
and finally, submit your materials at the last minute, racing against deadlines
Did you really think applications were all about luck?
If you want to leave your competitors in the dust,
as a junior, you must start preparing for your application right now!
Fall 2019 Timeline
January – March: Plan, Prepare for Standardized Tests, and Boost Competitiveness
Final exams are already underway, and some in-class assessment results may already be out. The most crucial GPA of your first five semesters will soon be finalized.
This means you can finally shift your focus away from your GPA and, during the winter break, seriously consider your goals for the next two or three years—or even more importantly, plan the next stage of your life.
On one hand, there are the hard requirements: TOEFL, GRE, GMAT. Assess your current level, then create a study plan to meet the required scores.
On the other hand, there are soft requirements: internships, research, and extracurricular activities.
◆ Last month, some top summer school programs already opened their applications. Their application difficulty and competition can be compared to graduate-level programs.
If you get in, the boost to your profile is self-evident. If you don’t, you’ll have experienced the application process ahead of others.
◆ As winter break approaches, you can choose an internship or job related to your intended major to strengthen your professional background and enhance your application. However, do not let an internship or work delay your standardized test preparation, because test scores determine whether you can apply and what kind of schools you can apply to. Never let an internship derail your ultimate goal of applying.
If you’re very confident that you can achieve the desired scores in a timely manner, and if the internship is truly valuable and closely related to your field, then you can prioritize the internship to build your background.
April – June: Intense Test Prep and School Selection
In fact, many juniors are still undecided. A lot of them haven’t figured out whether to switch out of a major they neither love nor hate, or even what their true interests are.
We are all adults and need to think independently and take responsibility for ourselves. This requires a huge investment of time and energy, and you should at least complete the following:
✔ Talk to a mentor in your target school and program
✔ Gather the latest first-hand information
✔ Understand changes in admission policies
✔ Plan your future career development
Only then can you say you haven’t been rash, and truly have no regrets about deciding your next five years or more of life.
For a DIY school selection, you can use a process of elimination based on several criteria. First, download a Top 100 list (tailored to your personal situation, of course) and do an initial screening using these standards:
GRE/GMAT and TOEFL score requirements;
Whether your target program and degree are offered at the school;
Application deadlines;
School admission data;
If your family has financial constraints, check if financial aid can meet your needs.
Generally, if you have a clear direction, you can eliminate quite a few schools, and those left will be a better fit. While this method may seem tedious, it ensures you won’t overlook any suitable programs.
June – September: Summer School or Research, and Document Preparation
◆ Your application documents are not just a single essay but a package that includes: the main essay, CV, PS, SOP, recommendation letters, and now many schools also require Essay Questions and Research Proposals.
If you want to cast a wide net and apply to many schools to increase your chances of admission, you’ll need to personalize these documents for each program, which will at least double the work.
The importance of these documents to your application is obvious, so if you plan to rush through them right before the deadline without repeated polishing and revision, all the effort you’ve put into your application could be wasted.
◆ A high-quality summer research experience demonstrates your ability to adapt to a foreign research environment. If you can publish a paper under a renowned mentor, it will add significant weight to your resume. If you fully showcase your research abilities during the summer program, your chances of getting a recommendation letter are high, and a mentor’s endorsement of your research skills in that letter is a major plus.
◆ A summer school experience on your resume shows you have experienced the US academic environment, and you may also get a recommendation letter. However, when choosing a summer program, try to pick one with substance. A program from a prestigious school isn’t automatically good; if it leans more toward tourism, it won’t help much with your application.
October – December: Online Application Systems Open
Once you’ve completed all of the above, it’s time for the final boss: the online application!
Online applications are a must for any student applying to US universities. Generally, you fill out your program information and application details through a specific online system. Because the process is complex, requires complete materials, and involves strict review, it’s a source of stress and concern, and mistakes are not uncommon.
So, familiarize yourself with the online application system in advance. Online applications are very easy to mess up. If you start looking up tips and tricks only as you’re filling it out, honestly speaking, it’s already far too late.
