Academic Success and Engagement

find a mentor & seek advice

• Obtain advice from your advisors.
• Speak to faculty members or professionals in your chosen field. Build a rapport with these contacts and use them as mentors

research graduate school programs

• Keep track of your research using a spreadsheet.
• Attend workshops/webinars for programs of interest.
• Investigate assistantship, fellowship and scholarship opportunities, including support for specific student populations (e.g., veterans, under-represented populations, etc.)
• If possible, visit institutions of interest.
• Only contact a program to ask questions that you can't find on the website. Reach out to the contact listed on the website when posing your questions.
• Examine what the faculty in the institution have studied, researched, and published. You want to work with someone interested in what you want to study!
• Determine if there are any special admission requirements (e.g., portfolios, auditions, prior professional work experience, etc.).

investigate subject area tests

• The Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) and/or subject area tests (LSAT, MCAT, GMAT, etc.) may be required.
• The pandemic has impacted testing in some programs. Research program requirements, test times, format, and costs.
• Obtain test prep materials as needed. Some test prep companies will provide a study plan and timelines.
• Connect with your advisor and mentors for advice navigating your approach to testing.
• Take timed practice exams beforehand.
• Give yourself time in case you have to re-take exams before program application deadlines.

school-specific funding options

• Explore the funding options at each school, including graduate/teaching assistantships.
• Consider the cost with and without loans, fellowships, or grants.
• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the next academic year. In most cases, graduate and professional students are considered independent students for FAFSA purposes. When you fill out your FAFSA for grad school aid, you generally won't need to provide parent information

admissions essay/ personal statement

• Develop a well-written personal statement/admissions essay.

resume/curriculum vitae (CV)

• Prepare your resume/CV. (Connect with Rocket Career Center and the Writing Center.

letters of recommendation

• Ask professors who can speak positively about you to write a letter of recommendation. If you have completed a co-op, internship, or other related experience, consider seeking a recommendation letter from your supervisor to diversify your application packet.
• Aim for at least three letters of recommendations.
• Provide advanced notice when requesting a recommendation.
• Provide your resume/CV and personal statement to give an idea of what to write about.

official transcripts

• Request your official transcripts from UToledo prior to the application deadline(s).
• If needed, be prepared to request additional copies once final grades are posted as well.

submit application

• Gather all requirements including any required fees. Submit prior to the deadline.
• For medical, dental, osteopathy, podiatry, law school, etc., you may need to use the centralized application service (CAS) required for that program.
• Most systems should send an application confirmation automatically. Keep copies of everything you submit online.
  • If you do not receive confirmation, communicate with the program about your application and next steps.

practice for an admissions interview as needed

• Practice for any graduate school admission interviews by using Big Interview (located in MyUT > Student Resources Tab > University Career Services)

making the decision

• Identify the factors important to you when determining which school to attend.
  • Consider passage rates, first-time job placement stats, availability of financial aid, cost of living/availability of affordable housing, social climate and support systems, access to faculty, childcare resources (if you're a parent), etc.
• Notify the other graduate schools of your decision.

housing

• Make arrangements for housing.

requirements prior to arrival

• Plan to attend the appropriate orientation program(s) and any other requirements of the institution for new graduate students