November
• Refine your personal statement, tailoring it for different schools as necessary. Have someone in the field and a few smart and frank friends proofread it for you.
• Take the GRE Subject Test if necessary. Organize having scores sent directly to the schools.
• Tie up any other loose ends. Conceive whether you know where your recommendations, made sure all your test scores all been sent to schools, and noted financial aid and scholarship deadlines.
December
• Complete and submit all applications, keeping two copies of every part for your records.
• Verify that your recommendations have been sent.
January
• Start focusing on financial aid. Look into private loans and any alternate sources of funding available.
February
• Try to relax while you wait it out. It may almost certainly be the most relaxing time you'll have for the next several years, so enjoy it while you can!
April
• Use our online aid comparison calculator or compare aid packages that the schools give you.
• Look into appealing the aid package if the amount of money doesn't meet your needs.
• Investigate applying for alternative loans if the financial aid package still doesn't meet your needs.
If it’s not the only workable application schedule, it's a good one. This is also important to draw up a schedule at the beginning of the application process, make sure you account for all foreseeable factors, and stick to it.
Remember, almost every graduate school applicant will receive at least one rejection during the quest for a graduate degree. As that won't be fun, it's not quite the final act. Get in touch with professors in that department and politely express your regret at not being admitted. You shouldn’t expect they give you a lot of their time, but do take advantage of the opportunity for some useful research. Ask to give you some suggestions on how you might strengthen your candidacy in the future, or if they can highlight the weaknesses in your application that resulted in your rejection.
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