Post Graduation

Graduate School

Deciding which graduate school to attend can be a little overwhelming.

We recommend you choose the program that suits your personal and professional goals. Do a lot of online research. If possible, visit those schools that are the best match for your career interests.
Having trouble selecting a graduate program that fits your needs? Check out U.S. News and World Report for grad school guides and rankings.
Once you have narrowed the list of schools to your top choices, begin the application process.
Give yourself plenty of time to complete grad school applications and start well in advance of the due dates. Avoid rushing through your application and take the time to provide thoughtful answers and materials that showcase your best undergraduate work.

Nationally Competitive Fellowships

Fellowships are merit-based scholarships that fund students and alumni in research projects, study, or entrepreneurship/leadership, during undergrad or after. Please contact The Exchange for a counseling appointment to learn more about nationally competitive fellowships and other post-graduate opportunities. Take our quiz below to find out which fellowships and post-grad scholarships you may be interested in pursuing based on your plans for after graduation.

Take our fellowship quiz

Application Support

See our Prepare to Apply page for instructions and resources for resumes and CVs.
Check out our personal statement guide to get started on your personal statement.
Schedule an appointment with us if you want additional feedback on your materials or if you would like to conduct a practice interview. We can personalize it for your program.

Graduate School Application Timeline

Follow this general timeline to keep yourself on track. Time frames are approximate: Check the deadlines for your schools of interest and adjust accordingly.

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Junior year (fall)

Many graduate schools look at applicants’ grades from the last two years of undergraduate courses. If your GPA is an issue, it’s time to pull your grades up.
Junior year (spring)

Decide which fields interest you, then start looking for programs and schools that match your interests.
As part of your research, investigate what kind of financial aid options will be available to you at the various institutions, including grants, loans, fellowships, and assistantships. This will help you weed out programs that you can’t pursue because they don’t offer the level of support you need.
Schedule your entrance exams. You may want to take these exams in the spring of your junior year so you get them out of the way (and have time to retake them if necessary) and can spend the fall filling out your applications and working on your writing samples.
Summer before senior year

Most graduate schools look for well-rounded individuals with good grades and some relevant work experience on their resumes. An internship can be an excellent way to gain some professional experience in your chosen field. In some fields, volunteer experiences are also helpful—provided they give you relevant experience and are not simply “envelope stuffing” exercises. Stop in at your college’s career center for help in identifying internship and volunteer opportunities.
Senior year (fall)

Get your transcripts from all your post-secondary education, including an up-to-date transcript for your current institution. Be prepared to have transcripts from study-abroad and other institutions that transferred credits.
Line up references and provide them with the information they need to write a complete reference.
Schedule your entrance exams. If you weren’t happy with your scores or decided to give yourself more time to prepare, you can take your entrance exams in the fall. (Some exams offer multiple test dates in the fall, enabling you to retake your exams again if necessary.)
Fill out your applications. Take your time, read directions carefully, and check and re-check your applications to ensure they are complete and error-free. Have someone proofread your applications.
Senior year (mid-term break)

Submit your applications.
Senior year (spring)

This is when acceptance letters begin to arrive. If you have applied to and been accepted at multiple schools, you may want to pay another visit to your top choices. Talk about your plans with a trusted faculty member or a career counselor at your undergraduate institution.
Fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) if you plan to apply for financial aid. (You’ll need your prior year’s income tax return to complete this form.)
Once you make your decision, notify the school of your acceptance. As a courtesy, tell the other schools that you are declining their offers.
If you’ll be relocating for graduate school, start researching housing options in your new location. Can you afford to live alone, or will you need to find a roommate? Does the school offer assistance with housing or pairing graduate students as roommates? If so, call on those resources.
Courtesy of the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

Timeline Courtesy of the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

Questions about post-graduation plans?

Schedule an appointment with a member of The Exchange team to discuss your options at exchange@marian.edu or call (317) 955-6500.

Exam Preparation

Financial Management Resources

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Financial literacy resources
- Nerd Wallet Cost of Living Calculator: Want to see how much more/less it will cost to live in a city when you graduate?
- Kahn Academy Better Money Habits: This site provides well-produced personal finance lessons on any topic you can imagine.
- Mint: See where your money goes and keep track of your budget.
- Feed the Pig: This site provides tips and interactive tools to remind you to feed the piggy bank.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: This is a U.S. government agency that makes sure banks, lenders, and other financial companies treat you fairly.
- Job Seekers Salary Calculator: Get a good understanding as to how much money you can expect to make after you graduate based on your location, experience, and education.
- MoneyGeek: A Step-by-Step Guide to Negotiating for the Pay You Deserve.
- IN Reality: Explore your career choices based on how much you could earn.
Financial aid resources post graduation
- FinAid: The SmartStudentTM Guide to Financial Aid
- StudentLoans.gov: The online home for federal student loan programs.
- StudentAid.gov: An office of the U.S. Department of Education with a wealth of information from applying to colleges to learning the many plans a borrower can utilize to best repay their loans. In addition, directions, tips and definitions are provided for filling out the FAFSA, assessing loan eligibility, and deciding how financial aid can make college a reality.
- National Student Loan Data System: The U.S. Department of Education's (NSLDS) central database for student aid.
- College Scholarships
- Granite State Management
- Grants
Graduate test fee reduction programs:

For more information

The Exchange
(317) 955-6500
exchange@marian.edu