Guest Author - Stephanie A. Allen

Now that you have completed all of your graduate school applications, requested your letters of reference and transcripts, checked and double-checked that you have indeed sent out all of your materials, now what? Well, it’s time to play the waiting game. Yes, now begins the agonizing two or three month wait for notice of acceptance or rejection. So, how to deal with the wait time? Here are some tips to help you survive this stressful period.

First and foremost, do not call your graduate programs daily to check on your applications’ progress. Most graduate programs receive dozens, some hundreds, of applications. Not only does the administrative staff in those departments have to create files for all of the applicants, they must also contend with their other duties as well. If your application due date was in December, then schools are dealing with end of term grades, graduations and the like. If was due in January, then staff are dealing with all of the beginning of the term chaos: schedule changes, class assignments, etc. They do not have time to check your application file every couple of hours to see if your transcripts have come in.

However, there are a couple of instances when it would be appropriate to contact your prospective graduate program. If the program contacts you for more information, or to let you know something in your file is missing, by all means, call or email them to try to resolve the problem as quickly as possible. Then, too, if you have been tracking your application, (some programs have an online system so that you can track your application’s progress), and you notice an item is missing and it is getting close to the due date, then you may want to send the staff or program contact person an email. Keep in mind that schools frequently receive items like letters of recommendation or GRE scores a little late. However, it is important that your file is complete before the due date, so if you know that you have requested items that have not yet been received, sending an email to check on them is acceptable.

Finally, try to relax! Once all of your materials have been received, the admissions committee will review your file. In some cases, graduate programs use a rolling admissions system, where applications are reviewed as they come in and you will receive notification pretty quickly. Other programs start review of the files after the due date has passed and they have received all applications. Either way, you have absolutely no control over when your file will be reviewed, so you may as well try to relax. Obviously, relaxing is easier said than done. However, you can try to stay busy with other things: school, work, or exercise, to keep your mind off of the stress. Websites like gradcafe.com and livejournal.com may offer you some support in their graduate school forums. This is application season for most graduate programs, so there are a lot of people out there feeling just like you. Talking or chatting with them may help you put the process in perspective.

Even though this is a stressful time for grad school applicants, you can get through it. Try to keep your mind off of the applications, because at this point, there is absolutely nothing you can do. Have confidence in your application materials, and know that you have done the best you can do. And if things don’t work out this year, you’ll be ready for them next year!