<p>It's not another one of those "stop me before I kill again" situations, but my stepdaughter's experience applying to law school caused this question to arise - she had her app submitted in October 2005 for fall 2006 entry.</p>
<p>At what point should a student begin to research and plan for post-undergrad study? Any observations, CC parents? Is there a tried and true rule of thumb about how long it takes to suss out the programs and how many apps students submit?</p>
<p>And what if there is more than one possible direction of interest (e.g., medical school and graduate school) - what are the implications, in your opinion?</p>
<p>From merit aid to fellowships - time marches on.</p>
<p>My daughter (junior) has begun her search already with the help of some of her mentors at college. She plans to take the GRE this summer (ugh) and has identified four schools so far that have good departments in her field - two on each coast. She's working on firming up her summer internship as well. I haven't been involved at all except to nod and give encouragement. Her plan is grad school, which means that the funding will play a part in her decision if/when she's accepted.
She knows it's not easy as only a few students are taken in any one department, but she's determined to be one of the few.
The advice from her profs has been the most beneficial- just looking at the websites and researching on her own hasn't been as productive as talking with people who actually know and have worked with collegues from the other colleges. Department politics and personalities of the individuals she might be studying under are important considerations that she couldn't have found out on her own.</p>
<p>This transistion would be much harder for a student who didn't know in which direction they were headed - medicine, law, MBA, etc. I think that would be the first thing to figure out. With either of those, a year
off to work, or more for mba, would be fine. If the goal is academics, however, it seems that going straight into graduate school is in some ways the easiest route. You've got your connections now as an undergrad, and the more time passes, the harder it may be to maintain them.
This process is ever so much more relaxing and enjoyable than undergrad admissions from a parental point of view. It's sort of like grandkids, I guess. We get to be a small part of it and be proud, but in the end, it's their responsibilty and the rewards are all their own.</p>
<p>hazmat, she'll get admitted - 3.9 GPA at Williams, 170 LSAT, and a terrific writer/communicator. (I can brag about her with impunity, as I can't take any genetic credit for her success). She's going to one of two local law schools near her husband's new job in CA.</p>
<p>I used her as an example because I was surprised that the dates were so early. Thought I remembered from my graduate school apps that they weren't submitted until February.</p>
<p>dates are early.........and when you add looking at the schools and interviewing it makes for a tight schedule. On top of looking for funds for some people.</p>
<p>I followed a similar route as ASAP's daughter -- selected schools at the end of junior year, took the GRE over the summer, asked LOR writers in September, wrote statement of purpose in October, filled out apps in November (and tried to take deep breaths in December...).</p>
<p>I applied to nine schools for biology PhD programs, which sounded like a good number at the time but was in fact way. Too. Many. At least I'm being flown around the country and wined and dined this spring, though. :)</p>
<p>Many students don't decide to apply to law school until at least senior year, casually take the LSAT, send in some applications and wait for the results.</p>
<p>For graduate business school, the preferred path is to get a job after college and apply a few years later.</p>
<p>Pre-meds have to get their requirements met in a timely manner in college (though some do an extra pre-med year), actually prepare for the MCAT, and no doubt do a lot of pre-planning for recommendations, research internships, cs at a hospital, whatever. It can take years of planning.</p>
<p>I don't know as much about applying to grad school. I doubt that the GRE is a huge hurdle. But, if you read the major requirements at many schools, they say at the bottom: of course, if you are thinking of attending grad school, there are a number of additional courses you are advised to complete.</p>
<p>So, fall applications to law school is the easy (I won't say slacker's) way out.</p>