I’m in the process of applying to grad schools, and I’ve noticed something interesting. The number of forms that need to be handed in are directly proportional to the amount of time I spend on the website looking for forms to fill out. There seems to be an infinite amount, if only I look around long enough!
I’m almost certain at this point that I’m bound to miss a few.
Yeah it’s a pain. I just started grad school this year, and last year was a mad scramble to find everything I needed to fill out, let alone actually fill it out. I found that the big state schools were the worst, since you often had to get forms from the department and the grad school and other stuff, maybe financial aid. Some schools really do a good job w/their applications. I’m a fan of the online forms that you can save and come back later to work on.
Some of the schools are good about letting you know if you forgot something. Others aren’t.
Good luck.
I started graduate school this fall and the entire year which preceeded was nothing short of an application hell. Like Ruken said applying to state universities is a major pain.
Stick to online applications and download the checklist whenever you can. Makes life much easier after that.
Good Luck with your applications!
I know the feeling. I forgot/didn’t notice/wasn’t paying attention one form that needed to be in 30 days before all the other forms, and as a result, sent it in like 20 days or something. And I only noticed by accident.
I’m so sick with nerves over the whole process that I sorta want to give up and try again next year.
I HATE grad school aps. The forms respawn like bad video game enemies. I found a form listed in a footnote to fill out on the UW Madison website. The UC Berkeley ap, which is by far the longest I filled out and in the running with Harvard for longest form ever, was taken in, looked over, and generated more forms to fill out from the Chemistry department. I just want to get in to grad school and move the hell away. No more forms, please?
Ugg.
They suck.
And every grad website I visited while applying was absolutely labrynthian.
I would echo the advice that you should try to keep it online as much as possible and follow the checklist. Worst comes to worst, call whatever office will handle it and make sure you have everything.
Yeah, Berkeley is one of the worst. I had to email someone to send me a random form there because it’s not even available online.
Thanks for the advice everyone - most places don’t have complete checklists so I’ve been making my own. And yes, I’m doing everything possible online. Thank goodness for the internet.
I agree as well. I didn’t get in, and I tell myself it’s because I missed some hidden form, not because they thought I was dumb 
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