Always be prepared…..isn’t that what your parents always taught you?  This is great advice that you can apply to every aspect of your life.  And it's especially important when dealing with financial decisions like returning to school.  You want to make sure all of your bases are covered and that you go into this knowing how it will affect you, as well as your family.  What better way to be prepared and organized than having a tailor made checklist to make sure all parts of your graduate school decision are covered?

An advising appointment is the first step when considering returning to school.  Come prepared by reviewing your program of interest beforehand and make the most of the time you have by bringing a list of your most important questions.  It’s frustrating to make plans for a day only to get there and realize that the person you needed to speak with is out.  Don’t waste your day off…..call ahead.  After all, you’re not the only one considering returning to school.

Make sure you are aware of the admission requirements for your program and you have a plan to attain all of them in a timely fashion.  If you need testing, start preparing early and schedule this ahead of time.  Not sure which test you should take? Check out the graduate testing page for help.  If you have additional questions reach out to an admissions counselor for guidance at gceadmissions@fitchburgstate.edu.

Make sure to complete your FAFSA around the same time you submit your application to be ahead of the game.  Other options to take into consideration are the GCE payment plan, graduate assistantships and available scholarships.  While you might not be eligible for all options it's best to do your research and exhaust all options.  After all, any savings will help finance your education.

Take the time to do all of your research before jumping in feet first.  Check out all of the course offerings as well as the online demo (if online courses are new to you). Find out how to order books and get a time frame on everything to be prepared for your first day of class.

Keep in mind graduate students may take up to 12 graduate credits within 1 year while preparing their application.

If you plan to come to campus to complete your checklist, be sure to call Graduate and Continuing Education at 978-665-3182 to schedule an advising appointment. Check all of the items off your list in one stop in the Anthony Building.