Graduate School Timelines
Below is an overview of typical timelines for graduate and professional school programs. This page provides general information - you should always confirm the precise deadlines for your specific program of interest.
Students should research programs, take exams, and make requests for reference letters in Spring Quarter of their third year.
First-round application deadlines for graduate programs are typically in September and October of a student's fourth year.
For some master’s programs, deadlines may extend into Winter and Spring Quarter (typically January through April, though sometimes as late as June).
In general, students typically submit their applications in Autumn Quarter of their fourth year and receive information about offers and financial aid through Spring Quarter.
A good goal is to plan on having your applications submitted by Halloween.
The Careers in Law team has put together a timeline to keep you on track during this process.
Most MBA programs require students to have work experience before applying.
Current College Students can apply to deferred MBA programs.
These programs allow current undergraduates to apply for graduate admission, gain acceptance, and defer enrollment typically for 2 to 5 years.
Most top institutions have deferred MBA programs, and applications start as early as fourth year fall with most deadlines occurring in Spring (March/April).
Learn about the Booth Scholars Program, the deferred admission program for the Chicago Booth School of Business.
The national medical school application opens for submission on or around June 1 each year.
Secondary applications are sent in July/August, and then interviews can be scheduled anytime between August and April.
The first date on which a medical school can offer acceptance is October 15.
All decisions are typically final by June 15.
The 4+1 Scholars Program allows current College students to apply for select UChicago master's programs as early as their second year.
The program has multiple application rounds:
The Round 1 deadline is typically in early November
The Round 2 deadline is typically in early-to-mid January
The Round 3 deadline is typically in early-to-mid April
Not all master's programs participate in every round, so students are encouraged to apply as early as possible.
