How to Apply for Grad School: Steal My Step-by-Step Plan

Wishing someone would just walk you through HOW to apply for grad school?

That’s exactly why I started this blog and YouTube channel – to document my own journey doing this as a married woman in my 30s,

If there’s one thing I’ve already learned about going back to school after a long break, it’s that you have to be strategic with your time.

Especially when deadlines are staring you down.

For me, the big ones are January 5th for the University of Arizona and mid-January for Oxford.

That means I have about 90 days to pull together transcripts, essays, recommendations, and (hopefully) my sanity.

So in this article, I’m outlining how I’m organizing my fall to make sure I hit “submit” on time.

Table of Contents

About the Everyday Historian

Heeey! I’m Brittany – the writer and researcher behind The Everyday Historian.

This blog and my YouTube channel are documenting my journey to and through grad school.

I’m a married woman in my 30s, and it’s a different game making these big kinds of life decisions when you have a husband and a home to consider.

So if you can relate, be sure to join our free Facebook Group full of fellow Everyday Historians!

🗓️ Weeks 1–2: Get Clear & Organized

Right now, I’m focused on clarity.

What exactly do I want to study, and why?

For me, it’s all about migration – how people move, adapt, and build meaning across borders and generations.

That’s what connects my love of history to the questions I want to study more deeply.

This week, I’m putting everything into one central document: program requirements, deadlines, what each school asks for, and what I still need to request.

It’s not glamorous work, but it’s grounding – and I already feel better seeing how everything is coming together.

➡️ I use Asana for this!

((remember to add in a screenshot or embed of my plans))

I only use the free plan for this, but you might want to use the fancy features if you need more reminders.

✉️ Weeks 3–4: Recommenders and Research

Next up: letters of recommendation.

I’ve already started reaching out to a few professors and supervisors who know my work and can speak to my growth over the years.

Honestly, this is the hardest part!!

I know how busy people are – and since it’s been 10 years (!!!) since I’ve been an undergraduate student, I’m not sure if my favorite professors will remember me.

I’m giving them plenty of time, because writing a great letter takes thought – and I’m even including some talking points for them

This is also so I can help to jog their memory in case they don’t remember me. 😉

At the same time, I’m digging deep into each program – reading about the faculty, skimming their publications, and noting who’s doing research that aligns with mine.

That helps me tailor my Statement of Purpose and show that I’m applying with intention, not just curiosity.

I’ve also been building up my print reading stamina.

Right now, I’m reading history and theology books meant for a public, consumer-facing audience.

I’m at the pace of about 100 pages per day, while still retaining the material.

📝 Weeks 5–6: Loads of Writing

This is when the real work begins.

I’ll be drafting two versions of my Statement of Purpose – one for U of A and one for Oxford.

I’m applying to other universities too, but they’ll basically be reworked versions of this main one considering the programs and areas of focus for each school.

They’ll tell the same core story, but each will highlight why I fit that specific program.

I’m also revising my undergrad work to prepare a writing sample.

And of course, the academic CV – short, focused, and to the point.

This isn’t a job résumé; it’s a highlight reel of the experiences that led me back to history.

Since I haven’t really ever needed to write one before, I’m already expecting that it will take longer and be more work than I’m anticipating.

Hopefully, two weeks is enough for this.

I’ll update this and let you know either way!

🔍 Weeks 7–8: Feedback and Fine-Tuning

Once everything’s drafted, I’ll get feedback.

Hopefully, from a few different sources including a former professor, a friend, or and, let’s be honest – also from ChatGPT.

I want to make sure my materials sound like me, but the best version of me.

Then I’ll format everything cleanly, check the word counts, and make sure my documents match each school’s guidelines. Little details matter.

📤 Weeks 9–10: Submitting Early

My goal is to submit everything by mid-December, even though the deadlines are in January.

That gives me a buffer in case something goes wrong (and something always does).

By then, my recommenders will (hopefully!) have submitted their letters, and I’ll have confirmation emails saved in a very organized folder on my desktop – the one labeled “DO NOT PANIC.”

Jokes aside, one thing I keep reminding myself, is that I really have nothing to lose!!

Would I prefer to go to grad school before I have kids? Of course.

But there’s really no rush.

If it ultimately doesn’t happen next fall, no worries; I’ll just be extra prepared for the following year.

Or a future year.

It’s all good. 🙂

💌 Weeks 11–12: The Buffer Zone

The last few weeks before January will just be for breathing and double-checking.

I’ll send thank-you notes to my recommenders, apply for a few scholarships, and finally take a break.

Because no matter what happens, I’ll have done something that already feels huge: I followed through.

I firmly believe a lack of self-leadership is what gets in the way between people and their dreams.

In the past, this has looked like self-sabotage for me.

Or overloading myself so I can’t really keep up with anything.

🧭 How to Apply to Grad School

In general, it all comes down to:

Knowing what you want to do (which, I know – is a journey in itself)
Figuring out how and where grad school plays into that
Picking a program (and ideally, an advisor)
Choosing where to apply (based on the decisions made during the above-mentioned steps)
Applying to said schools
Choosing your school based on your needs, and which ones accept you

Rather see this all in a video?

Watch it on YouTube here:

🖼️ Applying to Grad School: The Big Picture

This whole process is about more than just getting into grad school.

It’s about reclaiming something I’ve always loved – history – and proving to myself that it’s not too late to start again.

It’s a lot to juggle, but breaking it down week by week makes it feel doable.

So here’s to the next 90 days: spreadsheets, drafts, and lots of coffee.

(as well as a cold and crisp Code Red Mountain Dew on some afternoons. I know that doesn’t fit the history grad student trope, but that’s what I like haha)

And hopefully, that satisfying click of the “submit” button come December.