Talk with professors about their research. Engage with academic advisors. Read articles about current events. Ask questions. Be curious. As a first year or sophomore, now is the time to learn about opportunities like the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program and Merle Kling Undergraduate Honors Fellowship Program, explore undergraduate research opportunities and national scholarships and fellowships, and consider attending the "Exploring Grad School" Workshop in the spring to learn about options and ways to decide if postgraduate education is right for you!

As a junior, now is the time to talk with a pregraduate advisor about your goals. Consider how your coursework, relationships with professors, research or study abroad experiences may have shaped what you want to do. Then work with an advisor make a tentative plan for the next two years to support your path to graduate or professional school. You may also connect with a professor and/or graduate students in your field(s) of interest to learn about specific opportunities or programs, and attend the "Exploring Grad School" Workshop in the fall to become familiar with the application process, timelines, methods for collecting strong letters of recommendation, and writing a powerful statement of intent.

Continue to engage in conversations with faculty about your academic path and compile a list of possible post-graduate programs of interest. Declare your intent to write a senior thesis in your major department. Seek opportunities to support your goals, apply for research funding through the Office of Undergraduate Research or register to present your work at symposia or conferences, and finally, attend WashU's Junior Jumpstart held in May of each year.

Register and prepare to take the GRE and/or other standardized tests required for your particular program of interest. Reach out to faculty to secure letters of recommendation. Begin writing your Statement of Purpose, and seek feedback from valuable resources like faculty, pregraduate advisors, and WashU's Writing Center. Review deadlines for scholarship and fellowship applications. Firm up your list of schools and programs and understand what will be required of you during the application process; and don't forget to reach out to advisors and mentors with questions.