Tips for Preparing for Graduate School

Congratulations - you’ve been accepted to a St. John’s University graduate program! While your enrollment may not start for a few months, there are some things you can do ahead of time to make sure you are well prepared.

See below for a few tips to help you set yourself up for success:

Have all your documents in order: To avoid any complications, make sure any student and financial aid forms have been completed and are on file prior to beginning your semester. Aside from enrollment specific documents, you may need to purchase a parking pass if you are attending campus and secure your StormCard.

Learn about your peers: In an increasingly connected world - this task hasn’t been easier. LinkedIn provides some great groups for St. John’s students to connect and network. Additionally, you may ask your adviser to put you in connect with students already in the program should you have any questions or concerns.

Research the curriculum: When you receive your syllabus, read through it entirely and secure the reading material ahead of time to familiarize yourself with your upcoming workload. Once you connect to some peers or students already in your program, ask them any questions you may have about electives or classes you need to take.

Explore ways to get involved: Consider how you can get involved with your program, students, and campus outside of the classroom. Whether it be student groups or looking into graduate assistantship programs, there are a lot of ways to develop personal friendships and advance your professional network.


The graduate schools at St. John’s University in New York City offer more than 60 graduate degree and professional certificate programs in five acclaimed colleges, a School of Law, and institute dedicated solely to the growing field of biotechnology. Our highly competitive advanced degree programs will challenge you to become the very best you can possibly be!