If you intend to start classes in September, you should begin the application process in the Fall or early Winter of the preceding year. Applying to graduate school is a complex process, and the success of each application depends on a number of requirementseach dependent on the other. Though some departments admit students on a rolling basis throughout the academic year, deadlines for financial aid and fellowship and assistantship applications are usually fixed at early points in the spring semester. To allow yourself the best opportunity with the most beneficial arrangement, apply early.
Some colleges are more flexible with deadlines for non-degree status.
Admission Requirements Generally, depending upon the intended programs, an applicant must have earned a bachelor's or master's degree from an accredited institution whose requirements for the degree are substantially equivalent to those of the City University. Applicants must also complete whatever prerequisites are specified by their program, submit evidence of promise to conduct independent and original research, and be approved by the admissions committee in the program in which they intend to specialize. For the most reliable and specific information about particular requirements, which vary considerably from program to program, applicants should obtain program information for the CUNY college in which they are interested and discuss their situation with a representative of their intended department, or the graduate admissions office. In some cases, graduate course credit earned at another institution may be applied to your degree at the City University. Consult with an advisor in your department.