If you are completing your undergraduate degree and considering attending graduate school, now is the time to begin planning.

Graduate and undergraduate admissions are similar in that both require extensive research on cost and suitability, letters of recommendation, personal statements, standardized test scores and transcripts. Even a bit of planning can go a long way toward ensuring a smooth application season.

Also like undergraduate admissions, this process requires you to thoroughly balance current schoolwork with your application responsibilities — not an easy feat. Students should be cognizant of this ahead of time and try to create a schedule in advance.

The timeline below can help you out, but it is also important to take your own outside responsibilities and commitments into account when mapping out the ways in which you will accomplish these tasks. Blocking out periods of time in your smartphone’s calendar and using reminder apps can help keep you on track.

If you plan to start graduate school in the fall after your senior year, the application deadline for your materials will generally be early- to mid-December. Below is a semester-by-semester guide, beginning junior year, to help you reach that goal.

[Find out how to calculate the return on investment of a graduate degree.]

Fall of Junior Year

Begin by compiling a list of the universities that interest you, and consider creating a spreadsheet to track your ongoing research and school options. At a minimum, your spreadsheet should include the following categories: school name, department name, admissions requirements, financial aid availability, key deadlines, contact information and any prerequisites.

Admissions decisions at the graduate level are generally handled by individual departments, rather than by the university bureaucracy, so be sure to read the admissions page for the department that interests you.

By Thanksgiving break, narrow your list of target programs to five to 10 universities at most. This will allow you to focus on completing your spreadsheet throughout the last month of the semester.

Next, determine which classes you will need to complete to qualify for entry to your preferred programs. If the graduate school that you most hope to attend strongly recommends advanced statistics or a special topics seminar in literary analysis, you will have three semesters to address this need: spring of junior year, summer of junior year and fall of senior year.

Finally, investigate the financial aid options at your target programs, as this may ultimately become your most important criterion for selecting a school. Over a five-year Ph.D. program, for instance, the difference between self-funding and full support may be several hundred thousand dollars. Aim to complete this research prior to winter vacation.

[Check out smart ways to raise money for graduate school.]

Spring of Junior Year

By the end of January, you should know which standardized tests you will need to take. Complete a practice exam for each test to assess the level of preparation that you will need.

If your practice exams indicate a high need for review, schedule your test dates for June, July or August. This will allow you to retake the exams if necessary, with time for a second round of intensive study. If your practice scores are strong, schedule your test dates well in advance of your earliest application deadline.

During the semester, start to draft your personal statement. This is typically a short essay that summarizes your graduate school goals and motivations. It can also help you clarify your objectives and further narrow your target list of schools.

Include a copy of your personal statement with your requests for letters of recommendation, which you should also ask for this semester. Whenever possible, choose professors who can speak to the requirements for each program, as well as to your ability to meet them. Most professors are very busy, so allowing them several months to complete your recommendations can ensure a higher quality product.

Summer of Junior Year

Although this isn’t formally a semester for all students, the summer months should still be maximized to do what you can to reach your application goals. For instance, the summer session should be used to finish as many essential undergraduate courses as possible. Your graduate school application will likely be due by the end of the fall semester of your senior year, so summer may be your last chance to address significant weaknesses in your transcript.

You may also wish to spend this time finding ways to demonstrate your interest in a narrow topic. Perhaps you are planning on graduate school for an English degree and want to be well-versed in a specific area of literature so you can teach it someday. The summer could be a good time to visit the library and read more of that genre, tutor students in it or blog about it — all things you can contribute to your application and resume.

Consider also using this time to follow up on your letters of recommendation. Set periodic reminders in your smartphone’s calendar, and email your recommenders no more than once a month with a polite reminder.

Use this time to simply reflect on your goals as well. By the end of the summer, you should have a top program in mind, as well as a clear backup. However, you should still feel free to apply widely in order to later compare offers of support.

[Explore the U.S. News Best Graduate Schools rankings.]

Fall of Senior Year

Now is the time to finalize your applications. Ask your mentors and loved ones to critique your personal statement, and ensure your letters of recommendation are complete. If necessary, identify emergency backup recommenders.

Double-check that your best exam scores have been sent to your target programs. Send your application in as early as you can manage — certain schools admit students on a rolling basis, and when all the open slots are filled by qualified applicants, the window closes.

Given all the planning and preparation that you have done up to this point, however, you should have your applications completed well before your deadlines.

More from U.S. News

Don’t Ask These Ineffective Questions While on College Tours

Pros, Cons of Applying to College as an Undecided Major

Show These 5 Traits During College Admissions Interviews

Plot Out Graduate School Applications as a College Student originally appeared on usnews.com