Luke Parrott
While many say applying to grad school is the hard part, the work doesn’t stop once you are accepted.
In this article, Luke Parrott, director of graduate admissions at the University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business, offers an informal checklist of the things every student should know to get from their acceptance letter to their arrival on campus.
1. Take care of the paperwork
There are several steps you must take to formally accept your admission offer, all of which are critical for you to be recognized as an official new student at Daniels.
- Open the admission offer emailed to you and click the button to pay the deposit fee. Typically, candidates receive decisions within two weeks of their interview and have two months to accept.
- If you are given a “provisional acceptance,” order official transcripts from your previous institution and arrange for them to be sent directly to Daniels. This must be done before you arrive on campus.
- To be eligible for federal student loans, domestic students and U.S. citizens must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) if they haven’t done so already.
- International students must upload their required I-20 documentation to secure a visa as quickly as possible.
2. Get to know your program
Look for a congratulatory email from the director of your graduate program. They hold invaluable insight into the way their programs have been designed and can answer many curriculum-based questions.
“This warm welcome is a great way to learn more in-depth information about the program,” Parrott said. “Your director can connect you with support, resources, talking about curriculum.”
3. Meet your academic advisor
Once you submit your deposit, you will be introduced to your academic advisor. Registration takes place two months before classes begin, but you are also welcome to work together on a longer-term plan to complete your degree.
On campus, visit our Student Success Center on the second floor of the Daniels College of Business. Advisors are in suite 255, and career coaches are in suite 280.
“The opportunities to connect will be the best way to prepare you for the classroom experience and your overall satisfaction as a graduate student at Daniels,” Parrott said. “It’s also a great way to network and build connections before you even arrive on campus.”
4. Begin to look for housing
Denver is full of interesting neighborhoods, each with a distinct personality. All contain a variety of housing options.
“The campus sits in a beautiful part of the city,” Parrott said, “but you want to make sure you find a place that is comfortable, affordable and accessible to campus.”
For starters, check out Daniels’ off-campus housing page, which describes many nearby neighborhoods, rates different apartment complexes and provides valuable data to help you make an informed decision. You can explore some of the city’s restaurants, attractions and nightlife in our Discover Denver guide.
5. Mark your calendar
Starting graduate school comes with a flurry of important deadlines, along with a bevy of events happening on and around campus. Find the incoming student checklist in your offer letter and circle the dates for orientation and the first day of class. You can keep up with other happenings through the Daniels events calendar. Once you arrive on campus, turn to the weekly student newsletter for up-to-date information.
If you are admitted for the fall term, try to attend the annual Experience Daniels event, which occurs in the spring.
“That’s a great opportunity to be on campus for two days for an immersive preview of what you will experience here,” Parrott said. “You can meet your future faculty, connect with advisors, tour campus, talk to current students and grow your network through several social events.”
If you’re an international student, check with the admissions office to see if any pre-departure orientation events are scheduled in your home country. It’s the perfect opportunity to prepare for your travels and get any last-minute questions answered.
6. Meet other Daniels students
Each Daniels program has at least one Graduate Student Ambassador (GSA) who is eager to connect.
“These are current students in your program who would love to meet with you in person or virtually to tell you about their own experience in the program,” Parrott said. “They are ready to help.”
Many GSAs are international students, hailing from countries all over the world. They have experience traveling to Denver and adjusting to life here.
7. Mark your literal roadmap
Whether you are driving or flying to town, it’s important to be prepared. The University’s campus map labels all buildings, bus stops and parking lots—including ADA-accessible areas.
Denver’s airport is one of the world’s busiest and fastest growing travel hubs. (And it comes with plenty of quirks.) In addition to taxis and ride share companies, a train runs to downtown Union Station every 15-30 minutes. From there, you can transfer to the E Line, which takes you to the University of Denver campus.
Daniels is here to help
No matter where you are in the process, the Daniels and DU communities stand ready to support you. Feel free to contact your advisor or admissions officer if you have questions before classes begin.
“We’re thrilled to welcome you to the Daniels community,” Parrott said. “We can’t wait for you to experience this life-changing education with us.”