Narrow down your program of study. After four years of undergraduate study, you probably have a good sense of what you want to study in graduate school. If you have a very specific program in mind, such as entomology and plant pathology, offered at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, your graduate school options in the state will be limited. If you are considering an MBA or graduate degree in any liberal arts field, on the other hand, your options will be broader.
Investigate Tennessee schools that align with your academic interests. Look for programs of study at graduate schools throughout the state. Both public and private graduate programs exist in Tennessee at schools such as the University of Tennessee Knoxville, which offers more than 100 master's degrees, Ph.D.s and graduate certificates, as well as the private Vanderbilt University in Nashville and the University of Memphis.
Fulfill the admissions requirements for the Tennessee graduate program you choose. Requirements are often similar from graduate program to graduate program, meaning you can apply to multiple Tennessee programs using a standard set of requirements. For example, Vanderbilt University requires interested students to complete an application, GRE scores, college transcripts and letters of recommendation. Other Tennessee schools have similar requirements.
Apply to the programs of your choice in Tennessee. Submit your application, along with the school-specific requirements, by the school's deadline. Most graduate programs admit students in the fall, which means your admissions deadline will be in the preceding spring semester. For example, Belmont University in Nashville has a fall application deadline of March 1.
Choose the Tennessee school for you. Once you receive admissions decisions, weigh the pros and cons of each program. If you are a Tennessee resident, tuition at a public school will be significantly lower than tuition at a private school. Consider any assistant or teaching opportunities for graduate students at the school, which can also help pay for your tuition.