Before you apply for a Master's program, ensure you meet the prerequisites, such as having a Bachelor's degree or the foreign equivalent. Your undergraduate degree does not need to be in the same subject area as your Master's.
Research programs in your field of interest. If you're still in undergraduate school, then you can consult with your academic adviser. Otherwise, browse online databases such as those at the Princeton Review or GraduateSchools.com. Note the application requirements for the programs that interest you, including if they expect you take the GRE, provide letters of recommendation and write a personal essay.
Go to the Educational Testing Services website and register for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Most graduate schools expect applicants to submit their GRE score. There are some exceptions, though, such as programs within the University of California, Fullerton.
Take the GRE. The test is divided into three sections: verbal, quantitative and analytic writing. The verbal and quantitative sections are both scored between 200 to 800 points, while the analytic writing section is scored between 1 to 6 points. Every graduate school program has its own GRE requirements. Before you can apply, you must meet these minimum requirements.
Contact professional and academic mentors to write letters of recommendation on your behalf.
Write a personal essay. Tailor it to the program you're applying to. If they provide a prompt, answer it. Otherwise, focus on why you are interested in the program and what makes you a qualified applicant.
Submit applications to graduate programs that interest you.
Apply for financial aid once you've been admitted into a school. The federal government is a good source, and its Free Application for Federal Student Aid program can provide subsidized student loans. In addition, you can get grants and scholarships from private and corporate foundations. Fastweb and SchoolSoup both offer scholarship databases.
Register for classes. Consult your academic adviser for recommendations on which courses to take and in what order. Some courses may have prerequisites.
Apply for work-study positions, such as being a Teaching Assistant (TA) and Research Assistant (RA). These jobs pay well and also give valuable academic experience, especially if you plan to apply for a doctoral program in the future.
Fulfill your program's graduation requirements to receive your Master's Degree. Every program has specific requirements. Typically, these include completing a certain number of course hours, attending the core classes of your program and writing a thesis.