According to Landrum and Davis, the third component of their overview of applying to graduate school is:

• A. Initiation
• B. Patience
• C. Funding selection
• D. Letters of recommendation

Answer: (B)

Patience is emphasized because applying to graduate school unfolds over a long, uncertain timeline. After you begin the process, you face waiting periods—decisions take months, funding opportunities move on cycles, and you may hear back in waves. Cultivating patience helps you stay motivated, meet deadlines, and keep your plans on track even when responses are slow or unclear. It also supports resilience: you can handle setbacks, adjust timelines, and continue preparing strong application components (like refining your statement, keeping in touch with potential advisors, and gathering required materials) while you wait for outcomes. While initiation, funding strategies, and letters of recommendation are all important parts of the process, the third component highlighted here centers on maintaining patience through the inevitable delays and uncertainties of graduate admissions.