When searching and applying to graduate school, one of the most important things to remember is that the earlier you start the better.  Especially if you need financial aid, you want to get applications done by December of the year before you want to start.  For example, if you want to start graduate school in September 2008, you want to have completed applications ready to be submitted by December 1, 2007.

This includes having assembled:

1.  Copies of transcripts for all post secondary education you have acquired
2.  At least three people to write letters of recommendation for you.  All three should have Ph.D.s and preferably be faculty members in your field of interest. As best you can, give them all of the information for the schools at once.  This will take organization and preparation on your part.  Also, make sure you type the information on the 'request for letters' forms and include stamps if necessary.
3.  Graduate Record Examination (G.R.E.)
4.  A writing sample; usually your best research paper
5.  Statement of purpose describing why you want to go to that particular graduate school.

The first problem to tackle is deciding where to apply.  Of course, talk to professors you trust.  Two good sites to get information on rankings, financial aid, and other helpful hints are U.S. News OnLine and The Education Supersite.  If you are interested in specific sociology programs, a great place to start looking is a website housed at Princeton.  That site has links to sociology programs and organizations around the country and world.

Graduate applications tend to cost about $60.00.  If you think you qualify, it is worth your while to contact the institution directly and request an application fee waiver.  Requests from economically disadvantaged students and minorities are sometimes honored.  Further, there is a way for minority students to get a fee waiver to three of fifteen university graduate programs around the country.  Latino students should take advantage of Project 1000's program whereby you can apply to seven schools (out of over 70) with one application and for FREE.

Most important to many students is paying for graduate school.  In addition to the Federal Government's SallieMae site, Hunter College's Office of Student Services has a website dedicated to financial aid.  Finally, the University of Michigan has assembled a nice list of links on fellowships for  students.

Again, two of the most important variables to sucessfully applying to graduate school is time and organization.  To help with time, you need to start as early as you can.  Depending on the school, applications are due starting as early as December 1.  To help with organization, students have found this PDF spreadsheet very useful. 

Good luck with your graduate school search!