Graduate School Admission Application FAQ

Q. How can I request a waiver of the application fee?
A. Requests to waive application fees normally are not approved.

Q. If deadlines provided by the Graduate School and the department conflict, which one has precedence?
A. You should follow the deadlines issued by the department.

Q. Will you accept photocopies of TOEFL scores that are more than two years old?
A. We do not accept TOEFL scores that are over two years old, and we do not accept photocopies of TOEFL score reports.

Q. What types of financial assistances may I apply?
A. Most graduate schools offer Teaching Assistantship, Research Assistantship, and fellowships. Need-based loans are also available for U.S. or Canadian citizens.

Q. Can I apply directly to a Ph.D. program, or must I apply to the master's degree first?
A. Many of graduate departments admit only those students whose ultimate goal is the Ph.D. In some departments you will earn the master's enroute to the Ph.D.; in others this is not considered necessary.

Q. Can I apply for either spring or fall admission?
A. Most departments prefer students to matriculate in the fall semester, though some will consider applications for spring.

Q. Do I need to have an undergraduate degree in the field on which I am going to pursue my graduate education?

A. While previous field coursework is helpful, it is not required. Undergraduate degree representation at your designated field is varied and adds diversity and perspective to the learning environment.

Q. How does the application process work?
A. When your file is complete, it was forwarded to the department you've applied to. The department will look at this file as well as the supporting documents you've sent directly to them and make a recommendation on admission to the Graduate School. Once a department recommends an applicant to the Graduate School, a final evaluation of the application is conducted by the Admissions staff.