Want to Apply? Have you...
Here are a few more things about the application process you may want to know:
Reasons for Delays in Processing an Application
Before applying, you should check the Graduate School's Prospective Students page for information. The most frequent problems that will delay your application are:
- Applying late. Check deadlines! If you submit your application after the published deadline, we can't guarantee that you'll be accepted in enough time to take classes.
- No Application Fee. Even if you have submitted an application, it won't be processed until you have submitted the required application fee. (Many students are forgetting to do this, especially those who apply on-line.)
- Unofficial transcripts. 1) US Transcripts: Official transcripts from US institutions are those mailed directly to the Graduate School by the Registrar of the institution at which the work was attempted or completed or upon Graduate School review an official original “issued to student” transcript with the official university seal and signature of the Registrar. Official original “issued to student” transcripts may be mailed or hand-carried to the Office of Graduate Studies. 2) Foreign Transcripts: Official foreign country transcripts or marksheets and diplomas are those bearing the original seal of the institution and the original signature of the Registrar or responsible head of the institution. Those not issued in English must be accompanied by an exact word for word original English translation bearing the original university or translation agency attestation. They may be mailed to the Office of Graduate Studies by the institution or applicant or delivered in person to the Office of Graduate Studies. Those delivered in person can be released back to the applicant or the applicant’s representative after verification and attestation by an Office of Graduate Studies representative.
Notification of Application Status
Once you have submitted the application, application fee, transcripts and departmental requirements (recommendation letters, GRE scores, statement of academic and career goals) it will take several weeks for the application materials to be processed. After your application has been assessed, you will receive a letter and email from the Graduate School stating the admission decision.
Degree Timelines
- If you're an MA student, you have six academic years from the time you begin. This time limit includes any time that you might have interrupted your studies. (For example, if you began in the fall semester of 1998, you have until May 2004 to finish your MA.)
- If you're a PhD student, the Department completes annual doctoral evaluations to ensure that students make satisfactory progress toward completing the doctorate. There are a series of benchmarks that must be completed and passed, together with one's entering cohort of PhD students, in order to continue on each year in the program. Consult the Department's Graduate Handbook for more details.
