FAQ

We receive between 300-400 applications each admission cycle. These applications are for the ESPM Ph.D., the M.F. (Master of Forestry), and the M.S. in Range Management. We make approximately 35-40 offers of admission and enroll 25-30 new students each year.

It is strongly recommended you have a faculty sponsor to apply. However, at the time you submit your application, we require that you list at least four faculty with whom you are interested in working with in order of preference. This assures that the listed faculty members have an opportunity to review your application in time to make their preferences known to the Admissions Committee. Faculty sponsorship of entering graduate students is not determined until all applications are reviewed, and final admission offers have been made.

We accept applications for the Fall Semester only. The application deadline is December 1. However, the deadline for TOEFL scores is December 20.

Yes, we make every effort to support our entering and continuing students from a variety of resources including University Fellowships, Departmental Restricted Fellowships, and Graduate Student Research Assistantships (GSRs). We encourage our students to apply for Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) positions. We also encourage applicants to make every effort to find external funding as well. Some programs will provide funding for entering graduate students, and we encourage you to investigate such programs. We make our financial support offers at the time of admission.  

No specific coursework is required for admission. Coursework relevant to your interest area is of course useful.

The GPA you should calculate should include all courses taken after your first two years of your undergraduate program. For example, if you attended college for 4 years, you would calculate your GPA for courses you took in your 3rd and 4th years. If you attended for 5 years, then you would include courses from your 3rd, 4th and 5th years. If you have done post-graduate work, your GPA as a master's student is not used in the calculation.

You will be able to submit a copy of all supplemental documentation (transcripts, CV, writing samples) during the submission of your application.

No, you should upload unofficial transcripts with the application for the departmental initial review. Official transcripts of all college-level work will be required if admitted. Official transcripts must be in sealed envelopes as issued by the school(s) you have attended. Request a current transcript from every post-secondary school that you have attended, including community colleges, summer sessions, and extension programs.

The department takes a holistic approach to reviewing a candidate's application. Grades are important, but not the only metric used to assess an application. Students will be assessed on their grades, their relevant experience, letters of recommendation, and personal statements.

The application review process will begin a week or two after the application deadline of December 1. The admission results will be out in mid-March. The deadline to notify the University of your plan to accept or decline the offer of admission is April 15. Denial letters are sent out approximately 2-3 weeks after admission offers have been made.