Important Steps

1. Review the "Who Should Apply" web page to assess if The Graduate School is an appropriate match for your interests and needs.
2. Review The Graduate School's material and deadline web sites to familiarize yourself with the basic admission requirements.
3. Review the website of the program to which you are applying.  Search for deadlines and application material requirements specific to your program.  Program websites are accessible via the Academic Program List.
4. Submit your online application and application fee (application fees are paid via credit card only).
5. Submit your application materials, preferably in one envelope, directly to the program to which you are applying (See Program Contact List).
6. View your admission decision via the online application. Once an admission decision regarding your application has been rendered, a link to "View Decision" will appear on the online application "Applicant Status" page.  If no "View Decision" link is present, an admission decision has not yet been rendered on your application. (Students denied admission will not receive a letter from the University. Students who are admitted will receive an admission packet.)

Note: Students may not submit more than one application to The Graduate School per year. Additionally, students may not be enrolled in more than one Graduate School program at anytime.

Evaluation Process
Your intended program will conduct an in-depth review of your academic records, letters of recommendation, required test scores, personal statements and additional portfolio items.  In exceptional circumstances, The Graduate School reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to waive any documentation normally required for admission.  The Graduate School also reserves the right to admit or deny admission whenever it believes that it has sufficient evidence to do so.

Programs have different application review schedules.  Some programs wait and rank all of their applications against each other; others make individual determinations on a case by case basis.  Program admission recommendations may be made as early as January, with the process continuing into February, March and April.  Once your program has made an admission decision, and submitted that decision to The Graduate School, your admission decision will be communicated via the online application system.

You may login to the online application at any time (using the same Pin and Password you used to create the online application) to view if a decision has been rendered on your application. If a decision has been rendered, a "View Decision" link will appear on the "Applicant Status" page. If no decision has been rendered, no link will be available. Students denied admission will not receive a letter from the University. Student who are admitted will receive an admissions packet. If admitted, you will be able to submit your enrollment decision via the online application. Enrollment decisions must be entered by the date communicated in the admit letter. Your ability to submit an enrollment decision will be restricted after the enrollment decision deadline.

Admission to The Graduate School is given for a specific quarter and year.  You may, with the permission of your admitting program, defer admission for up to one year from the quarter stipulated in your admission letter.  If you are granted permission to defer, you must notify The Graduate School in writing of your intention and must specify the quarter for which new admission is sought.