Application Instructions | Environmental Sciences Graduate Program

Application

PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE PAGE FOR APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS, DEADLINE INFORMATION AND OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THE ADMISSION PROCESS

We only admit for Autumn Semester each year. Students must apply online and submit all materials (Graduate Admissions and program requirements) electronically through the Office of Graduate Admissions. Please note that your recommenders will receive an email from the university 1-3 days after you submit your application and they should follow the instructions in that email for uploading their letters. In addition, while you can apply without a confirmed OSU faculty advisor, our admissions committee WILL NOT admit a student who does not have a confirmed advisor, nor will we match an academic year of funding unless the advisor provides the the other years of funding.

November 30: International applicant deadline
December 10: Domestic applicant deadline

As a member of the Big Ten Academic Alliance, Ohio State participates in the FreeApp Fee Waiver Program. For information on the program and to see if you are eligible, go to the Big 10 Academic Alliance web site.

Application Components

Statement of Purpose (see below for instructions related to the statement of purpose)*
Résumé or Curriculum Vitae
Three letters of recommendation (see below)**
University Transcripts (see below)***
GRE General Test scores are optional
English Language Proficiency scores (see below)****
A $70 application fee for foreign students or $60 application fee for domestic students

*Instructions for the Statement of Purpose

The Graduate Studies Committee wants to understand as fully as possible your interest in research pursued through the Environmental Sciences Graduate Program (ESGP). Toward this objective, prepare a detailed statement covering the questions and points as outlined. The questions below can be adequately addressed in two typed single-spaced pages or less.

Describe your understanding of the purpose of environmental sciences and the interdisciplinary focus of your research as it relates.
Describe the specific nature of your undergraduate and/or postgraduate research experience.
Describe full or part-time employment, volunteer, or extra-curricular activities as they relate to environmental science.
Discuss how your academic and social development has contributed to your motivation and potential for scientific research.
Why are you seeking advanced education at this time? Do you have the necessary resources to begin a study program if you do not receive financial support through the ESGP or university?
Why did you choose to apply to the ESGP at Ohio State University.
Identify the faculty member who has agreed to serve as your advisor or up to three members of the ESGP faculty whose research you feel matches well with your research interests. List your choices in order of preference and specify what particular research problems or fields of study interest you most. While faculty will sometimes recruit students themselves, it is up to you to contact faculty you would like to be your advisor. Feel free to contact more than one at a time. Note that you must have a committed advisor before you will be admitted to our program. If you've made contact with a faculty member who agrees to be your advisor, please have that person notify our office of their commitment to you.

**Note on Letters of Recommendation letters: You will be asked to list 3 recommenders as part of the online application and they will receive and email with a link to upload letter. It could take 1-3 days for your recommenders to get the email and link.

***Note on Transcripts:

Use the "Upload Transcript" button to send copies (front and back) of official transcripts from ALL institutions where college credit was earned--even if you attended while in high school.
International credentials should include certified educational records and degree certificates or diplomas in the original language with English translations
If you are admitted to the university as a graduate student, you will be required to submit final official transcripts
Please do not send official paper transcripts to the Graduate and Professional Admissions Office unless specifically requested by our office
Transcripts take 2-4 weeks to process once received. Students are responsible for requesting official transcripts from their institutions in time to allow Ohio State to process them before the deadline
Please visit this link for information on transcripts. If you have questions about your application, please contact the Office of Graduate Admissions. Phone: (614) 292-9444 or email: gradadmissions@osu.edu.

****Note on English Language Proficiency Scores:

The university requires official TOEFL, Duolingo or IELTS Academic test scores from applicants:

whose native language is not English,
who have been educated primarily outside of the U.S., or
who have held U.S. permanent resident, asylee or refugee status for less than one year from the first term of enrollment.
please visit this website for additional information including Ohio State's policy on exemptions.

To be official, score results must be received directly from the testing agency (ETS or IELTS) by your application deadline using the Ohio State University Code: 1592

Minimum test scores required by the university (note that many graduate programs require a score above these minimums):

TOEFL
- 19 on each section of the paper-based TOEFL
- 79 on the TOEFL iBT or TOEFL iBT Home Edition
- 550 on the TOEFL ITP for students in the American Language Program
IELTS
- 7.0 on the IELTS Academic test or IELTS Indicator (6.5 for Moritz College of Law applicants)
Duolingo
- 120 or higher
- Note: The Duolingo test cannot be used to exempt an admitted student from the English placement exam or the Oral Proficiency Assessment for Graduate Teaching Associates.
Exemptions
- Applicants who are citizens of, or who have received a bachelor’s degree or higher by the time of matriculation from, one of the following countries are exempt from the English proficiency requirement: Australia, Belize, the British Caribbean and British West Indies, Canada (except Quebec), England, Ghana, Guyana, Ireland, Liberia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Singapore, Scotland, the United States and Wales.
- English proficiency policy has been set for this academic year. We are not granting test waivers or petitions to exempt countries not currently listed above at this time.

Once Your Application is Complete

The Graduate Studies Committee of the ESGP will ONLY review applications that are complete, so please monitor your application status through our Graduate Admissions website (appstatus.osu.edu) to check for any outstanding materials.

If our graduate studies committee votes to admit a student and faculty member agrees to advise a student (the faculty member will email the ESGP office confirming this), then you will be admitted to the program.

Since the pairing process with advisors can take some time, students are encouraged to begin contacting potential advisors at the time of application. Faculty can request to view your application materials through the ESGP office.

Contact Information for Questions

Kelly Malone, the ESGP Coordinator, is your contact for questions about specific ESGP admissions criteria.

Environmental Science Graduate Program
3138A Smith Lab
174 W. 18th Ave.
Columbus, OH 43210 USA
Phone: (614) 292-9762
E-mail: enviro@osu.edu

Contact the Admissions Office if you have any questions about the application or admission process.

Admissions Office
Graduate Area
The Ohio State University
SAS Bldg. 1st Floor, 281 West Lane Ave.
Columbus Ohio 43210-1200
Phone: (614) 292-9444
Fax: (614) 292-3895