HOW TO APPLY - Graduate Program Application

Application Deadlines

Term of Entry	Domestic	International Already in the U.S.	International Not in the U.S.
Fall (August)	January 15	January 15	January 2
Spring (January)	October 1	September 1	July 1

College Overview Tri-Fold

Before You Apply:

Review Program Admissions Requirements (click hyperlink for more information)
Review Faculty Research (click hyperlink for more information)

Sumbit Required Application Documents:

Complete the Online Application ($30.00 fee, paid online) and prepare the following supporting documents:
Application Information / Research Interest Essay (use this linked MS Word template and upload this document in the "Essay" section of the online application)
Resume or CV (upload to the "resume" section of the online application)
Official Transcripts of Grades (request official transcripts from your higher education institutions to be sent directly to our office. You may upload an unofficial copy to the online application)
Request 3 Letters of Recommendation (click hyperlink for more information)
ETS PPI Index (request up to five PPI evaluations, click hyperlink for more information)
GRE Scores (submit to code 5828, click hyperlink for more information)
TOEFL Scores (for non-native English speakers, click hyperlink for more information)
International Forms (for international students, available on the online application, click hyperlink for more information)

Application Decisions

All complete applications are reviewed after the deadlines by the admissions committee. Fall decisions are typically made during February and March. Spring application decisions are typically made in October and November. Denied applicants will receive notification by email directly from the Graduate School. Accepted applicants will receive notification in the physical mail as well as email.

Program Admission Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from a regionally accredited university (preferable
majors include biology, chemistry, geology, physics or math). Master’s degree in one of the above sciences highly preferable for Ph.D. applicants.
Have earned a “B” (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) average or better in all work attempted while registered as an upper division student working for a baccalaureate degree. (Having these scores does not guarantee admission to our program.)
Have completed all of the coursework listed on the Undergraduate Preparation page.
Have taken the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) within 5 years preceding application. Minimum scores generally considered acceptable by the college are:
- Current minimum preferred scores:
  - Old scale: Verbal=500, Quantitative=600
  - Revised scale: Verbal=153, Quantitative=148
- MRA concentration minimum preferred scores:
  - Old scale: Verbal=550 and Quantitative=700
  - Revised scale: Verbal=156, Quantitative=155
Have the commitment of a Marine Science faculty member to serve as advisor during the student’s graduate studies [this will be determined after your complete application is received and reviewed by the admissions committee]

Review Faculty Research:

We encourage all applicants to review the Faculty web pages ahead of time to learn more about their research. Please list all of the faculty members that you are interested in on your Research Interest Essay. All applications will be reviewed by the admissions committee after the deadline to determine admissibility and to match student’s interests with available professors. Making direct contact (phone/email/skype) with faculty members of interest is also encouraged.

Three Letters of Recommendation

Please request 3 letters of support addressed to the "admissions committee" (send by email: dishler@usf.edu). It is preferred to have letters printed on company letterhead in PDF format, attached and emailed from a professional email address if applicable. You may also request traditional style letters to be mailed directly to our office. [NOTE: the online application program has an optional section regarding requesting letters of support via the online application. This generates an email to your supporter asking them to fill out a survey and a section for comments, which will be sent to our office. If you choose this method to request your letters of support- please make sure to follow up directly with your supporters to ensure they recieve the request.]

Email: Dawna Ishler,

Physical Mail:

USF College of Marine Science, Academic Affairs
140 7th Avenue South, MSL 119
St. Petersburg, FL 33701 UNITED STATES

Personal Potential Index (PPI) Evaluations

The ETS® Personal Potential Index (ETS® PPI) is a web-based evaluation system designed to provide a more complete picture of an applicant's potential for success in graduate or professional school beyond grades, test scores and recommendation letters. Multiple evaluators (up to five per evaluation report) selected by the applicant rate the applicant on six personal attributes that have been identified as critical for success in graduate and professional school. ETS then creates an ETS PPI Evaluation Report that incorporates the evaluations and comments from all the evaluators and sends the report to schools and programs the applicant designates.

All applicants are required to create a PPI report. Visit the ETS PPI website for detailed instructions on how to start your PPI report: http://www.ets.org/ppi/applicants/what

Official Transcripts of Grades

One official transcript from all institutions of higher learning where you have earned a degree is required, but applicants may also provide unofficial copies of transcripts to expedite the processing of their applications, which can uploaded directly to the online application. Any admissions granted using unofficial transcripts will not be finalized until official transcripts are received in a sealed envelope from the Office of the Registrar. If you are applying while still completing an undergraduate degree, you must submit transcripts of at least six (6) semesters of completed undergraduate work. Final transcripts showing the award of a bachelor’s degree will be required if an applicant is admitted and enrolls. If you have attended USF as a degree-seeking student, you do not have to submit your USF transcripts.

International Transcripts: All transcripts must be in English; it is the applicant’s responsibility to have foreign transcripts translated and evaluated* before submitting them as part of their graduate application packet. Please visit the Foreign Transcript Evaluations Services Listing of evaluators.

Graduate Record Exam scores (GRE - verbal/quantitative)

The GRE General Test is a standardized test that measures verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, critical thinking and analytical writing skills that are not related to any specific field of study.

Contact ETS at http://www.ets.org/ to find a testing location and have your scores sent electronically from ETS to USF. The institution code for USF is 5828. Please submit scores from the General GRE Test only (verbal and quantitative). The GRE now has a *Revised General Test: the format and scale of the GRE changed August 1, 2011. The competitive minimums scores are as follows:
Current minimum preferred scores:
- Old scale: Verbal=500, Quantitative=600
- *Revised scale: Verbal=153, Quantitative=148
MRA concentration minimum preferred scores:
- Old scale: Verbal=550 and Quantitative=700
- *Revised scale: Verbal=156, Quantitative=155

TOEFL exam scores (For non-native English speakers)

Applicants whose native language is not English or who have not earned a degree in the United States must also submit TOEFL scores earned within two (2) years of the desired term of entry.

A minimum total score of 79 on the internet-based test, 213 on the computer-based test, or 550 on the paper-based test are required. Applications submitted with TOEFL scores that do not meet the minimum requirements will be denied with no exceptions.
Contact ETS at http://www.ets.org/ to find a testing location and have your scores sent electronically from ETS to USF. The institution code for USF is 5828.
The TOEFL requirement may be waived if the applicant meets one of the following conditions:
• Has scored 500 (153 on reivsed test) or higher on the GRE Verbal Test
• Has earned a college degree at a U.S. institution of higher learning
• Has earned a college degree from an institution whose language of instruction is English (must be noted on the transcript).
• Has scored 6.5 on International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

International Forms (for International Students Only)

Upload the Financial Support Requirements Form to the online application. This form is available on the online application. You may also visit the USF Graduate Admissions web site for more helpful information for International Applicants.

As mentioned above, all international transcripts must be in English; it is the applicant’s responsibility to have foreign transcripts translated and evaluated* before submitting them as part of their graduate application packet. Please visit the Foreign Transcript Evaluations Services Listing of evaluators.

Questions?

We are here to help you. If you have any questions please contact us:

727-553-3504

-or –

727-553-3944