College of Forestry
Prospective Graduate Student Guides
Here are some comments on thinking about graduate studies before you apply and some guides for finding your way through the application and admission process.
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International Students
International students may be required to take a test of spoken and written English after arrival at Oregon State University. If this test indicates that remedial work is needed to successfully complete the requirements of the graduate program, the student may be required to take the needed remedial work at his/her own expense through the English Language Institute.
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Application Deadlines
Although applications will be received at any time, to ensure full consideration for admission and financial assistance applications (including all materials above) should be completed by the designated dates for the desired academic term of admission.
Applications should be received for admission by the Department on or before:
Fall Term: February 1 of the same year
Winter Term: July 1 of the preceding year
Spring Term: September 1 of the preceding year
Summer Term: January 1 of the same year
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Initial Contacts
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Prospective students are strongly encouraged to communicate directly with potential major professors prior to initiation of the application process. The likelihood of admission is greatly improved by discussing study interests with potential advisors before submitting application materials. The major professor serves as the student’s primary advisor in developing a program of coursework and in selecting a thesis topic and is commonly the primary source of financial assistance through research assistantships. Once a student and professor are satisfied that they are interested in working together, and that the necessary financial support is available, the student can apply for acceptance by the University. Prospective students may also apply directly to the department without contacting potential major professors. The Graduate Admissions committee will then attempt to locate a suitable major professor and financial support, but this approach may entail a significantly lower probability of acceptance.
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The Admission Process
The Graduate School receives applications and passes them on to the Department of Forest Engineering, Resources and Management for evaluation. The Chair of the Department’s Graduate Admissions Committee assigns a panel of faculty members in the area(s) of the applicant's interests to examine the material you submit to determine the adequacy of your scholastic background and decide whether departmental facilities are adequate for your expressed aims. A critical consideration in the decision is whether or not your academic objectives can be fulfilled satisfactorily by the Department’s graduate program. Note: The Department faculty cannot effectively review an application until all materials have been received.
Notice of acceptance by the Department is sent within two months of the deadline date for applications for admission in a given term. Applicants occasionally confuse notices of fellowships, assistantship awards, letters of acceptance from the Department, or correspondence from faculty as equivalent to admission. The “Notice of Admission” issued solely by the Graduate School is the official University notice to the applicant that all application and review procedures have been completed and that the student may enroll in the term for which he or she applied.
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Application
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Applicants must meet the standards and requirements of the Graduate School (see the OSU Catalog or visit the OSU web site at www.oregonstate.edu) in addition to those of the Department. An applicant must hold a bachelor's degree in forestry, engineering or a related area and have a high scholastic record (a grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a scale of 4.0). Applicants without this background may be admitted provisionally subject to completion of background requirements.
International students whose native language in not English must provide a photocopy of their TOEFL scores that must not be older than two (2) years or IELTS scores that must not be older than two (2) years. This requirement is waived for applicants who have completed a bachelor’s or advanced degree from a U.S. university. The minimum TOEFL score is 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based) or 80 (internet) with minimum sub-scores of 18. The minimum IELTS score is 6.0. Applicants with lower scores may be admitted conditionally. See the OSU General Catalog.
All applicants to a graduate program in the Department of Forest Engineering, Resources and Management must submit current scores for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test. GRE scores must not be older than five (5) years. We do not require a minimum score for admission. The GRE score is considered along with all other application materials in making admission decisions.
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Application Procedures
Application forms required for admission to the Graduate School are available from the Graduate School. An electronic version is available on the Web at http://oregonstate.edu/admissions/graduate.php.
Persons seeking admission to any of the graduate programs of the Department should follow these instructions.
Send to the:
Graduate School
Oregon State University
300 Kerr Administration Building
Corvallis, OR 97331-2121 USA
a. Original and one copy of the paper application form or one electronic version of the graduate application.
b. A $60 check or money order in U.S. dollars payable to Oregon State University for the nonrefundable application fee. Alternately, this can be paid by Visa/MasterCard if applying electronically.
c. One official copy of all transcripts (grade slips/reports, computer printouts, internal transcripts are not acceptable) of all previous academic work, graduate and undergraduate, whether or not credit was earned. These must be issued directly by the school and arrive at the Graduate School in an unopened envelope.
d. Two copies of your objectives for graduate student and interests in the Forest Engineering, Resources and Management program. Please be as specific as possible because the Graduate Chair relies heavily on your letter to determine the appropriate reviewers for your application. If applying electronically, this will be automatically forwarded to the department.
e. Three letters of professional reference are required of all students, addressed to the Department of Forest Engineering, Resources and Management. References should be from instructors in courses related to your major, forestry employers, or others who can critically evaluate your potential as a graduate student. Reference letters should be on official letterhead. An applicant with a master’s degree should include a letter from his/her major professor. Applicants are encouraged to give thoughtful attention to their choice of references and to their written Statement of Objectives.
f. Graduate Records Examination (GRE) results are required for the Forest Engineering, Resources and Management degree program. The exam results cannot be over 5 years old.
International applicants must also send the following documents with their application materials:
g. Financial Certificate with supporting documentation, demonstrating sufficient financial resources for the desired academic program. Even if an applicant is acceptable to the Department, a prospective student is required to certify that he/she has adequate funds for proposed studies in this country before a visa form is prepared and acceptance to the university is definite. This Financial Certificate form is available from the Graduate School office, the Department of Forest Engineering, Resources and Management or online at http://oregonstate.edu/dept/grad-school/forms.php.
h. International applicants from countries where English is not the primary language must have proof of English language proficiency by submitting a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test score, unless exempt. TES school code for OSU is 4586. Information about where and when the TOEFL is administered in each country may be obtained at a U.S. embassy or consulate.
Application deadlines
Although applications will be received at any time, to ensure full consideration for admission and financial assistance applications (including all materials above) should be completed by the designated dates for the desired academic term of admission.
Applications should be received for admission by the Department on or before:
Fall Term - February 1 of the same year
Winter Term - July 1 of the preceding year
Spring Term - September 1 of the preceding year
Summer Term - January 1 of the same year
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