Contact Information Page - The Graduate School
Please choose from the following:
» General Questions Regarding the Admission Application
I have a question regarding:
Application Status
- Q: How do I check the status of my application?
- A: You will need to contact your intended program of study.
- Q: When will I know if I am admitted?
- A: The Graduate School takes no action until the program makes a recommendation. Check with your intended program of study.
Applying for Admission
- Q: I was denied admission and wish to reapply to the same or different program/degree/semester. How do I reapply and submit the required documents?
- A: You will need to complete a new graduate on-line application and provide the required program documents. If you are reapplying to the same program, please contact your intended program of study to determine if updated documents are necessary.
- Q: Can I be accepted conditionally if I have not yet taken the TOEFL test?
- A: No. The language of instruction at Penn State is English. All international applicants must take and submit scores for the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System), with the exceptions noted below. The minimum acceptable score for the TOEFL is 550 for the paper-based test, 213 for the computer-based test, or a total score of 80 with a 19 on the speaking section for the Internet-based test (iBT). Applicants with iBT speaking scores between 15 and 18 may be considered for provisional admission, which requires an institutional test of English proficiency upon first enrollment and, if necessary, remedial course work. The minimum composite score for the IELTS is 6.5. Graduate programs may have more stringent requirements.
- International applicants are exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS requirement who have received a baccalaureate or a master's degree from a college/university/institution in any of the following: Australia, Belize, British Caribbean and British West Indies, Canada (except Quebec), England, Guyana, Republic of Ireland, Liberia, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Scotland, the United States, and Wales.
- Please note that specific graduate programs may require all international applicants to submit a TOEFL or IELTS score, regardless of their academic background and country of origin.
- Q: Who makes the admission or denial decision, my program or the Graduate School?
- A: Your program will recommend your acceptance to the Graduate School. After final review by the Graduate School, you will receive formal notification of your admission. Questions concerning your admission or denial should be directed to your intended program of study.
- Q: Will the Graduate School or the graduate program contact me if there are questions regarding my application?
- A: Because admission is granted jointly by the Graduate School and the academic program, you may be contacted by either office. Each program has its own procedures for evaluating applications. The programs recommend admission to the Graduate School and the Graduate School, in turn, monitors procedures and minimum requirements and makes the final decision on your admission.
- Q: Do all my materials need to be received by the deadline?
- A: Programs set and enforce deadlines. Please check with your intended program of study. International applicants must submit materials at least four months prior to the semester they plan to enroll; however, the application deadline for some programs is much earlier than this. All applicants should consult their intended program of study for specific requirements.
- Q: I incorrectly reported my test results on the application. How can I get them corrected?
- A: Please contact your intended program of study with this information. Official scores must be sent to Penn State from the appropriate reporting agency (ETS, Pearson Vue, etc.)
- Q: Do I need to calculate my junior/senior GPA?
- A: It is not required to calculate your junior/senior GPA, but if you wish to report it, you may do so.
- Q: Where should I have my test scores sent?
- A: All test scores should be sent to your intended program of study. The institution code for Penn State is 2660.
- Q: Can the application fee be waived?
- The Graduate School does not waive application fees. Your application will not be processed in the Office of Graduate Enrollment Services without receipt of the application fee.
Certificate Program
- Q: I am applying to a certificate program using the graduate nondegree application. Does this guarantee me acceptance to the certificate program?
- A: No. Acceptance as a nondegree student does not guarantee you admission to the certificate program. Each certificate program has its own requirements that are separate from the Graduate School. Therefore, you must contact the program that is offering the certificate.
- Q: How do I indicate that I am applying for a certificate program?
- A: You will need to apply for nondegree admission but also follow the instructions found on the certificate program Web site.
Changing Information to the Application after Submission
- Q: How can I make changes to my application after it has been submitted?
- A: To add or make changes to your reference information, program specific questions, or uploaded documents, you must contact your intended program of study.. For all other changes (semester, major, degree, address, etc.), please contact Graduate Enrollment Services.
Financial Aid
- Q: Where do I obtain information regarding financial aid?
- A: The best places to identify sources of financial support are your intended program of study, the Graduate School Office of Fellowships and Awards, the Office of Graduate Educational Equity, the Office of Student Aid, and resources outside the University. The program is the most important source of funding for the majority of graduate students.
Housing
- Q: Where do I obtain information regarding graduate housing?
- A: Housing information will be sent to all applicants who are recommended for admission. Applicants must be admitted to the Graduate School before their requests for on-campus living accommodations can be processed.
Reference Letters
- Q: How and when are my referees notified to submit a letter of reference?
- A: If your program has elected to use the on-line reference features (refer to your program’s Web site), your referees will be notified via e-mail upon submission of your graduate application.
- A: If your program chose not to use the on-line reference features (refer to your program’s Web site), your referees will not be notified via e-mail and it is your responsibility to contact these individuals.
- Q: Does my program have a specific letter of reference format I need to follow?
- A: You will need to contact your intended program of study.
- Q: My references cannot send a digital file for my letter of reference. How can they get the letter of reference to the program?
- A: You will need to contact your intended program of study. You should provide the mailing address of the program to your referees so they can mail the letter to the program. The program can upload it to your digital portfolio.
- Q: Can I have more than three letters of reference submitted on my behalf?
- A: Any questions regarding the letters of reference should be directed to your intended program of study.
- Q: How do I make corrections to my reference information after I have submitted my application?
- A: You can only make changes to the reference section by contacting your intended program of study.
- Q: I choose to waive my right of access to any reference information but want to change this. What do I need to do?
- A: Please contact the Graduate School’s technical support team
- Q: Can I resend the e-mail request for a letter of reference to one of my referees who did not receive the original request?
- A: Yes, you may resend a request to the referee by selecting the “Check Application Status” feature on the Graduate School Portal and selecting the “Send Reminder” link.
Supplemental Materials
- Q: Is it mandatory to send the financial form along with the application?
- A: You will need to contact your intended program of study. Each program is responsible for determining financial aid availability and eligibility.
- Q: I have used Microsoft Word to create my Statement of Purpose and Resume but cannot upload these forms? I receive an error message.
- A: Documents created with Microsoft Word are problematic when uploaded into the Graduate School’s digital portfolio system. We recommend using a different utility (such as textedit) to save your documents in a different format such as RTF or TXT. At this time, you may not save a Word document as PDF.
Transcripts/Records
- Q: Do I need to send two transcripts/records from all institutions that I have attended?
- A: Yes, you must send two official transcripts/records from all institutions you have attended to your intended program of study.
- Q: To what address should my transcripts be mailed?
- A: Transcripts should be mailed to your intended program of study (please refer to their Web site for the mailing address. Please note: If you are applying to a graduate program at Harrisburg, Great Valley, Behrend or Hershey, you will need to follow the instructions provided on their admissions page.
- Q: I am not an international applicant, but I did study at an institution outside the U.S. My records are not available in the same way that you have described as "official". What can I do?
- A: Your international records will be considered complete and official if:
- each document is an original or a copy that is originally certified by the issuing institution;
- it is a comprehensive record of all study completed, in the form of a transcript or yearly marksheets;
- it includes all degree certificates conferred;
- each document is submitted with an officially certified English translation.
- Q: May I upload a copy of my transcript instead of mailing it?
- A: No. You must send two official transcripts/records to your intended program of study.
- Q: I applied for admission last year and wasn’t accepted and would like to apply again. Do you still have my transcripts?
- A: If you are applying for the same program, please contact your intended program of study to see if they retained your transcripts/records. If you are applying to a different program, you will need to submit new transcripts/records.
- You may also want to submit an updated transcript/record showing grades for recently completed classes.
- Q: How do I know if my transcripts have been received?
- A: You will need to contact your intended program of study.
I cannot find an answer to my question:
» Technical Questions Regarding the Admission Application
I have a question regarding:
I forgot my user-id and/or password.
I cannot upload my documents to the application. I used Microsoft Word on Windows to create my RTF/TXT/PDF.
- If you have created your documents in Microsoft Word, this may be the problem. Try copying the data into notepad and saving those files to upload.
I receive an error when logging in that says "browser is stuck in an infinite redirect loop".
- This error occurs when there is a glitch authenticating you to the admissions application.
- Try the following steps:
- Ensure cookies are enabled for your browser.
- Be sure you don't have any pop-up blockers or plug-ins enabled on your browser that could interfere with your login.
- If you still receive the error, try logging in first to Penn State's WebAccess Page: https://webaccess.psu.edu and if successful, navigate to the Graduate Admissions Application: http://www.gradsch.psu.edu/portal/gradappfront.cfm to continue.
I cannot find an answer to my question.
» General Questions Regarding the Admission Application
I have a question regarding: Application Status
- Q: How do I check the status of my application?
- A: You will need to contact your intended program of study.
- Q: When will I know if I am admitted?
- A: The Graduate School takes no action until the program makes a recommendation. Check with your intended program of study.
Applying for Admission
- Q: I was denied admission and wish to reapply to the same or different program/degree/semester. How do I reapply and submit the required documents?
- A: You will need to complete a new graduate on-line application and provide the required program documents. If you are reapplying to the same program, please contact your intended program of study to determine if updated documents are necessary.
- Q: Can I be accepted conditionally if I have not yet taken the TOEFL test?
- A: No. The language of instruction at Penn State is English. All international applicants must take and submit scores for the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System), with the exceptions noted below. The minimum acceptable score for the TOEFL is 550 for the paper-based test, 213 for the computer-based test, or a total score of 80 with a 19 on the speaking section for the Internet-based test (iBT). Applicants with iBT speaking scores between 15 and 18 may be considered for provisional admission, which requires an institutional test of English proficiency upon first enrollment and, if necessary, remedial course work. The minimum composite score for the IELTS is 6.5. Graduate programs may have more stringent requirements.
- International applicants are exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS requirement who have received a baccalaureate or a master's degree from a college/university/institution in any of the following: Australia, Belize, British Caribbean and British West Indies, Canada (except Quebec), England, Guyana, Republic of Ireland, Liberia, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Scotland, the United States, and Wales.
- Please note that specific graduate programs may require all international applicants to submit a TOEFL or IELTS score, regardless of their academic background and country of origin.
- Q: Who makes the admission or denial decision, my program or the Graduate School?
- A: Your program will recommend your acceptance to the Graduate School. After final review by the Graduate School, you will receive formal notification of your admission. Questions concerning your admission or denial should be directed to your intended program of study.
- Q: Will the Graduate School or the graduate program contact me if there are questions regarding my application?
- A: Because admission is granted jointly by the Graduate School and the academic program, you may be contacted by either office. Each program has its own procedures for evaluating applications. The programs recommend admission to the Graduate School and the Graduate School, in turn, monitors procedures and minimum requirements and makes the final decision on your admission.
- Q: Do all my materials need to be received by the deadline?
- A: Programs set and enforce deadlines. Please check with your intended program of study. International applicants must submit materials at least four months prior to the semester they plan to enroll; however, the application deadline for some programs is much earlier than this. All applicants should consult their intended program of study for specific requirements.
- Q: I incorrectly reported my test results on the application. How can I get them corrected?
- A: Please contact your intended program of study with this information. Official scores must be sent to Penn State from the appropriate reporting agency (ETS, Pearson Vue, etc.)
- Q: Do I need to calculate my junior/senior GPA?
- A: It is not required to calculate your junior/senior GPA, but if you wish to report it, you may do so.
- Q: Where should I have my test scores sent?
- A: All test scores should be sent to your intended program of study. The institution code for Penn State is 2660.
- Q: Can the application fee be waived?
- The Graduate School does not waive application fees. Your application will not be processed in the Office of Graduate Enrollment Services without receipt of the application fee.
Certificate Program
- Q: I am applying to a certificate program using the graduate nondegree application. Does this guarantee me acceptance to the certificate program?
- A: No. Acceptance as a nondegree student does not guarantee you admission to the certificate program. Each certificate program has its own requirements that are separate from the Graduate School. Therefore, you must contact the program that is offering the certificate.
- Q: How do I indicate that I am applying for a certificate program?
- A: You will need to apply for nondegree admission but also follow the instructions found on the certificate program Web site.
Changing Information to the Application after Submission
- Q: How can I make changes to my application after it has been submitted?
- A: To add or make changes to your reference information, program specific questions, or uploaded documents, you must contact your intended program of study.. For all other changes (semester, major, degree, address, etc.), please contact Graduate Enrollment Services.
Financial Aid
- Q: Where do I obtain information regarding financial aid?
- A: The best places to identify sources of financial support are your intended program of study, the Graduate School Office of Fellowships and Awards, the Office of Graduate Educational Equity, the Office of Student Aid, and resources outside the University. The program is the most important source of funding for the majority of graduate students.
Housing
- Q: Where do I obtain information regarding graduate housing?
- A: Housing information will be sent to all applicants who are recommended for admission. Applicants must be admitted to the Graduate School before their requests for on-campus living accommodations can be processed.
Reference Letters
- Q: How and when are my referees notified to submit a letter of reference?
- A: If your program has elected to use the on-line reference features (refer to your program’s Web site), your referees will be notified via e-mail upon submission of your graduate application.
- A: If your program chose not to use the on-line reference features (refer to your program’s Web site), your referees will not be notified via e-mail and it is your responsibility to contact these individuals.
- Q: Does my program have a specific letter of reference format I need to follow?
- A: You will need to contact your intended program of study.
- Q: My references cannot send a digital file for my letter of reference. How can they get the letter of reference to the program?
- A: You will need to contact your intended program of study. You should provide the mailing address of the program to your referees so they can mail the letter to the program. The program can upload it to your digital portfolio.
- Q: Can I have more than three letters of reference submitted on my behalf?
- A: Any questions regarding the letters of reference should be directed to your intended program of study.
- Q: How do I make corrections to my reference information after I have submitted my application?
- A: You can only make changes to the reference section by contacting your intended program of study.
- Q: I choose to waive my right of access to any reference information but want to change this. What do I need to do?
- A: Please contact the Graduate School’s technical support team
- Q: Can I resend the e-mail request for a letter of reference to one of my referees who did not receive the original request?
- A: Yes, you may resend a request to the referee by selecting the “Check Application Status” feature on the Graduate School Portal and selecting the “Send Reminder” link.
Supplemental Materials
- Q: Is it mandatory to send the financial form along with the application?
- A: You will need to contact your intended program of study. Each program is responsible for determining financial aid availability and eligibility.
- Q: I have used Microsoft Word to create my Statement of Purpose and Resume but cannot upload these forms? I receive an error message.
- A: Documents created with Microsoft Word are problematic when uploaded into the Graduate School’s digital portfolio system. We recommend using a different utility (such as textedit) to save your documents in a different format such as RTF or TXT. At this time, you may not save a Word document as PDF.
Transcripts/Records
- Q: Do I need to send two transcripts/records from all institutions that I have attended?
- A: Yes, you must send two official transcripts/records from all institutions you have attended to your intended program of study.
- Q: To what address should my transcripts be mailed?
- A: Transcripts should be mailed to your intended program of study (please refer to their Web site for the mailing address. Please note: If you are applying to a graduate program at Harrisburg, Great Valley, Behrend or Hershey, you will need to follow the instructions provided on their admissions page.
- Q: I am not an international applicant, but I did study at an institution outside the U.S. My records are not available in the same way that you have described as "official". What can I do?
- A: Your international records will be considered complete and official if:
- each document is an original or a copy that is originally certified by the issuing institution;
- it is a comprehensive record of all study completed, in the form of a transcript or yearly marksheets;
- it includes all degree certificates conferred;
- each document is submitted with an officially certified English translation.
- Q: May I upload a copy of my transcript instead of mailing it?
- A: No. You must send two official transcripts/records to your intended program of study.
- Q: I applied for admission last year and wasn’t accepted and would like to apply again. Do you still have my transcripts?
- A: If you are applying for the same program, please contact your intended program of study to see if they retained your transcripts/records. If you are applying to a different program, you will need to submit new transcripts/records.
- You may also want to submit an updated transcript/record showing grades for recently completed classes.
- Q: How do I know if my transcripts have been received?
- A: You will need to contact your intended program of study.
I cannot find an answer to my question:
» Technical Questions Regarding the Admission Application
I have a question regarding: I forgot my user-id and/or password.
I cannot upload my documents to the application. I used Microsoft Word on Windows to create my RTF/TXT/PDF.
- If you have created your documents in Microsoft Word, this may be the problem. Try copying the data into notepad and saving those files to upload.
I receive an error when logging in that says "browser is stuck in an infinite redirect loop".
- This error occurs when there is a glitch authenticating you to the admissions application.
- Try the following steps:
- Ensure cookies are enabled for your browser.
- Be sure you don't have any pop-up blockers or plug-ins enabled on your browser that could interfere with your login.
- If you still receive the error, try logging in first to Penn State's WebAccess Page: https://webaccess.psu.edu and if successful, navigate to the Graduate Admissions Application: http://www.gradsch.psu.edu/portal/gradappfront.cfm to continue.
I cannot find an answer to my question.