General Guidelines | How to Apply |  GRE and TOEFL Scores | How Admissions Decisions Are Made

General Guidelines

The most critical step of the admission process is finding a major advisor who wants to accept you as a student. We do not offer blanket admissions into the program; a Horticulture faculty member must first agree to serve as a Graduate Mentor before the student is accepted. Prospective students are strongly encouraged to contact potential faculty with similar research interests to learn about available graduate research opportunities and funding prior to applying to the graduate program.

How to Apply

A complete application packet includes the following:

1. An application form
    
2. A 1-2 page statement that outlines your research and professional interests as well as your interest in the OSU Horticulture Graduate Program. Include information on specific major advisors that you would like to work with, or with whom you have corresponded.
   
   
3. Official transcripts of all previous academic coursework
    
4. GRE scores
   
   
5. Three letters of reference
   
   
6. International students: TOEFL scores
   

By far the most efficient way of submitting the application packet is through the online application portal administered by the OSU Graduate School. Online submission facilitates sharing your application among potential advisors and checking to ensure that all your application materials (such as letters of recommendation) have arrived. Follow the submission guidelines and instructions outlined on the graduate school website. There is a $60 application fee. If you have difficulty accessing the internet or do not have a credit card to pay the fee contact the graduate school:

Oregon State University
Graduate School
300 Kerr Administration Building
Corvallis, Oregon 9733
graduate.admissions@oregonstate.edu


Informal Application
We understand that it is often difficult to identify potential major advisors and to ascertain the availability of research opportunities prior to submitting application materials. Indeed, many faculty will want to see you application file before committing to an offer. You may wish to send you application materials directly to the Horticulture department prior to submitting your formal application with the graduate school. In this case you should send all of the above materials with the exception of the application form and fee to:

Barb Reed
Crop and Soil Science
Oregon State University
109 Crop Science Bldg
Corvallis, OR 97331-3002
Or via email: barbara.j.reed@oregonstate.edu

Supplemental information
Applicants are invited to submit optional supplemental information that may assist in evaluating their application. These could include a curriculum vitae/resumé or reprints of publications. You can submit these documents as part of an online application through the graduate school or an informal application directly to Horticulture.

Submission Dates
We accept applications at anytime of the year, and accepted students can enroll during any academic term. However, we highly recommend that you start the application process early. The following are suggested guidelines of when to apply:

The Department of Horticulture requires that graduate applicants submit scores of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test. Applicants are encouraged to also submit scores for the GRE Biology Test. GRE tests are given regularly at many colleges and universities. GRE test scores are especially helpful in evaluating foreign applicants. For the new Internet-based TOEFL, students must have a total score of 80 or higher, and meet or exceed the minimum score of 18 in all four categories (reading, listening, speaking and writing) to be eligible for full admission. A minimum score of 7.0 on the IELTS may be used as an alternative to the TOEFL test.

The university requires that foreign applicants, whose native language is not English, demonstrate proficiency in English [a minimum TOEFL score of 550 (written test) or 213 (computer-based test)].

The ETS Institution Code for Oregon State University is 4586. The Major Code for Horticulture is 1450

How Admissions Decisions Are Made

1. After receiving all of the application materials from the Graduate School (e.g. all transcripts, application forms, statement of objectives, reference letters, GRE scores, and TOEFL score, if applicable), the department's Graduate Admissions Committee reviews the applicant's file and evaluates the transcripts. If the applicant meets the minimum scholastic standards (i.e. a GPA of at least 3.00 on the last 90 hours of graded undergraduate work plus all work completed thereafter) the file is offered for review to graduate faculty whose programs match the interests of the applicant. Each indicates whether he/she is willing to serve as the applicant's major professor. An applicant is not accepted unless a major professor is identified.
   
   
2. Based on this review, the department transmits its recommendations to the Graduate School. Accepted applicants are encouraged to contact faculty members who have indicated a willingness to serve as their major professor. Others are informed of the reason their request for admission was rejected. The department does not have an application deadline; files are reviewed as they are received. Students may begin their graduate studies in the Fall, Winter or Spring.
   
   
3. The Graduate School sends the applicant official notification of acceptance or rejection. To receive an official notification of acceptance, applicants from foreign countries must provide evidence that they have adequate funds for the proposed program of study (see Certification of Finances form). If a graduate faculty member indicates that he/she intends to provide the applicant with a Graduate Assistantship, the value of the annual assistantship stipend and accompanying tuition waiver can be included in the applicant's evidence of adequate funds.