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Admissions

Admission Procedures

The Admissions Office screens candidates to ensure that the minimum standards of the University are met. The University requires a four-year baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, and a combined GPA of 3.00 on the last 90 credit hours of graded undergraduate work on the first baccalaureate degree plus all work completed thereafter; or, a four-year baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university and a 45-quarter credit hour graduate degree from an accredited university.

All application materials sent to the Office of Admissions will be passed on to the Department. The Graduate Admissions Coordinator screens applications for satisfaction of the Departmental minimum standards and asks a panel of faculty members in the area(s) of the applicant’s interests for a detailed review of all materials. 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 after applications are completed. Applicants occasionally confuse Letters of Acceptance from the Department, or correspondence from faculty, as equivalent to admission. The "Notice of Admission" issued solely by the Office of Admissions, Oregon State University, 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 has applied.

Application Procedures
Persons seeking admission to any of the Graduate programs of the Department should follow these instructions. Applicants must submit the following to:

Office of Admissions and Orientation
Oregon State University
104 Kerr Administration Building
Corvallis, OR  97331-2106 

1. Original and two copies of the paper application form or one electronic version of the graduate application (available at: http://oregonstate.edu/admissions/index.html). MAIS applicants must submit an original and five copies. Note: Forest Resources accepts MAIS applicants as a minor department only. In section 10 of the application (degree sought), the 4-digit academic major code for the Department of Forest Resources is 3880.
2. A $50 check or money order in U.S. dollars, payable to Oregon State University. This is a non-refundable application fee. Online applications must be paid by credit card. This fee is subject to change without notice.
3. Three photocopies of all unofficial transcripts of previous academic work, undergraduate and graduate or one sealed official transcript from each institution. MAIS applicants must submit 6 copies of all transcripts. Transcripts must show:
   
   
   1. the last 90 quarter credits (60 semester credits), of graded course work in the first baccalaureate degree; and
   2. all course work completed after the first baccalaureate degree
   We suggest that one copy of unofficial transcripts be sent directly to the department.
   
   International applicants must provide a certified English translation of their academic transcripts
   
   If admitted, two official transcripts from the above institutions must be received by the Office of Admissions prior to the student’s second term of registration.
4. Three letters of professional reference. References should be from instructors in courses related to your major, employers, or others who can critically evaluate your potential as a graduate student in Forest Resources. An applicant with a Master's degree should include a letter from his/her major professor. These letters should be submitted directly to the Forest Resources Department, not to Admissions.
5. Letter or statement of your objectives for graduate study and particular fields of interest in the Department of Forest Resources. Note: Please be as specific as possible. Limit your statement to one or two pages. The Graduate Admissions Committee relies heavily on your letter to determine the appropriate faculty reviewers for your application.
6. Official score from the general test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). All applicants (except MAIS Degree) must do this. No "advanced test" scores are required. Please submit scores directly to Admissions. The OSU institution code is R4586.
7. International Students Only:
   For consideration of your application, it would be best to collect and mail all application materials in one package to University Admissions. If that is not possible, please have letters of recommendation sent directly to the Forest Resources Department.
   Sending materials by FAX is not acceptable.
   
   
   1. Photocopy of TOEFL score with a minimum score of 550 (paper), 213 (computer), or 80 (iBT). Note: IELTS may be substiuted for TOEFL (see below). TOEFL scores must be no more than 2 years old at the time of registration. If the applicant is admitted, official TOEFL scores must be received by the Graduate Admissions Office prior to the start of the first term of enrollment. The TOEFL requirement is waived for students receiving a degree from a U.S. university.
   2. 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 Certificate form is available from the Office of Admissions.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
Information regarding the times, locations, and administration of the GRE is available from the World Wide Web at http://www.gre.org/ or from:  

Or

Phone: (510) 873-8100 (Oakland, California), Fax: (609) 771-7906

Note: When indicating recipients of scores on your GRE registration form, please specify the Oregon State University institution code (R4586) to ensure that we receive your scores. Take the GRE far enough in advance so your scores will reach the University before application deadlines.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)/International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
International applicants must present proof of proficiency in English by submitting acceptable results (a minimum score of 550 (paper), 213 (computer), 80 (iBT) on the TOEFL or a score of 7.0 or higher on the IELTS. TOEFL or IELTS is required of all applicants whose first language is not English, including those transferring from English-speaking colleges and universities or entering from a U.S. high school. TOEFL/IELTS is not required for applicants who are citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. or who have earned Bachelor's or advanced degrees from a U.S. university. Scores more than 2 years old at the time you plan to enroll will not be accepted.

International students may be required to do a test of spoken English prior to enrollment. 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.

Application Deadlines
We encourage you to apply early and to follow the application procedures carefully. Forest Resources application deadlines are the same as the Oregon State University deadlines.

Note: Send your application materials as early as possible; the Admissions Office is very busy in January and may not be able to forward necessary documents to the Forest Resources office in a timely manner. You must be admitted to the Department to be considered for fellowships, so it is highly recommended that you send application materials in early December or before.

Students within the U.S.: Applications must be received by the Office of Admissions absolutely no later than 45 days prior to the first day of classes. Students are advised to submit all materials as early as possible.

International Students Outside the U.S. : To allow adequate time for students to obtain Visas and make travel arrangements, the following deadlines have been established for International applicants applying from foreign addresses:

April 1	for Fall Term
July 1	for Winter Term
October 1	for Spring Term
January 1	for Summer Term

Delayed Enrollement
Candidates who have been admitted but fail to enroll and who wish to be considered for a subsequent academic year (within one year of the original application), must reactivate their application through the Office of Admissions.

Continuous Enrollment
All graduate students are required to register for a minimum of 3 credits each term with the exception of summer unless using university services during that time. An official, limited Leave of Absence can be granted for those with good cause. Those who do not register for the required minimum must file an Application for Graduate Readmission, which must be approved by the student's Major Professor, Department/Program Chair, and Graduate Dean and acceptance is not guaranteed. If approved, for the first term of reinstatement, the student must register for a minimum of 3 graduate credits for each term of unauthorized break.

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