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Graduate School Application Information

Application procedure for M.S. or Ph.D. in integrative biology (formerly zoology)

Graduate School Application Information

Application procedure for M.S. or Ph.D. in integrative biology (formerly zoology)

Contact potential mentors

Looking for a faculty mentor? You can start by emailing faculty whose research interests are similar to yours. Give a brief background of your coursework and research experience. Express your interest in joining their lab. They should be able to let you know if they anticipate accepting a graduate student next year. To help narrow your search, focus on those listed in our directory as Research Active Faculty. Establishing contact with potential mentors is not required, but is highly encouraged.

Review our directory of research active faculty

Application deadline

Our deadline is December 1 for admission the following fall term. (The online application will open September 20, 2023 and close at 11:59 p.m. PST on Dec. 1, 2023.) We only accept students to begin during fall term.

GRE scores

GRE (Graduate Record Examination) general exam scores are optional for application to Integrative Biology. If submitting GRE scores, OSU's code is 4586. No departmental code is required.

GPA

Oregon State University requires a 3.0 or better GPA for graduate school. Students accepted into our program often have a GPA of 3.5 or better.

Transcripts

Unofficial transcripts may be uploaded for initial review of applications. Applicants who are accepted must submit official transcripts from all post-secondary work completed. (An "unofficial transcript" is a photocopy of an official transcript and includes a transcript key. A web-generated transcript isn't an "unofficial transcript" and cannot be used for review or admission purposes.)

The Graduate School accepts electronic transcripts from Parchment, E-Scrip Safe, and National Clearinghouse. If sending transcripts through one of these services, please select Oregon State University--Graduate Admissions as the recipient.

Official paper transcripts can be sent by postal mail to:
Graduate School
Oregon State University
2900 SW Jefferson Way
Corvallis OR 97331-2121

Statements

Academic and Research Statement: Provide a statement of academic and career objectives. Please be as specific as possible about your research interests and how they align with those of the potential mentors you listed above. You should address your motivations for graduate study and briefly explain your overall preparation to enter your chosen field. Include description of undergraduate research projects or other experiences that have influenced your decision to pursue graduate school and your intended field.

Personal Statement: Reflect upon how your life experiences have prepared you to successfully complete your graduate studies. Specific examples might include times when you demonstrated leadership, teamwork, resilience, perseverance, and/or growth. OSU values diversity, equity, and inclusion. How do you think you would contribute as a member of the graduate student body and the Integrative Biology community? Do you have any extenuating circumstances that have affected past educational opportunities or your ability to be successful in them? If so, please describe to the extent you are comfortable doing so.

Letters of recommendation

Three letters of recommendation are required. A fourth one is optional. These should be from faculty members whose course(s) you’ve taken or in whose lab you’ve worked. You may have a letter from a supervisor if you worked in a relevant field. The application system will send requests to your referees for online submission of letters.

Curriculum vitae

Submitting your CV is required.

Supporting materials

It is optional to submit other information, documents or publications that support your application.

International applicants

International applicants will also need to submit TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo scores. For specific requirements, please refer to the Graduate School's admissions website.

Apply for fellowships

Apply for fellowships, such as those offered by the National Science Foundation. Investigate all relevant fellowships that are available. Your college or university should have a central clearinghouse for this information. If you are awarded a fellowship, it’s more likely you’ll be accepted into a graduate school of your choice. This is because a fellow is likely to be a good student and will require less financial support from the university.

View a slide presentation by the Graduate School on applying for an NSF-GRFP, as well as access applicant resources.

Visit Oregon State University & meet potential mentors

Contact your potential mentors to arrange your visit. Meeting graduate students in those labs is also helpful. You may also wish to meet with the Graduate Coordinator to learn more about the application process. Typically, the best time to visit in terms of the recruiting & application cycle is October through early January. Prepare for your visit by reading recent publications by the faculty member(s) & becoming familiar with their research. Make a list of questions to ask while you’re here. Additionally, IB invites top applicants to a recruitment day in mid-February.

Connect with our graduate admissions coordinator

Traci Durrell-Khalife
durrellt@science.oregonstate.edu
541-737-5335