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Information for Prospective Students

The Application Process

Please note the following key steps in the application process.

Please submit a formal application for admission to the ISU Graduate College, including the appropriate fee, to the ISU Office of Admissions. This may be done via the following Web pages.

For US citizens, permanent residents, refugees or political asylees:
http://www.admissions.iastate.edu/apply/index.php?type=us_grad

For International applicants:
http://www.admissions.iastate.edu/apply/index.php?type=intl_grad

Official copies of transcripts from all previous undergraduate and graduate course work must also be sent to the Office of Admissions.

Please submit a statement of research interest in the section provided in the on-line Graduate College application. In your statement, please describe your purpose in pursuing graduate study, your specific research interests, your preference for a faculty advisor (if known), and any other information that you feel is relevant to your application.

Please submit a professional CV or resume directly to the EEB Program Office. E-mail transmission is preferred via eeboffice@iastate.edu.

All applicants must submit a score report from the GRE General Test. No minimum scores are required for admission but we recommend that applicants aim to score in the upper 50th percentile in all test sections in order to be competitive. An official score report must be sent from ETS to Iowa State (institution code 6306, department code 0207 or 0299). In order to be considered valid, GRE scores must be from a test taken within 5 years of the year in which the applicant is seeking admission.

International students, whose native language is not English or who have not completed a university degree in a country where English is the official language, must submit a score report from the TOEFL or IELTS. The minimum TOEFL score required by the ISU Graduate College for admission is 530 (PBT) or 197 (CBT) or 79 (IBT); the minimum IELTS score is 6.0. An official score report must be sent from ETS or the IELTS testing center to Iowa State.

Please submit three letters of recommendation. Letters may be submitted in one of two ways:
- On line when you complete the on-line Graduate College application. Enter the e-mail addresses of three referees and the system will prompt them to complete an electronic letter that will be transmitted to ISU and to EEB.
- On paper, using either the Graduate College template or on the letterhead of the referee's institution. In this case, please send the letters directly to the EEB Program Office. Letters may be assembled in sealed envelopes and sent by the applicant or may be sent directly by referees.

Contact Information for the EEB Program Office

Please address all correspondence to:

Charles R. Sauer
Program Coordinator
EEB Program Office
1126L Agronomy Hall
Iowa State University
Ames, Iowa 50011-1010

tel: 515.294.6518
fax: 515.294.8146
e-mail: eeboffice@iastate.edu

How We Evaluate Your Application

All applications are reviewed on a competitive basis, considering the credentials of all other applicants for a given term. For more information about our application review process, please see the following Web page.

http://www.grad-college.iastate.edu/EEB/pros_stud/evaluation.html

When to Apply

The vast majority of admissions to EEB are for the fall term, which begins in August at Iowa State.

Applications may be submitted at any time; however, the application deadline for full consideration for competitively awarded fellowships, scholarships, and assistantships for the Fall 2009 term is 2 January 2009.

Please be advised that most competitively awarded funds are timed to the fall admission cycle, meaning that applicants seeking entry in the fall enjoy some advantage as concerns the number of EEB and ISU awards for which they may be considered. Financial support that originates from faculty research grants, departments, and other sources tends to be more flexible and may be awarded to students beginning study in any term.

If you wish to apply for entry to the program in the Spring term (begins in January) or Summer term (begins in May), please contact us to discuss your plans. All questions about timing applications to our admissions cycle should be directed to the EEB program coordinator.

Finding a Faculty Advisor

The EEB Program requires new students to be matched with a faculty advisor in order to be admitted. We encourage you to browse our faculty Web directory, which lists the research interest of each individual, and advise us of your preference for a specific advisor. You are welcome, but not obligated, to make direct contact with individual faculty to discuss your interests. Please see the following link to view the directory.

http://www.grad-college.iastate.edu/EEB/faculty/research.html

If you would like to visit the ISU campus in person to meet with prospective faculty advisors, see our facilities, and visit with current graduate students, please contact the EEB program coordinator. We would be happy to get to know you and share more information about our program.

Financial Support

As much as possible, we try to provide financial support packages for every student admitted. Available types of support include fellowships, research assistantships, and teaching assistantships. For more detailed information, please see the following Web page.

http://www.grad-college.iastate.edu/EEB/support.html

Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a US veteran.

Inquiries about this policy may be made to the Director of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, 3680 Beardshear Hall, telephone 515.294.7612.