Applying for graduate school is a four-step process:

1. Make contact with faculty member(s) whose research interests you
2. Review admission requirements
3. Submit required application materials to the Department Head
4. Submit required application materials to the Graduate College

1. Make contact with faculty member(s)
In order to be accepted into the Zoology Graduate Program, you must have a faculty member in the department who accepts you into their lab.  This is necessary to ensure that there will be space in the department for you and that there will be at least one faculty member who will take responsibility for your research training.  Therefore, it is critical that you identify one or more faculty members with whom you share research interests and that you make contact with them directly to introduce yourself and to inquire if they will be accepting new students.  If you have not already done so, be sure to examine the research interests of (and contact information for) Zoology Faculty here.

2.  Review admission requirements
1. Academic GPA: a GPA of 3.00 or better in all undergraduate coursework.
2. GRE scores: required minimum scores of 150 on Verbal Reasoning (scale 130-170), 150 on Quantitative Reasoning (scale 130-170), and 4.5 on Analytical Writing (scale 0-6.0).
3. Description of preparation and accomplishments (letter of intent, research and teaching experience, publications, presentations, honors, awards, letters of recommendation; see below for details) indicating promise in graduate work.

Applicants failing to meet the minimum GPA or failing to meet more than one of the minimum scores for the GRE may be admitted on probationary status. Students on probation must obtain an overall GPA of 3.0 or better and earn no less than a B in each course during their first 9-12 hours or they will be dismissed from the graduate program.

3. Submit required application materials to the Department Head
Submit the following materials to:

Head, Department of Zoology
501 Life Sciences West
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK 74078 USA

Letter of Intent: Submit a letter requesting admission into the Graduate Program in the Department of Zoology. The letter of intent should specify your area of specialization/interest, outline your qualifications and experience in this area and associated career goals, and indicate whether you wish to be considered for a teaching assistantship, and if so, describe any previous teaching experience. You should also indicate with what faculty you have been in contact and list up to three faculty members in order of your preference as your possible advisor.

Curriculum Vitae: Submit your Curriculum Vitae, which gives your contact information, summarizes your educational and employment history, and lists honors and awards, teaching and research experience, grants or scholarships, professional presentations and publications, and any other professional accomplishments or qualifications.

Teaching Assistantship Application: Most students are supported financially through teaching assistantships, for which students typically teach laboratory sections of the courses offered in Zoology. Details about teaching assistantships can be found here.  In order to be considered, submit the application found here.

Letters of Recommendation: Have at least three individuals familiar with your academic or professional performance write letters of recommendation on your behalf. These individuals should mail their letters directly to the Department Head.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores: GRE scores are required prior to admission. Application forms may be obtained from the Educational Testing Service website or from most university testing services

4.  Submit required application materials to the Graduate College
Application for Graduate Admission:  Instructions and materials for this component of the application can be found here.

Student Application Deadlines: The deadline for receiving all application materials for admission in the fall semester is 1 February. Applicants received after the deadlines can still be considered for acceptance, and research and teaching assistantships if available, however submission of all materials prior to deadlines will guarantee that the applicant will be considered for available assistantships.  OSU belongs to a large consortium of universities who have agreed that applicants who are accepted and offered financial aid do not have to make a final decision on accepting that financial aid until 15 April.  We do not have an application deadline for January admission.  Most students are admitted for an August start.  Funding via TA support is very limited for those entering our program in January.