Application Checklist

Application Process

Our application process is completed using the online application system. Please note that your application will not be complete without submitting an application fee.

Personal Statements

Statement #1, your Personal Statement, is required and should describe your research interests, career goals, professional and research experience, and other relevant background information. It should not exceed two single-sided pages. The document can be uploaded to “Personal Statement” button in the online application.

Statement #2, Diversity Statement, is also required. It should identify the distinctive qualities, characteristics, and life experiences you would contribute to your graduate program and to the education of fellow students at the University of Minnesota. You may wish to include examples that address your contribution to the diversity of the student body and illustrate your motivation to succeed by setting high standards for accomplishing intellectual and other goals, overcoming obstacles to achievement, and/or helping others gain access to the resources necessary for success.

A Description of Research and Writing Samples are not required.

If you wish to address any extenuating circumstances (e.g., below 3.5 cumulative grade point average) you can use the “Extenuating Circumstances” upload button under this same section.

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation are required and should be submitted using the online application system under the “Recommendations” section. Select people who are well-acquainted with your academic work and research experience and/or your professional experience. Formal letters submitted on letterhead as PDF attachments are preferred. Please note that you do not need to wait for your recommendation providers to submit their recommendations before completing the rest of the online application. You can also check the status of your recommendation providers after you submit your application. For more information on status updates, please see the Graduate School’s status check page.

Transcripts

Unofficial transcripts or academic records should be uploaded directly to the online application. International students should upload an English translation if the transcript is not in English. Please do not mail in paper copies of your transcripts—there is no need for official transcripts or academic records for initial review. If you are admitted, the University will request official copies of your transcripts.

English Language Proficiency Exam

Students whose native language is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB). Preference in admission will be given to students who score 100 or above, with a writing score of 24 or better and a reading score of 22 or better, on the TOEFL internet exam, 7.0 or above on the IELTS, or 84 or above on the MELAB.  This requirement is waived for applicants who have completed one academic year of study at an American (or other English-speaking) university.

Some applicants may be required to enroll in English as a Second Language or in composition courses during their first year in the graduate program. 

Optional Materials

Upload your publications and articles into the "Other Information" portion on the Graduate Program Supplementary Information section of the online application.