QUESTIONS ABOUT THE JANUARY 15 DEADLINE
GENERAL QUESTIONS
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GENERAL APPLICATION
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT APPLICATION
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE JANUARY 15 DEADLINE
HELP! Today is the deadline and when I look online, my application still shows as incomplete... Will I still be considered for admission in Autumn Quarter?
As long as all materials required for the application are received by 11:59 PST on January 15, then we will consider your application complete. Transcripts or mailed letters of recommendation postmarked by January 15 will be accepted, even if received after the deadline, however please be aware that application review begins very soon after the deadline - it is recommended that mailed materials submitted near the deadline be sent priority or express.
The Student Services Office is open Monday-Friday 8am-3pm PST; it is not open on evenings, weekends,or national holidays. We will update application materials during regular office hours - if you submitted your application and/or materials near the January 15 deadline, please allow 1-3 business days after the deadline for processing. If yo uhave concerns about the status of your materials, please contact the Student Services Office.
How do I know if you have received my transcript(s)?
If you have requested official transcripts from your degree institution(s) but they are not showing up on your profile, that
means we have not yet received them. Transcript receipt is updated at
least once daily. Please contact your degree institution regarding
transcript submission. Transcripts postmarked by January 15 will be accepted, even if received after the deadline, however please be aware that application review begins very soon after the deadline - it is recommended that transcripts submitted near the deadline be sent priority or express.
Transcripts sent via USPS are usually delivered to our office through UW campus mail in the afternoon (usually around 3pm PST).
How do I know if you have received my GRE scores?
ETS generally will automatically report GRE scores within 3 weeks of the exam date, if given the proper institutional code - the
code for UW is 4854 (there is not an independent department code).
If you took the GRE within two years of the January 15 deadline, your scores should be automatically reported by ETS (again, provided you gave
the proper code).
If you took the GRE over two years ago but within five years of the January 15 deadline you will need to arrange for an official score
report to be sent to the department as ETS will only electronically
report scores less than two years old - score reports may be requested
by contacting ETS at 1-800-537-3160 or by email at gre-info@ets.org.
GRE scores from exams taken over five years before the January 15 deadline will not be accepted.
How do I know if you have received my letters of recommendation?
Electronically submitted letters are updated automatically by the application system as they are received. Letters sent by postal mail or email will be updated manually as received.
If you see
that a letter or letters are still showing as not received, you may want
to contact the recommendor and remind them of the January 15 deadline.
Instructions on submitting letters electronically were sent automatically to the recommender via email when you entered their name
in your application - we do not have access to the email or instructions
departmentally so please ask your recommender to refer to the original
email.
We will accept emailed letters of recommendation provided they are sent to the Student Services Coordinator directly from the recommender with applicant's name explicitly
stated in the email, and are formatted as .txt, .doc, or .pdf files. If possible, we would also like the recommender to complete the recommendation form and include it with the letter.
GENERAL QUESTIONS
Do I need to have a degree in Atmospheric Sciences to be eligible to apply to your program?
No - graduate students in the atmospheric sciences come from a variety of disciplines: physics, chemistry, engineering, atmospheric, or geophysical sciences, and applied mathematics. Opportunities are broad enough that each of these backgrounds is valuable for specific subfields within the atmospheric sciences. However, students of atmospheric sciences should have in common a sound background in the fundamentals of physics and applied mathematics and an interest in complex natural phenomena.
What science and math coursework should I take before I apply?
While the graduate program has no specific prerequisites, it is generally recommended that at least two years of mathematics (beginning with calculus and going through differential equations) be taken prior to applying for admission into the program, as well as one and one half years of calculus based physics. Other courses in mathematics, computer science and the various physical sciences would also be appropriate, depending upon a student's interest in a specific aspect of the atmospheric sciences. (A student interested in atmospheric chemistry might, for example, take additional courses in chemistry).
How do I apply for research or teaching assistantships?
All applicants are automatically considered for a research assistantship - there are no additional forms required. Most offers of admission are accomanied by an offer of a research assistantship.
What salary and benefits are offered with an RA or TA in Atmospheric Sciences?
Stipends for beginning Research Assistants in the Dept. of Atmospheric Sciences for the 2009-10 year are approximately $1,799 per month during the academic year, and approximately twice that amount per month for 2.5 summer months, for an annual total of $25,186. Out-of-state tuition is waived and in-state tuition is paid for Research Assistants, as is medical, visual and dental insurance. Students are expected to work half-time, 20 hours per week, on research during the academic year, and fulltime during the summer. RA and TA appointments are governed by a contract between the UW and the GSEAC/UAW - more info may be found here.
Graduate students in Atmospheric Sciences are required to serve as Teaching Assistants for one or two quarters. The first quarter in which a student serves as a TA usually occurs during their second graduate year. The TA stipend will be at the same rate as the student's research assistantship.
How many apply to your program? How many are admitted?
The Dept. of Atmospheric Sciences receives an average of 110-115 applications each year with an average entering class of 10-14 new graduate students each autumn.
Is there a minimum GRE score required? What is the average GRE score for admitted applicants?
There is no minimum requirement for GRE scores. The average GRE scores for applicants admitted in Autumn 2009 were 578 (V), 768 (Q), and 5.0 (A).
Is there a minimum GPA required? What is the average GPA for admitted applicants?
Admission as a graduate student in Atmospheric Sciences is competitive. A minimum undergraduate grade-point average of 3.0 (B averages) is required. The average GPA for applicants admitted in Autumn 2009 was 3.66.
How many grad students do you have?
In Autumn 2009, there were 62 graduate students in the Dept. of Atmospheric Sciences.
How long is the MS program? How long is the PhD program?
Typically, students in our program earn the MS degree in three years and the PhD degree in an additional two to three years. Timing may vary.
Should I apply to the masters (MS) program or the doctoral (PhD) program?
If your goal is to obtain a MS degree only, then you should apply to the masters program. If you intend to pursue a PhD degree, then you should indicate PhD on your application.
All students admitted into the Atmospheric Sciences graduate program are admitted initially into the MS program of study with the option of applying to the PhD program in their third year of study.
How do I make arrangements to visit the department? Is there funding available for me to visit?
Visits to the department are welcome. Please contact the Student Services Coordinator to make arrangements.
Travel funding may be available to some applicants who are offered admission.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GENERAL APPLICATION
How do I apply to your graduate program?
To apply to the graduate program in Atmospheric Sciences, complete the UW Application for Graduate Admission and submit all required materials by the deadline.
What is the application deadline?
The deadline for admission consideration in Autumn 2010 is January 15, 2010.
How much does it cost to apply?
The application fee is $65 USD, subject to change without notice. The fee is paid online using MasterCard or Visa credit or debit cards.
This fee is regulated and collected by the UW Graduate School and is paid prior to finalizing submission of the online application. Questions about fee waivers should be directed to Graduate School Admissions.
May I apply for admission in winter or spring quarters?
Autumn quarter is the only quarter for which we accept applications for admission.
Is an official transcript required for the application? An unofficial transcript?
Yes, we require one (1) official copy of transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended, mailed directly to the Dept. of Atmospheric Sciences. Each transcript must be received in an envelope sealed by the institution in order to be considered official.
Do not send more than one copy of your transcripts - all duplicate copies will be discarded. If you need to send an updated copy of your transcript(s), please notify the Student Services Coordinator prior to sending.
We do not require an unofficial transcript, however if you are applying close to the January 15 deadline, it is a good idea to provide us with an unofficial copy so that we have something to review in case your official transcript doesn't arrive in time. You can upload a pdf of your unofficial transcript on the application website.
Where do I send my official transcript?
Contact information and mailing addresses for application materials may be found here.
How will I know when my application materials have been received?
As we receive your application materials, we will update your online application profile, created once you have submitted the online application.
Your application will not appear in our departmental queue until you click the submit button - until that time, we are not able to check on receipt of any materials, including transcripts and exam scores. Please wait to contact our office with questions about receipt of materials until after you have submitted your application and checked your online profile for updates. NOTE: As receipt of official transcripts is entered byhand, please allow 3-5 days after submitting your application before checking transcript status. .
How do I submit my GRE scores?
The Department requires that all applicants take the Aptitude Test portion of the Graduate Record Examination. Information concerning the GRE may be obtained by going to: http://www.gre.org. To submit GRE scores, use institutional code 4854 - there is no independent department code.
What is the deadline for submitting my official GRE scores?
The deadline for all application materials for Autumn 2010, including officially reported GRE scores, is January 15, 2010. Because it typically takes three or more weeks for ETS to report official scores, we strongly recommend that you take the exam by mid-December 2009 at the latest.
I took the GRE more than two years ago - may I still apply using these scores?
Yes, we will accept GRE scores taken up to five years prior to the application deadline however ETS will only electronically report scores less than two years old. For exam scores that are not reported electronically by ETS we require an official ETS score report - previous score reports may be requested by contacting ETS at 1-800-537-3160 or by email at gre-info@ets.org. Reports should be mailed directly to the Dept. of Atmospheric Sciences.
How do I make a change to my online application once I have clicked the "submit" button?
Some changes - such as contact information - may be made via your application profile. Contact Graduate Program Admissions to request any changes that you are not able to make yourself in your application profile.
We will accept updated statements of interest or resumes via email. Please do not send any materials that are not specifically requested in the application checklist.
When will I hear a decision?
Application review begins after the January 15 deadline. Decisions are sent out beginning in late January all the way through late March/early April.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT APPLICATION
What is the application deadline for international applicants?
We strongly recommend that international applicants submit applications by November 1 to allow additional processing time however international applicants who submit a complete application by the January 15 deadline will receive full consideration for admission.
Is there funding available to international applicants? What kind of funding and how do I apply?
All applicants, regardless of citizenship, are automatically considered for a research assistantship - there are no additional forms required. Most offers of admission are accomanied by an offer of a research assistantship. More information on funding may be found here.
Where do I access the required financial forms?
The UW Graduate School may require additional forms or information from international applicants. Click here to see a list of additional required application materials, to be submitted directly to the Graduate School. Forms will be made available to you once you have submitted your application. Questions about these forms should be directed to the UW Graduate School.
How many international applicants apply to your program? How many are admitted?
In a typical year, 30% of our applicants are residents of other countries besides the United States. Approximately 18% of admission offers go to international applicants.
What is the minimum score required on English proficiency exams (TOEFL, IELTS)?
Information on English proficiency may be found here. Questions regarding English proficiency may be directed to Graduate Admissions.
Am I required to take an English proficiency exam in order to be eligible for admission?
Information on demonstrating English proficiency may be found here. Questions regarding English proficiency may be directed to Graduate Admissions.
What is the department's mailing address? What is the mailing address of the Graduate School's Office of Admissions?
Contact information and mailing addresses for application materials may be found here.
May I send all required departmental materials and all required Graduate School materials in the same envelope?
It is strongly recommended that you follow the instructions on the application and send required materials directly to the relevant office(s). Sending Graduate School materials to the department under the same cover may result in a delay in processing your application - if you absolutely must mail all materials together in one package, then please separate materials into envelopes clearly labelled with the name and address of the relevant office(s).
