Deadline: December 10, 2008

All applications for Graduate Studies at Cornell are on-line and are through the Cornell Graduate School. The Graduate Field of Plant Biology offers Ph.D. level training in many areas of plant biology. Applicants are encouraged to become familiar with different concentrations/research topics and laboratories within the Field of Plant Biology. Applicants are also encouraged to communicate directly with prospective faculty with whom they may wish to work, and to indicate such correspondence on the application form. Each applicant must indicate a preference for one of these concentrations on the Graduate School Application form; this selection does not commit you to a particular research area, but it is used as an indication of your present interests.

Application Requirements

To matriculate in the Graduate School, you must have received a baccalaureate degree or, for students with foreign credentials, the equivalent from a college or university of recognized standing. A list of international degree equivalencies can be found in the International student qualifications section. The minimum requirements for admission to the Graduate Field of Plant Biology are:

• three recommendation letters and
• GRE general test

A GRE subject test in Biology or Biochemistry is recommended but not required. Applicants who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents are required to pass the TOEFL test (Test of English as a Foreign Language) with a minimum score of 610 for the paper-based (pBT) or a minimum score of 253 for a computer-based test (cBT). Minimum scores for the new internet-based test (iBT) will be determined by the graduate school.

Selection process and Admission

A few days after the application deadline, the Cornell Graduate school transfers all applications to the admission committee for the Graduate Field of Plant Biology for evaluation. Within reasonable geographic limits, candidates who are under serious consideration for admission will be contacted in February and invited to visit the Cornell campus and meet faculty members and current graduate students. These visits typically occur during weekends in February. Offers are sent out by the end of March and prospective students make their decisions by April 15.

For questions, contact the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) for the Field of Plant Biology, Dr. Klaas van Wijk (+1-607-255-3664, E-mail: kv35@cornell.edu). For administrative matters, please contact the Graduate Field Assistant, Karin Jantz at (+1-607-255-2131 or E-mail: kpg2@cornell.edu).

Financial Support

All students admitted to the program are guaranteed five years of financial support. First-year students are funded by fellowships from Cornell University or other sources (e.g. NSF). Support in subsequent years is through funding obtained by individual faculty. Please note that your graduate school application is also your financial aid application. No additional forms are required. Simply check the box that indicates your desire to be considered for financial aid or indicate the type of financial support (non-Cornell Fellowships) that you have already been awarded.