PS A separate Personal or Academic Statement: Please place this information where indicated on the application form. The academic statement should provide a summary of your academic background, why you want to study in our program, and your future professional plans. Limit your statement to 500-700 words. CV A résumé (CV) or writing sample: These are not required for admission to Fee Pay the $75 nonrefundable application fee (drawn on U.S. funds) using Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express or an electronic check. RL Click on the “Letters of Recommendation” to enter the email addresses of individuals who have agreed to provide letters of recommendation for you. a. These letters should be from people who are able to assess your qualifications to undertake graduate level work. Most helpful are letters from individuals who are well acquainted with your previous academic work. Least helpful are letters from personal acquaintances. One letter may be from someone who can address your related professional experience. Recommenders should use the letterhead of the academic institution or company with which they are affiliated; no special form is required. Your letter writers will receive an email message directing them to the online system to upload their letters. b. If your letter writers prefer to send a letter by regular mail or by email attachment, they may send it to the address shown at the bottom of this document. Transcript Official Transcripts and Diplomas: a. Transcripts and diplomas (original language) are considered official if they are provided in a sealed envelope from the institution with the institution’s name on the envelope. The envelope and its contents are reviewed by the Office of Admissions at MSU. b. Individuals who apply before completing their degrees must submit an official transcript of courses completed by the time of the application. An official final transcript and diploma will be required after the degree has been awarded. c. An English translation of the transcript and diploma must also be provided. d. Submit transcripts and diplomas directly to Dr. Debra M. Hardison, 619 Red Cedar Road, Wells Hall Room B256, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. APPLICANTS FROM CHINESE UNIVERSITIES (this does not apply to universities in Hong Kong, Taiwan, or Macau): a. During the application process: At the time of application to MSU, individuals from Chinese universities must arrange to have official copies of ALL work completed (undergraduate and, if applicable, graduate transcripts and degrees), in both Chinese and English, sent by their Chinese institutions to Dr. Debra M. Hardison, 619 Red Cedar Road, Wells Hall Room B256, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. Some Chinese universities issue one transcript with both languages on it; others issue two separate documents. Either way is acceptable. A diploma-style document called a “graduation certificate” does not constitute proof that the bachelor’s degree has been conferred and does not meet our proof of degree requirement. If the student’s degree has been conferred, an official copy of that degree (a diploma-style document) in both Chinese and English must be submitted. b. After admission: After applicants who have earned degrees from universities in China have been admitted to Michigan State University, they will be required to submit a verification report (English version) through the China Academic Degrees and Graduate Education Development Center (CDGDC) for their final bachelor degree transcripts (大學(xué)成績(jī)單) and bachelor degree (本科學(xué)位證書(shū)). These applicants will receive an email message from the Office of Admissions with details on submitting the reports. NOTE: All verification reports need to be sent to the MSU Office of Admissions directly by CDGDC. Documents ordered through WES are not acceptable.