PS Personal statement of purpose – is a very important component of the application. The essay (2 pages) should clearly identify your interests, explain why you are pursuing a graduate degree, and why you feel UConn’s Oceanography field of study is best suited for pursuit of your career goals. Make certain you target your essay to appropriate faculty members with whom you are interested in working. Your essay should also highlight your motivation for doing graduate work, any relevant training or professional and research experiences you have had, and academic honors, scholarships, etc. The objective is to provide as complete a picture of you as an individual as possible, including and stressing information that goes beyond just numbers and scores. Detailed and well thought-out comments are much more valuable than vague generalizations. GPA Applicants are expected to have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a science or engineering field, or a bachelor’s degree and a background including at least one year of college-level physics, biology, and chemistry as well as math through calculus, with a minimum 3.0 GPA in the combined science courses. Admission is very competitive and successful applicants to Marine Sciences typically have GPAs considerably higher than the minimum, usually greater than 3.5 in the last four academic semesters. CV In addition to all Graduate School required documents, the Department of Marine Sciences also requires a personal statement of purpose, three letters of recommendation, and GRE scores. A resume or CV is helpful, but optional. Fee Complete and submit your online application. You will be asked to provide a valid credit card for payment of the application fee ($75) when you submit your application. RL Three letters of recommendation – recommenders should be selected carefully. When possible, have at least one letter from someone who has seen you work in a field or laboratory research atmosphere (e.g., an advisor for an undergraduate research project). Individuals providing a letter of reference should provide candid evaluations of your scientific aptitude, training, motivation, teaching talent, and ability to express yourself orally and in technical writing. Transcript Give them a short history of your education, research interests, and career goals. You may also wish to attach transcripts or a resume or CV in an email.