PS The statement of purpose. The statement of purpose should describe the student’s motivation for pursuing graduate studies and the student’s background. Applications to a research degree should identify scientific areas of interest in the statement. The areas of research interest for each faculty member are available on the faculty web pages. GPA You must submit all applicable, official transcripts (undergraduate & graduate). Your transcript(s) must meet the following criteria: A cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 for your entire undergraduate career or A grade-point average of at least 3.0 for your last two undergraduate years or Exceptional work in your entire final undergraduate year (3.5 or better) Graduate work with a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 or better even if the undergraduate grade-point average meets the above criteria. 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 This should be meaningfully addressed in the personal letter; at least one of the required letters of recommendation should speak to these skills. Transcript Upload transcripts from the school where you received your bachelor’s degree and any courses taken beyond regardless of whether a degree was received. Failure to upload transcripts from all educational institutions, regardless of whether or not a degree was received, may be grounds for cancellation of admission. Official transcripts become the property of the University. The most common reason for delayed consideration of applications is failure to upload all required transcripts. Please be sure to include all of your transcripts with your application. If you attended an international university and have one set of original documents or diploma, you can mail them to The Graduate School and we will make a copy and return the original document(s) to you. Please attach an International Transcripts Cover Sheet.pdf with your submission. If you submitted these documents when applying for admission to a university in the US which you currently attend, we will accept copies from the registrar or graduate school if they certify that these documents from your prior university were made from the originals. Your admission will not be finalized until all official transcripts, mark sheets, degree certificates or diplomas are received by The Graduate School. Please note: All official transcripts will be required at the time an offer of admission is given. Scanned, faxed or notarized copies will not be considered as official.