Frequently Asked Admission QuestionsWhat items are necessary to complete my admission application file? Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores: Our Graduate Admissions and Awards Committee would like to see GRE scores at or above the 70th percentile in the quantitative and analytical sections for admission to either the masters or doctoral program. However, to be competitive for admission to the doctoral program and for a Graduate Teaching Fellowship, you should have GRE scores at or above the 80th percentile. The mean general test quantitative score has been in the 88th percentile for recently admitted doctoral students and in the 84th percentile for recently admitted masters students. For the analytical portion of the general test, average scores have been in the 59th percentile for doctoral admissions and the 41st percentile for masters admissions. The code to select to have your GRE scores sent to the University of Oregon is 4846 and to the Department of Economics is 1801. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score: If you are an international student applying to either the masters or doctoral program and have not received a degree from an institution in an English speaking country, it will be necessary for you to provide the TOEFL, TOEFL iBT, or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test score. The minimum TOEFL score for admission into either program is 575 (paper based test) or 232 (computer based test). The minimum score for the TOEFL iBT test is 88. The minimum score for IELTS is 7.0. Test of Spoken English: If you are an international student and wish to apply to our doctoral program, please read the admission requirements carefully. Some applicants do not notice that either the TSE (test of spoken English), SPEAK (Speaking Proficiency in English Assessment Kit), or TOEFL iBT is an admission requirement for the doctoral program, even if the applicant holds a degree from an institution in an English speaking country, and therefore fail to complete the application process. Not having been accepted into the doctoral program prior to the February 15 deadline, those applicants are then unable to compete for full consideration of a fellowship award, our only type of financial assistance. The deadline for admission without funding, however, is June 15. There is no minimum for the TSE or SPEAK test. However, the committee would like to see scores at or above the 50 mark. The corresponding score for the TOEFL iBT speaking sub-score is 26. The requirement to take a test of spoken English is never waived. Grade Point Average (GPA), Prior Coursework, and Transcripts: The committee would also like you to have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0, and if you have graduate level work, a 3.5 GPA at that level. At minimum, applicants should have a knowledge of intermediate economic theory, micro and macro, calculus (preferably including several-variable calculus), linear algebra, and statistics. Strong grades in economics and mathematical courses will obviously be important to the committee. Transcripts from all colleges attended are required in order to make an admissions decision. Please arrange to have official transcripts sent to the UO Office of Admissions using the postal mailing address listed below. Personal Statement and Vitae: Even though a personal statement and curriculum vitae (academic resume) are not listed as required items for admission into the masters or doctoral program, they are very helpful to the admissions committee. We recommend that you take the time to prepare and submit these items. Graduate Teaching Fellowship Award Application: The teaching fellowship award application (only offered to doctoral students) is available here. Letters of Recommendation (for admission and teaching fellowship consideration): The confidentiality waiver and recommender report form used as a cover sheet for letters of recommendation is called Report on Graduate Applicant and is located under GTF Forms on the University of Oregon Graduate School's website. This two page form should be printed off, the first page completed by you, and then given to your recommender to complete. You may send us your letters of recommendation within your application packet as long as they have been sealed by your recommender. Where do I send these items? When sending the items listed above to the Department of Economics (except transcripts), please use the following address: Graduate Programs Coordinator What items do I need to send to the UO Office of Admissions? At the time that you apply for admission to our program, arrange to have official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended sent to the UO Office of Admissions. Transcripts from foreign countries should have an English version and also a certificate of degree attached. The Office of Admissions will also require a bank statement and the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet-Based Test (TOEFL iBT) score if you are an international student without a degree from an institution in an English speaking country. Be sure to use the University of Oregon code of 4846 when routing the TOEFL test score. Note that if your undergraduate degree has not been recorded on your transcript at the time you apply for admission, you will need to arrange for a second set of transcripts to be sent to the Office of Admissions after your degree has been posted. Where do I send these items? When sending the items listed above to the UO Office of Admissions, please use the following address: Office of Admissions How long does an admission decision take once I have submitted all materials? Once all application materials have been received, your file will be sent to our department's admissions committee. It will usually take two to three weeks for you to receive a decision. How much does a GTF award cover, and how many applicants receive an award each year? Our department is able to fund approximately five to seven graduate teaching fellowship (GTF) awards each year to entering doctoral students. The awards carry a tuition waiver and a stipend of approximately $14,000 for a nine-month academic year. Fellowships are awarded to admitted doctoral students based on the strength of academic qualifications and potential, as documented in the admissions file and GTF application. For full consideration for the following fall term, all admissions materials and the application for a GTF award must be received by February 15. We are unable to financially assist students in our masters degree program. When would I hear about financial assistance? Applicants to the doctoral program who meet the February 15 deadline will be informed of an award decision no later than May 15. However, most award decisions are made and communicated prior to April 15. |