Frequently Asked Questions

 

Information concerning the Department of Biological Sciences and faculty research interests is available at http://www.usm.edu/biology/.

Answers to frequently asked questions are listed below. Answers to questions concerning financial support are listed on a separate page. Answers to questions frequently asked by international applicants are also listed on a separate page.

 

1. What is the application deadline?
2. How do I apply?
3. Who is eligible to apply?
4. What do I need to submit to apply?
5. If I send you my qualifications, can you tell me my chance of acceptance?
6. Is there a minimum test score or GPA to gain entrance?
7. On what basis do you make your selections for admission and financial support?
8. How important is the essay?
9. What's the significance of the emphasis areas?
10. Is financial support available?
11. When will I find out about my application?
12. How many students do you admit each year?
13. Do you accept late applications?
14. Why was my application rejected?

1. What is the application deadline?
   
   The dates are Feb 15 for fall admission and Oct 15 for spring admission but they are not absolute. The real deadline is the date when the Graduate Admissions committee meets. It varies each year depending on when committee members are available. The Committee meets three times per year. Once at the end of Feb to evaluate applications that arrive by the time of the meeting. Those that arrive after the Feb meeting will be evaluated at a second meeting at the end of April. Those that arrive after the April meeting will be evaluated at the last meeting of the year at the end of October. For fall admission, applications that arrive by the Feb meeting are obviously given priority for financial support than later applications.
    
2. How do I apply?
   
   Apply on-line at www.usm.edu/graduateschool/. Click on "Apply Here". The application fee may be paid by clicking on "Pay Fee Here"

International applicants may also apply on-line. However, a paper application will also be needed because your signature is required for I-20 (Homeland Security document) purpose. Once you apply, you will receive an e-mail with the form and instructions.

3. Who is eligible to apply?

There are no restrictions in terms of official diplomas. To enroll in our graduate program, applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree from an institution approved by a recognized accrediting agency.

4. After I applied on-line, what else do I need to submit?
   

A. Official transcripts;

B. Official GRE scores (general exam only);

C. Official TOEFL scores (international applicants only);

D. An essay describing your research interests and career goals;

E. Three letters of recommendation.

 

For domestic students, submit Items A & B to the Graduate School and Items D & E directly to the Department of Biological Sciences.

 

For international students, submit Items A - E to International Admissions.

 

The mailing address for the University is:

The University of Southern Mississippi
118 College Drive

Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001 USA

For the Graduate School, use Box #10066

For International Admissions, use Box #5151
For the Department of Biological Sciences, use Box #5018

 

For example:

Department of Biological Sciences The University of Southern Mississippi 118 College Drive Box # 5018 Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001 USA

5. If I send you my qualifications, can you tell me my chance of acceptance?
   
   No because applicants are evaluated as a group on a competitive basis. The number of students accepted depends factors such as the student's research interest, and availability of financial support and laboratory space. These variables change from semester to semester thus it is not possible to predict how many new students will be accepted each semester.
    
6. Is there a minimum test score or GPA to gain entrance?
   
   No, there is not a single threshold score or GPA. We look at the entire package. Applicants are evaluated on a competitive basis. Each application is compared to the rest in the group. The question we ask is: how do we think this applicant will do in our program, especially from a research perspective.
    
7. On what basis do you make your selections for admission and financial support?
   
   The most important factor is whether there is a faculty member who is willing to serve as your major professor. That is why it is important to visit our departmental website and learn about our faculty members and their research areas. To graduate, you must complete a research thesis. You must have a thesis director who is willing to provide you guidance and support as well as laboratory space, supplies, equipment. It would be highly advantageous for you to contact faculty members in whose lab you would like to do research in. Those who apply without contact have little chance of being admitted or offered a graduate assistantship.
    
8. How important is the essay?
   
   The essay is important, especially if you have not established contact with one of our faculty members. You essay helps us identify faculty members who might be able/willing to serve as your thesis advisor. The essay is often the only method for us to find out what you are interested in. Think carefully about your research interests and write the essay thoughtfully and honestly. There is not a specific length requirement.
    
9. What's the significance of the emphasis areas?
   
   The emphasis area is not that important. It is simply a way for us to group the applications.
    
10. Is financial support available?
    
    Yes, all of our fulltime graduate students are supported financially by graduate assistantships. There is not a separate application for financial support. All applicants are automatically considered. Details at the Financial Support link.
     
11. When will I find out about my application?
    
    Decisions on applicants who apply by the Feb 15th deadline are made by the end of February and should receive notification by mid-March. Those who missed the Feb 15 deadline should receive notification in mid-May. Applicants for the spring semester (Oct 15 deadline) should receive notification by mid-Nov.
    
    
12. How many students do you admit each year?

There is not a fixed number. The number depends on availability of funding and faculty interest. Both fluctuate from year to year.

13. Do you accept late applications?

Yes, applications are accepted year-round. See answer to Question 1 above.

14. Why was my application rejected?

The most frequent reason is because we did not have a faculty member who wished to serve as your major professor. Another frequent reason is lack of funding to support you. Factors we consider when we evaluate applicants include research interest and experience, availability of financial support, availability of faculty to provide guidance and laboratory space, and finally GRE and TOEFL scores. The most important factor is faculty interest. Did you make any efforts of contact our faculty about potential research projects for your thesis? In the future, I recommend that you do so before you apply.