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Admission to our program is based on (1) merit as presented in the completed application and evaluated by the faculty, (2) available space in a particular program, and (3) the availability of financial support. Since we can only accept a limited number of graduate students each year, your chances of admission will be improved by early and complete submission of your application materials. In general, all successful applicants receive full financial aid. Information on the various types of financial support and awards available to our students are listed below.
We are always eager to include highly qualified and motivated students in our program and look forward to reviewing your completed application. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Please feel free to e-mail the professors that are doing work that interest you and let them know that you would like to study with them. Check our faculty listing for e-mail addresses and faculty interests.
Contact Persons for Application Information and Status:
Admissions Counselor II
Voice: (706) 542-1809
Fax: (706) 542-1805Professor Gregory Schmidt
Graduate CoordinatorVoice: (706)542-0280
Fax: (706) 542-1805Plant Biology Department
2502 Miller Plant Sciences
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602-7271
Procedures for Your Successful Application: Applications and supporting documents should be submitted to the Graduate School by December 15.
1. The Plant Biology faculty review information about your qualifications, career goals, research interests and graduate advisor preference that you should provide by first completing our Background and Interest Form. There is no fee for this step designed to enable us to contact you informally.
2. Prospective applicants also need to complete internet-based applications and submit the processing fee on-line at the UGA Graduate School website. Electronic forms, including those for the three letters of recommendation we and the Graduate School require, are (more specifically) located at http://www.applyweb.com/apply/ugagrad/.
Step 1. Create an Account
Step 2. Review the Application
Instructions
Step 3. Apply Online
Documentation Requirements:
Domestic applicants must submit to the Graduate School: TWO official transcripts in sealed envelopes from each institution of higher education attended, whether or not you earned a degree.
For any previous UGA attendance, UGA transcripts are not required. If you are currently enrolled, provide the last expected date of enrollment.
International applicants submit to the Graduate School: TWO official transcripts from each institution of higher education attended. The documents must bear original, official seals of certification of the appropriate school official or office (photocopies are not acceptable). If the original language of the record is not English, a certified translation in English MUST be attached to the original.
Applicants from India: If you attended a college "affiliated to" an Indian university, list the name of the major university, NOT the college (i.e., University of Mumbai).
Graduate Record Exam Scores:
You will also need to provide a copy of your GRE scores (the Plant Biology Department normally requires at least a 1200 verbal + quantitative score).
ETS can send official test scores directly to the Graduate School by using an Institutional Code of 5813; no departmental code is required.
Letters of Recommendation:
Three letters of recommendation must be submitted using the online recommendation form from the Graduate School: you must provide a valid e-mail address for each recommender. Please make sure that your recommenders have indicated that they are willing to fill out a reference form for you in advance. Also keep in mind that it is your responsibility to ensure that your recommender has submitted the form by the appropriate deadline. Your recommender will receive an email notification with login information upon your final submission of this application.
We also request that a copy of the recommendation letters are emailed to admit@plantbio.uga.edu or sent to:
Susan Watkins
Admissions Counselor II
Plant Biology Department
2502 Miller Plant Sciences
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602-7271
English Language Tests for International Students:
For International Applicants from countries whose primary language is not English, a copy of TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) OR IELTS (International English Language Testing System) test scores are also required. Test scores must be submitted directly from the testing agency. TOEFL scores can be submitted directly from ETS by using the institutional code of 5813; no departmental code is required. The Plant Biology Department normally requires at least a 620 on the paper test or 105 on the iBT (Internet-based TOEFL test) with a minimum speaking score of 20 and a minimum writing score of 20.
Certificate of Finances
International students are also required to submit a Certificate of Finances (COF) form (found in Downloadable Forms in the Graduate Schools Application).
Application Fee:
Be aware that your application cannot be evaluated by our Graduate Studies Committee until you have sent your application fee to the Graduate School; currently, the fee is $75.00 for domestic students and $100.00 for international students. We are unable to waive this fee for anyone due to University regulations!
Deadlines:
Again, please be sure to have your application and supporting documents submitted to the Graduate School by December 15.
This deadline enables our faculty to complete their reviews and make admission recommendations to the Graduate School's Office of Graduate Admissions which has a yearly application deadline for admission and financial support of January 1. (This means application materials also must be received by the department prior to that date). Applicants are admitted as prospective degree candidates by February 15. Because the Graduate School is receiving so many applications now, some of the materials are not getting to our department in time to be considered for acceptance for the Fall semester. Therefore, we request that you provide all of your information to the Graduate School by December 1st, if at all possible.
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 Recent recipients of Plant Biology and other awards |
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Departmental Laboratory and Teaching Assistantships (LAs, TAs)
The department typically has 19 of these assistantships, approximately half of which are usually assigned to the Division of Biology to help with the Biology core courses. The Assistantship requires 18 hours of service per week, usually involving 9 contact hours.
Graduate School Assistantships (GSA)
Also
called University-Wide Assistantships, these are awarded by the
Graduate School in University-wide competition. The Graduate School
requires that recipients do 16-18 hours service per week but leaves the
specific duties up to the department.
Health Insurance
Graduate students (international and domestic) who have qualified assistantships or
qualified fellowships or who are supported by
qualified training grants are required to enroll for a contracted
health insurance
plan that is subsidized by the university.
Summer Support
Support
during the summer semester is provided to as many Plant Biology graduate
students as possible who have received departmental or GSA support
during the previous academic year, are making satisfactory progress,
and who request such support on a January questionnaire.
Plant Biology Department Research Grants
The
Plant Biology Department funds small grants from research overhead
funds to support certain aspects of Plant Biology graduate student
research.
Travel Grants
The
Graduate School has limited funds to assist graduate student travel to
present papers at professional conferences within the United States.
The Office of the Vice President for Research also has limited funds for
international travel to meetings.
Other Awards
Duncan Award
Considered the top honor awarded by the Plant Biology department to a graduate student, the Duncan Award is given to that student who most excels in at least two of three areas: teaching, research, and service. The award is offered each year but may not be given if a truly outstanding student is not identified. Jaworski Travel Awards award (up to $1500) for travel and expenses related to attending a professional meeting, workshop, short course or field site. This award honors our fond memory of Prof. Alan Jaworski, former department head, gifted teacher and mentor to students and faculty. It is awarded to first or second year graduate students but also can be given to an exceptional undergraduate working on an independent research project in the laboratory of a Plant Biology faculty member.
Outstanding Teaching Assistant Awards
This
award carries recognition but no cash award and is given to
approximately 35 graduate teaching/laboratory assistants in the
University each year.
Excellence in Teaching Awards
This
award carries recognition and a cash award of $1,000 and is given to
five graduate teaching/laboratory assistants in the University each
year.
Palfrey Academic Enrichment Awards
This
award is made to outstanding students that have been admitted for
graduate studies in our department. The $1,500 award is to enrich the
student's academic experience, including books, subscriptions to
scientific journals and travel to scientific meetings
Regents' Out-of-State Tuition Waivers
This
award is for non-resident graduate students who do not have an
assistantship. It requires a minimum verbal plus quantitative GRE score
of 1100 and a minimum graduate GPA of 3.5 and/or a 3.3 undergraduate
GPA.
Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society
These
awards are for submitted theses, dissertations and papers. Nominations
are made by a member of Sigma Xi. Small research grants are also
available from Sigma Xi.
National Council of State Garden Clubs, Inc.
These
scholarships are for Georgia residents (5 years) and require full
family financial disclosure. The amount varies from $250 to $5,000 for
one calendar year.
Plant Biology Graduate Student Association
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The PBGSA also seeks to improve communication between the graduate students themselves. With this goal in mind the organization serves as a clearinghouse for suggestions and information on student activities in the Department and promotes social functions so that the graduate students may become better acquainted. A PBGSA bulletin board is maintained in the hallway outside the departmental office and students are encouraged to consult it frequently.
To learn more about the Plant Biology Graduate Student Association, visit the PBGSA home page.
