Two official transcripts from each institution attended.
Standardized test scores (as required by the graduate program).
Scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) in the 50th percentile or higher, or from a comparable substitute examination. At the discretion of the graduate standards committee, a student may be admitted provisionally for graduate study in the program without these scores.
English ProficiencyThe language of instruction at Penn State is English. International applicants must take and submit scores for the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System), with the exceptions noted below. The minimum acceptable score for the TOEFL is 550 for the paper-based test, 213 for the computer-based test, or a total score of 80 with a 19 on the speaking section for the internet-based test. Applicants with iBT speaking scores between 15 and 18 may be considered for provisional admission, which requires an institutional test of English proficiency upon first enrollment and, if necessary, remedial course work. The minimum composite score for the IELTS is 6.5.
A minimum grade-point average of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) is required for the junior/senior years of the baccalaureate degree and in all courses in the biological and physical sciences regardless of when taken. Admission to the Ph.D. program requires an M.S. or equivalent degree in natural science with a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 for the master's program.
Three letters of recommendation.
Statement of Purpose. This is a 12 page essay describing the applicant's reasons for considering graduate study, goals after completion of the graduate degree, and the applicant's specific areas of interest.
Resume