Prospective Student FAQ

Things to Know Before Applying:

General:

What terms are available for me to start in, and what is the application deadline for that term?

You can find information regarding available start terms and the specific program application deadlines at the link here. 


Is it required to contact faculty or secure an advisor before applying? 

For thesis-based programs: although it is not required, it is highly recommended to contact potential faculty advisors in advance to find out who is actively recruiting to take on new students. You can find contact information for faculty by program here.


For capstone-based programs: no, it is not necessary.


Materials:

What are the basic admission and application requirements?

Basic Admission Requirements:

Standard Initial Application Materials:


Is the GRE required?

GRE scores are not required for all SOLS graduate programs. However, if you have taken the test and would like to send your scores, you can forward your scores using ASU’s institutional code: 4007.


I completed a bachelor’s degree in something outside of life science subject areas. Can I still apply?

A Bachelor’s degree in a life sciences area is preferred, although you may still apply if you have completed a bachelor’s degree in an alternate field. Your educational background will be reviewed in conjunction with your other application materials to determine whether you might be admitted.


Can I apply to a PhD program without completing a MS degree first?

You can apply directly into the PhD program with a bachelor’s or a master’s degree, and all accepted applicants enter as PhD pre-candidates. You will become a PhD candidate after completing a candidacy exam.


I have an undergraduate GPA that is below a 3.0. Can I still apply?

You are still able to apply to our programs with an undergraduate GPA below 3.0. We do review applications holistically, so if you are a strong applicant in other ways, you may still be admissible. You could also consider taking courses at ASU or another institution as a non-degree seeking student in order to establish a better GPA at the graduate level.

I want to take additional life sciences courses before I apply. Can I do that at ASU?

You are able to apply to be a nondegree graduate student to take additional courses through ASU. You can tailor your enrollment to focus on courses relevant to your desired degree - you can learn more about the degree requirements in the SOLS Graduate Student Handbook. Some courses are reserved for specific majors and not every course you want to take will be available. 


Finances:

How much does the application cost?


Can I get an application fee waiver?

The SOLS Graduate Office does not have the ability to waive the application fee, but instead, a faculty member may pay for the application fee on your behalf. You must first contact faculty who share your research interests via email and find a potential advisor. You can find contact information for faculty organized by program here.


Are there opportunities for financial support, such as assistantships or scholarships?

PhD students are guaranteed five years of funding (i.e., stipends for assistantships, tuition coverage, health insurance coverage). MS students receive financial support only rarely and on a case-by-case basis. All students are responsible for the additional student/program fees. 


International Student-Specific:

How can I meet the English proficiency requirement?

There are a number of ways to meet ASU Admissions’ English proficiency, and those are listed here. 

You can initially self-report your proficiency test scores and upload an unofficial copy of your score report, but we recommend requesting your testing agency to submit official test scores directly to ASU as soon as possible. 


Can I still apply if I did not complete a four-year U.S. bachelor’s degree? 

You can use the website page linked here to see if your degree is comparable to a U.S. bachelor's degree. 


Is a translated transcript or WES evaluation required?

We don't require a WES evaluation. International applicants just need to follow the information described here. You will still have the priority tasks for transcripts appear in your myASU portal until an English translation of your transcripts are received.


Things to Know After Applying:

Documentation:

I submitted documents but haven’t heard back about whether or not ASU received them. What now?

Please check your myASU portal in the “priority tasks” for outstanding items or missing documentation. Since there is an influx of applications coming in at one time, it may take longer than anticipated for Admissions to process incoming documentation. Once Admissions has received and processed your documents, you should see those priority tasks cleared.


When do my recommenders receive the letter of recommendation request? When are their letters due?

Your recommenders will receive an electronic request to submit your letter after you have officially submitted your application. It may take up to a few business days for them to receive it. If they do not receive the request, please reach out to the Admissions department for support. gograd@asu.edu


Are letters of recommendation due by the application deadline? What if my recommender can’t submit it by then?

You will not be penalized if your letters of recommendation are received after the deadline, although the sooner the better so that those reviewing your application can review as complete of an application as possible.


My recommender is having issues uploading their letter. What can they do?

If the portal is not allowing your recommender to submit their letter of recommendation, please let them know that they can email our office sols.grad@asu.edu a PDF copy of their letter and we will upload it to your application file as well as pass it along to ASU Admissions. 


How do I submit additional documentation after officially submitting my app?


When do I need to submit official transcripts by?

Unofficial transcripts are accepted to be used during the application review process. You can upload these directly to the application portal. You will see a priority task that will remain in your myASU portal since, if you are admitted, you will eventually need to submit a copy of your official transcripts (using the instructions here). This task will not harm your application review in any way.


How do I know if I can transfer previous graduate-level courses to my desired ASU SOLS graduate program?

Most students that come into a PhD program with a relevant MS degree may be able to apply 30 blanket credit hours to your ASU program requirements as long as the MS degree was completed. If the MS degree was not completed, up to 12 credit hours may be transferred. If your MS degree is not relevant to your desired PhD programs, it is unlikely that courses can be applied. This would be determined after being offered admission. 


Next Steps:

What is the general application and decision timeline?

Applications start being reviewed as soon as sufficient application documentation is received - the earlier you can submit all documents the better so that reviewers can view your application as complete as possible. 


We do not have priority deadlines. All final decisions for thesis-based programs are sent to applicants by April 15, the nationwide admission deadline for all universities. All final decisions for coursework-based programs are sent at least two weeks prior to the start of the semester contingent on timely documentation submission.


Are interviews a part of the admissions process?

For thesis-based PhD programs: yes - they can be scheduled either as a part of our Graduate Recruitment Weekend (GRW) event in early February, or outside of this event due to availability. 


For thesis-based MS programs: sometimes - there may be interview requests sent out by faculty directly to the applicant if necessary. Decisions can also be made without an interview.


For coursework-based MS programs: no, interviews are not necessary.