Finding a Major Advisor
The most critical step of the admissions process is finding a faculty member who is willing to accept you as a student and serve as your major advisor. A sponsoring major advisor is a requirement for admission into the Horticulture Graduate Program. Prospective students are strongly encouraged to directly contact potential advisors to learn about available graduate research opportunities and funding prior to applying to the program. Our graduate faculty have varied expertise and research interests spanning a range of disciplines, taxa, and approaches related to horticulture. The links on our graduate faculty page will take you to each of their more detailed research and program webpages. You should explore these pages to help identify faculty whose interests and expertise align well with your interests and goals. Note that our graduate faculty are a subset of the whole Horticulture faculty; graduate faculty can advise graduate students.
When communicating with faculty, you should craft a brief but individualized email that explains why you are interested in working with that particular faculty member. Briefly describe your own interests and career goals, as well as any relevant experience or notable accomplishments. Make sure to mention any financial support you may have such as scholarships or fellowships. It is also helpful to include a CV or resume as part of your correspondence. This blog post provides some more detailed advice on how to craft an effective inquiry letter. Note the author is not affiliated with OSU.
You do not need to find a committed major advisor before applying. All applications are made available to our graduate faculty for review. During the online application, you will be asked to identify potential faculty with whom you would like to work, and this interest will be highlighted when your application is distributed for review. Also, keep in mind that even if your initial inquiries with faculty members are discouraging, it can still be advantageous to submit a formal application. Sometimes the availability of funding changes or a faculty member that you may not have initially considered can express an interest in your application.
How to Apply
First, review the general graduate admissions process. Then complete the online Graduate School Application. The online application portal will lead you through the process of creating and submitting an application packet to the Horticulture Graduate Program. A complete application packet includes the following:
- Responses to several essay questions related to your background, interests, and goals.
- A writing sample that you are proud of such as a homework assignment, term paper, or research report.
- A curriculum vitae/resume.
- Academic transcripts
- Three references
International applicants have additional requirements and application materials.
Standardized Test Scores
We do not require GRE test scores. You are free to submit GRE test scores if you think they add something of value to our review.
All international applicants and applicants that did not receive a degree in the U.S. (or other specified English speaking country) must meet these English language proficiency requirements for admission.
Submission Deadline: December 1
The full consideration deadline is December 1 for admission in the following fall term.
Admission into the graduate program in terms other than fall is unusual and requires compelling circumstances. Contact the Horticulture Graduate Program Director before submitting such an application.
How Admissions Decisions are Made
Applications are initially reviewed by the Graduate Program Director. If the applicant meets the minimum academic standards established by OSU, the file is offered for review by the Horticulture graduate faculty. Admission decisions are primarily made by individual faculty in consultation with the Horticulture Graduate Program Committee. An applicant is not accepted unless a member of the graduate faculty agrees to serve as the major advisor.
Interested faculty may contact you directly to schedule an interview, to ask additional questions about your application, or to discuss the nature of a graduate opportunity in their program.
An informal initial offer of admission will typically be communicated directly by faculty members. At that time faculty will discuss details of their offer including the nature of potential projects and any offers of funding such as a research assistantship. A recommendation for admission is then forwarded to the Office of Graduate Education. Formal admission decisions are made by the Office of Graduate Education, which sends official notification of acceptance or rejection.
Decision Timeline
Admission decisions for the upcoming fall term will typically be made by March 1. Various factors may adjust that schedule in specific circumstances.
Contact Us
For more information, please contact:
Elaine Clark
Oregon State University
4017 ALS Building
Corvallis, OR 97331-3002
Phone: (541) 737-5477
Fax: (541) 737-3479
[email protected]
John Lambrinos
Director of Graduate Programs
4137 Ag Life Sciences Bldg
Corvallis, OR 97331-3002
Phone: (541) 737-3484
[email protected]