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Application Materials

Required Application Documents 

All documents must be submitted by November 25, 2024 for full consideration. 

Each link contains more details regarding that document

  1. MSU Application for Admission to Graduate Programs Complete online application via www.explore.msu.edu/apply.
    • Academic Statement Upload directly to application under "Plant Biology Supplemental Questions".
    • Personal Statement Upload directly to application under "Plant Biology Supplemental Questions".
    • 3 Letters of Recommendation Recommender information is added directly in the application. Recommender's will then upload their letter as a PDF.
  2. Once you complete and submit your application, and pay the application fee, you will be able to upload the following materials: 
All documents must be uploaded by November 25, 2024
Questions? Contact Sara Kraeuter garci282@msu.edu.

Description of Documents

MSU Application for Admission to Graduate Programs

The interactive application form for domestic or international applicants must be filled out online. Please see www.explore.msu.edu/apply. Do not send in applications to the Department of Plant Biology. All information is secured with SSL encryption. When asked “Major Preference” in the "Other Information" tab, please select "Plant Biology" (Masters or Doctoral) under the College of Natural Science. 

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Resume

Please list research experience and each activity that accounts for your time since earning a bachelor's degree (e.g. employment, military service, travel). Be sure to include the type of activity, name of your employer, city/state, and dates; list the most recent activity first.     

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Academic Statement

Academic statements should include a moderately detailed explanation of your plans for graduate study, your future professional goals, and how the graduate program in the Department of Plant Biology will help you meet your career and educational objectives.

Indicate your area(s) of research interest and briefly describe research experiences you have had prior to applying to the PLB program. Also, indicate specific faculty you may wish to work with and why.

The Academic Statement has no required length, but we suggest it to be at least one page, single spaced.

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Personal Statement

Personal statements should explain how your background and life experiences, including social, economic, cultural, familial, educational, or other opportunities or challenges motivated your decision to pursue a graduate degree. Consider explaining how these factors have motivated your pursuit of graduate education and how they will help shape your contributions to the Plant Biology program.

The Personal Statement has no required length, but we suggest it to be at least one page, single spaced.

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Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation must be submitted from professors or others who can assess your promise of success in the graduate program. You cannot upload the letters of reference. Your recommenders must upload letters of reference via the Student Portal.

Register your recommenders through the Student Portal.

  1. Log in and click “Letters of Recommendation” under “Control Panel”.
  2. In the gray box, click “Register Recommender” and enter in their information.
  3. Decide if you want to waive your right to access your letters of recommendations, and then click either “Add Recommender” or “Back” to take you to the Letters of Recommendation page.

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Official Transcript

You cannot send your own transcript(s) - they must come directly from the institution. Please arrange to have official transcripts from all institutions of higher education that you have attended sent to the address below: 
Department of Plant Biology
Michigan State University
612 Wilson Road, Rm 166
East Lansing, MI 48824

If an institution offers an electronic version, please have the verification link sent to garci282@msu.edu.

Applicants pursuing or who have earned degrees from universities in China must submit certified copies (sealed and stamped by institutions) of all university transcripts, graduate certificates and degrees directly to The Office of Admissions. MSU requires these documents in the original language (Chinese), as well as, an official English translation. If you are admitted, you must also obtain verification of your undergraduate (or equivalent) transcript from the China Academic Degrees and Graduate Education Development Center (CDGDC). Please refer to their website: http://www.chinadegrees.cn/en/. Please note, there is a fee to have your transcripts verified. The Department will reimburse you upon your enrollment at MSU.

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Faculty and Research Interest Form

This form will help connect applicants with faculty members who are actively recruiting graduate students to join their labs. Please complete this form and upload it to your Student Portal and select “Other” as the document type. Downloadable Research and Faculty Interest Form.

PLEASE NOTE: You may respond in writing on the PDF and upload the form. If you have problems accessing the form, please contact Sara Kraeuter.

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Proof of English Proficiency (INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS ONLY)

Proficiency is determined by ONE of the tests below:
Name of test Minimum score needed for admission

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Educational Testing Service Princeton, NJ 08541 https://www.ets.org/toefl.html 

MSU Code: 1465

Internet-based test (iBT): no subscore below 19 for reading, listening, and speaking; no writing subscore below 22; with a minimum average score of 80
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) https://ielts.org/ Minimum average score of 6.5. No subscore below 6.0.
Duolingo English Test https://englishtest.duolingo.com/ 110 or higher

For more information about this application requirement, please visit MSU's Graduate School website.

Please have the original test results sent to the Office of Admissions at the address listed below. You may also upload a copy with your application to ensure we receive all materials before November 25, 2024

Office of Admissions
Michigan State University
Hannah Administration Building
426 Auditorium Rd., Room 250
East Lansing MI 48824-13

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Financial Affidavit and Proof of Financial Support
(INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS ONLY) 

Financial proof must be provided in order to comply with U.S. Government regulations. Final admission is not granted until the Office of Admissions confirms that all documents are complete and correct. At the time of final admission, your immigration document will be issued.

Your Affidavit of Support for Graduate International Students must originate from your source of support. Submit your Affidavit of Support for Graduate International Students in your Student Portal. Required Affidavit of Support download.

Verification of Finances
Verification of finances can be either option below. Both are not required.

1. Certification by a bank that you have funds available AND certification by person(s) responsible for your finances.  This person must sign the Affidavit of Support for Graduate International Students.

OR

2. Certification by a government, educational institution, or official agency. Proof of finances from a government, educational institution, or official agency must appear on official stationery and contain an original seal and signature(s).

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Graduate Record Examination (GRE) OPTIONAL

If you choose to take the GREs, send the official report of your scores directly from the Educational Testing Service. The MSU Institution Code is 1465, Plant Biology Department Code is 0205. 

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