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FAQs for Applying

First read FAQ on general admission questions http://grads.vt.edu/admissions/faq.html

ISE Admissions FAQs

• Q: Where can I find information on the ISE graduate programs?
• A: Please follow the Ph.D. and M.S. links on the ISE Graduate Programs page of the ISE web site or see the ISE Graduate Manual at the following web site:

  http://ise.vt.edu/graduate/forms/2008_grad_manual.pdf

• Q: How should I apply?
• A: Use the online graduate application provided by the Virginia Tech Graduate School.

  https://www.applyweb.com/apply/vtechg/index.html

  The ISE department prefers not to receive paper applications. If for some reason you must use a paper application please contact the ISE department first for specific instructions.

• Q: What are the application deadlines for each semester?
• A: The deadlines to apply for admission are as follows:

  International Applicants:	Fall Semester	January 15
  	Spring Semester	September 1
  Domestic Applicants	Fall Semester	July 1
  	Spring Semester	December 1

  *Please note that these deadlines may be different from those posted by
  the Virginia Tech Graduate School and are specific to the ISE graduate program.

• Q: Can I apply for spring semester admission?
• A: We do not encourage applications for spring admission. Most of our applications are for fall admission. However, certain research areas admit a small number of students to start in the spring semester. Note that no financial aid is generally available for spring admission.

• Q: Can you look at my resume and GRE scores and tell me if I qualify for admission?
• A: The admissions committee does not assess the chances of admission prior to reviewing an application. A complete application must be submitted before an application can be evaluated.

• Q: What supporting documents are required for the ISE graduate application?
• A: The ISE department requires 2 sets of official transcripts for all prior college level course work. The ISE department also requires 3 recommendation letters, which we prefer to receive through the online recommendation process that is part of the online application. The GRE test is required for all applicants and the TOEFL test for international applicants that have not received a Bachelor's degree from an accredited English speaking institution. Contact Educational Testing Services (ETS) to have your test scores sent to Virginia Tech. The VT institution code is 5859. Note that there is no department code for either test. The resume can be included on the supplemental page of the online application and in lieu of a statement of purpose, please answer the questions on the supplemental page. This is the preferred method for submitting the resume and statement of purpose.

• Q: Where should I mail my supporting documents?
• A: Mail one set of official transcripts and any other supporting documents to the ISE department at the address below:

  Grado Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering
  Attention: Graduate Admissions
  250 Durham Hall (0118)
  Blacksburg, VA 24061

  Mail the other set of official transcripts to the Virginia Tech Graduate School at the following address:

  Graduate Admissions (0325)
  Graduate Life Center at Donaldson Brown
  Graduate School, Virginia Tech
  Blacksburg, VA 24061

  * When mailing additional supporting documents please do not staple, paste or bind the documents in any way. If possible mail all documents flat so that they may be scanned easily and added to your electronic application file. Following these instructions will greatly decrease the amount of time it takes to process and begin reviewing your application for an admissions decision.

• Q: Does the ISE department offer financial aid to incoming students?
• A: A small number of fellowships and assistantships may available to incoming students depending on resource availability. You do not need to apply for fellowships or assistantships separately. All students who have applied before the application deadline are considered for fellowships and graduate teaching assistantships. Research assistantships may be available to qualified incoming students if there are open positions. If you are interested in a research assistantship position with a particular faculty member, contact the faculty member individually after (not before) you are admitted. More information on funding opportunities for graduate students can be found at the following web site:

  http://www.grads.vt.edu/financial/funding_opp/index.html

• Q: My GRE verbal score is below 400. Should I apply to ISE?
• A: Although there is no official minimum verbal score for admission, students with a verbal score less than 400 are admitted in exceptional cases only if a student's record is outstanding in all other aspects. The average GRE verbal score for admitted students is 540.

• Q: My GRE quantitative score is below 650. Should I apply to ISE?
• A: Although there is no official minimum quantitative score for admission, students with a quantitative score less than 650 are admitted in exceptional cases only if a student's record is outstanding in all other aspects. The average GRE quantitative score for admitted students is 760.

• Q: Should I take the GRE Subject test for admission to ISE?
• A: We do not require subject test scores.

• Q: Should I apply for the M.S. program or the Ph.D. program?
• A: If you are interested in ending your studies with an M.S. degree, apply for that program. If you are interested in working toward a Ph.D. and already have an M.S., you should apply for the Ph.D. program. If you are interested in a Ph.D. and do not already have an M.S. degree, you may apply for the Ph.D. degree program, but only applicants with exceptional credentials are directly admitted into the Ph.D. program without an M.S. degree.

• Q: When can I expect to learn the admission decision?
• A: The average processing time for graduate applications is 4-6 weeks. You can track the status of your application using the Virginia Tech Graduate School's application web site (the same site used for the online application). The admissions committee usually begins evaluating the applications for fall semester in January. A thorough evaluation of hundreds of applications requires significant time. Most admission recommendations for fall semester are made by early April. If you have applied for fall semester and have not received an admissions decision by the end of April, please email isegrad@vt.edu.
• You will be notified by the Virginia Tech Graduate School, not the ISE department as soon as a decision has been reached on your application. Due to federal privacy regulations we cannot disclose admissions decisions over the phone.
• For questions not answered here, please contact the ISE isegrad@vt.edu.
• More general admissions FAQ for applying to Graduate School at Virginia Tech can be found at the following web site:

  http://grads.vt.edu/admissions/faq.html

 

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