Frequently Asked Questions

Apply to our Graduate Program

Q:		Are there additional awards and fellowships that graduate students are eligible for during their time at OSU?
A:		There are numerous awards and fellowships available through the chemistry department to graduate students including the N.L. Tartar Summer Fellowships, Shirley Kuse Award for Outstanding Female Graduate Students, David Shoemaker Award for Outstanding Senior Graduate Students, Ingram Award for Outstanding 1st Year Graduate Student and Benedict Award for Outstanding 2nd Year Graduate Student. In addition, a large number of awards are available at the university level from a variety of sources. Visit the OSU Graduate School website - Graduate Fellowships, Scholarships, and Financial Aid or Graduate Funding Fellowship Table [PDF] - for more details.

Q:		How expensive is it to live there?
A:		Corvallis is a reasonable priced city with rent for a 1-bedroom apartment usually under $500 per month. For more information, visit our local newspaper or our own Corvallis & Life in the Northwest.

Q:		What is the typical course load?
A:		Most students finish the majority of the coursework during the 1st year. A detailed description of the course load is found in the Program Overview.

Q:		What are the minimum requirements for admission?
A:		We require a minimum GPA of 3.0 from a 4-year accredited institution. Domestic students are strongly encouraged (but not required) to take the GRE exam. The GRE Chemistry subject exam is also encouraged, but not required. International students are required to take the GRE exam (and TOEFL for non-English speaking nations). For those students required to take the TOEFL, the minimum acceptable score is 550. Upon your arrival at Oregon State University, you will be expected to take a spoken English exam from the OSU English Language Institute.

Q:		What is the application deadline?
A:		We have a rolling admissions process, but we generally only admit new students for the fall term of the academic year. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible (usually by January or February).

Q:		Where does the student submit their application?
A:		The student is asked to submit his or her application directly to the chemistry department. By submitting through the department, the application fee is waived. For a complete description the application procedure (including downloadable applications), visit Chemistry Graduate Admissions.

Q:		Is there a student guidebook that outlines the rules and regulations for graduate students in the chemistry department?
A:		Yes, we have a detailed one online at Chemistry Graduate Student Handbook.

For additional questions, please contact our graduate coordinator, via e-mail or phone (1-800-557-7319).