For answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs), please see below.
Graduate FAQ Categories:
Application Materials
Where should I send my
application materials?
Applications should be submitted on-line at the
Apply Yourself web site.
It is recommended that all letters of recommendation be submitted on-line.
Other supporting materials can be sent to the department.
We will forward appropriate materials to the graduate school. Send
to:
Mr. Adrian Blue
NCSU Dept of Statistics
2311 Stinson Drive
Campus Box 8203
5114 SAS Hall
Raleigh, NC 27695-8203
Do I need to submit all
materials at once?
No. You can submit them at different times. Materials that are
submitted on-line are not available to the admissions committee until
the admission fee has been paid. The commitee may not
evaluate your application until it is complete.
What is the checklist of all
materials that need to be sent?
http://www.stat.ncsu.edu/grad/application/applications.php
Can the application fee be
waived?
No. We are not in a position to evaluate financial need of
potential applicants.
How will I know if all of my
application materials have been received?
Use the
Apply Yourself website to check
the status of your application. Please note that there is a delay of up
to 2 weeks for received materials to be posted in Apply Yourself if
they are sent by mail. For this reason, we recommend submitting most
materials electronically. If you have sent materials by
mail, FedEx, DHL, etc. and they are not posted as received after two
weeks, please contact Mr.
Adrian
Blue.
When are applications due?
If applying for Fall, applications should be complete by December 15th of the preceding year
for both US and international students. Applications
completed after this date may be considered, but receive lower
priority, especially in terms of funding.
How many official copies of
the transcript are required?
Only one official copy of each transcript is required. Please send to Mr. Adrian Blue (address above).
Should I contact individual faculty members about
admission to the program?
While applicants are welcome to contact individual faculty members about their research,
it is not part of the admissions process. Admissions are decided by a departmental
committee, chaired by the admissions director.
Can my letter writers send a hard copy letter of recommendation?
It is preferred that letters of recommendations are submitted on-line.
When should I expect to hear
about admission and financial support?
We typically begin making offers in February and continue through
April.
What is the minimum GPA
required?
3.0, though most admitted students have GPAs higher than this.
If I already have a PhD, can
I apply to your program?
It depends on the previous PhD, your other qualifications and whether
you are requesting financial aid.
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GRE scores
Is GRE general test score
required?
Yes
How old can the GRE score be?
The GRE score should be no older than December 15th, four years prior to your planned enrollment.
For example, if you are applying for Fall 2010, your score should be no older than December 15th, 2006.
Is GRE subject test score
required?
No, though some applicants do send a score from the math subject test.
Is there a minimum required
GRE score?
No, but most admitted students have 1200 or greater for the sum of
quantitative and verbal scores.
Can I send an unofficial copy
of GRE scores for now and send an official score report after
acceptance?
You can send an unofficial score report if you think there will be a
delay in the official score report being sent. However, your application will not be considered complete until official score
reports are received.
What is the institution code
to have ETS send GRE scores to NCSU?
The institutional code number for NC State University is 5496. There is
no need to provide a departmental code.
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TOEFL or IELTS scores
Which applicants need to
submit TOEFL or IELTS scores?
- Students who are citizens of a
country where English is the official language and the language of
instruction in higher education do not need to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores.
- All other students must submit official
TOEFL or IELTS scores that are no older than two years (24 months) prior to the beginning of the requested
entry term. For example, if you are applying for Fall 2010, your TOEFL or IELTS score should
be no older than August, 2008.
- International students who have successfully completed one year at a US institution are not required by the graduate school to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. However, for those applicants seeking financial support from the Department, TOEFL or IELTS scores should be submitted.
What is the minimum required
TOEFL score?
The graduate school has established
minimum scores
for the TOEFL and IELTS. However, most successful applicants have a score of at least 20
on each section of the TOEFL.
Can I send an unofficial copy
of TOEFL or IELTS scores for now and send an official score report after
acceptance?
No. You can send an unofficial score report if you think there will be a
delay in the official score report being sent. However, your
application will not be considered complete until official score
reports are received.
Is TSE score required for
international students?
No.
Are other tests of English proficiency allowed?
No, the Graduate school only accepts TOEFL and IELTS scores.
Can I still be considered for a teaching assistantship (TA) if my speaking score
meets the minimum for admission, but not for TA?
Yes. All students with funding will be required to take the
SPEAK test when they arrive on campus. Based on the results of this test,
students will be given recommendations on how to meet the requirements for appointment as a TA.
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Other
What are the pre-requisites
for the program?
Applicants should have completed Calculus I, II and III (including
multi-variable calculus), linear algebra and introductory statistics.
Two semesters of advanced calculus are pre-requisite for the
Master's program and two semesters of real analysis are pre-requisite
for the PhD program. The advanced calculus or real analysis courses can
be taken once a student is enrolled. However, this may extend the
length of the program.
How many applications are
there for the statistics graduate program?
We receive hundreds of applications each year.
How many students are
admitted?
It varies each year depending on the applicant pool, available funding
and other factors.
How many international
students are admitted each year?
It varies each year depending on the applicant pool, available funding
and other factors.
Is funding available for
Master's students? For international students?
Yes.
http://www.stat.ncsu.edu/programs/grad/aid.html
If I do not have a Master's
degree, can I apply directly to the PhD program?
Yes, we encourage you to apply for the degree you ultimately want to
obtain.
If I have a previous Master's degree, do I need
to retake the Master's courses at NC State?
Students who are admitted with a previous Master's may take the
Basic Exam in August
just prior to enrollment. A PhD pass on this exam is required for the PhD degree. If
the student is not able to obtain a PhD pass on the first try, they can enroll in the Master's
core courses and take the exam a second time.
What is the difference
between the Master of Statistics and Master of Science degrees?
The
Master of Statistics is a coursework only degree. The Master of Science
requires a Master's thesis (research). Most students in our
program receive the Master of Statistics degree. Specific
degree requirements can be found in our
Handbook.
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