Application and Admission
Admission
Students who complete a Masters of Life Sciences in the Department of Entomology (MSLFS) and who wish to be considered for a Doctoral Program in the same department must submit a paper version of the application to the main office. Along with the application, students must have a written endorsement from their Masters degree Graduate Advisory Committee.
Students who are currently enrolled in the MSLFS program and are invited to switch directly to the Ph.D. program must also submit a paper version of the application to the main office. Written support from the student’s Graduate Advisory Committee should accompany the application.
Admission Procedures
After the Graduate School verifies that all required components of the application have been submitted, the package is then sent on to the Entomology Department, which must also approve it before the student is accepted into the program. The department's Admissions and Standards Committee is responsible for evaluating applications and making acceptance decisions. Guidelines used for evaluating students include the application, prior grades (For Masters applicants, minimum 3.0/4.0 GPA; for Doctoral applicants, minimum 3.4/4.0 GPA) and coursework, TOEFL for foreign students only, research and job experiences, and recommendation letters. No GRE scores are required. No single evaluation criterion is used alone but all are considered together. If a Masters application does not meet these standards, they still may be accepted on a provisional status. This is a one-semester-only probation period. A student maintaining a GPA of at least 3.0/4.0 GPA during this first semester can request to be taken off provisional status and assume full graduate student status. There is no provisional status option for Doctoral students.
Applicants will be notified upon acceptance into the department. An OGAPS (Online Graduate Application System) notification will be sent to all faculty members, informing them of the interests and availability of this applicant for graduate programs. The graduate coordinator and the department head may assist in facilitating the process of linking prospective students with faculty in specific program areas. If a faculty member is interested in an applicant, he or she will contact the applicant and possibly invite them to join the faculty member’s program. For full consideration, completed applications must be received by January 15 for Fall semester admission or August 15 for Spring semester admission.
Financial Support
Financial support is offered to students on a competitive basis. Such assistance is usually in the form of a Graduate Research Assistantship. GRA stipends vary according to the availability of funds. Students supported by grant or project funds generally are expected to select a research problem that contributes to the grant or project. For all students on full-time assistantships, an effort will be made to have their in-state tuition paid. Partial teaching assistantships are sometimes available to help supplement student expenses.
Students are responsible for paying their own student fees unless otherwise specified in their contract.
Scholarships and Loans
A limited amount of funds are available for student scholarships and loans. All university-wide scholarships are highly competitive, but several entomology students have been recipients in recent years. Information regarding application for these funds is available from the Graduate Student Coordinator. Information about other scholarships and loans may be obtained from the University Financial Aid Office in Burruss Hall. The department also has a loan fund that can provide a small amount of short-term emergency assistance.
Non-discrimination Statement
Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.
Virginia Tech Principles of Community
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- We affirm the inherent dignity and value of every person and strive to maintain a climate for work and learning based on mutual respect and understanding.
- We affirm the right of each person to express thoughts and opinions freely. We encourage open expression within a climate of civility, sensitivity, and mutual respect.
- We affirm the value of human diversity because it enriches our lives and the University. We acknowledge and respect our differences while affirming our common humanity.
- We reject all forms of prejudice and discrimination, including those based on age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, and veteran status. We take individual and collective responsibility for helping to eliminate bias and discrimination and for increasing our own understanding of these issues through education, training, and interaction with others.
- We pledge our collective commitment to these principles in the spirit of the Virginia Tech motto of Ut Prosim (That I May Serve).