Reapplying to Graduate School

Professor_X
Wed, 12 Dec 2007 23:39:25 +0000

Unless a department SPECIFICALLY requests submission of materials in a certain order, everyone may assume that the order in which you submit materials makes no difference.

It makes no difference in my program, that’s for sure. Right now, I’ve gotten letters of rec, transcripts, SOPs, etc. from applicants who have not yet submitted The Graduate School’s formal application, and vice versa (formal apps with no additional materials).

This causes absolutely no problems for me as DGS, or for any applicant.

Let me just summarize the process for those who may not know:

Your electronic or paper application form, GRE scores, and transcripts go to The Graduate School of University X. The Graduate School staff determines whether you meet basic admission requirements (and I mean BASIC), and then sends on your application to the department to which you are applying, along with a form recommending acceptance (depending ONLY on whether those BASIC requirements are met) or denial. For instance, if University X or Department Y requires a 3.0 minimum GPA, and an applicant has a 2.8, the Graduate School may recommend denial, but ultimately, the department makes its own choices.

Depending on the program, your LORs, SOP, writing sample, etc. may be sent directly to the department, or to the Graduate School. (In my program, they are sent directly to me.)

In cases in which the Graduate School receives these materials, they just send them on to the department to which you are applying.

Admission decisions are, of course, made at the department level.