Thank you for your interest in the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources Graduate Program! We welcome applications from those who hold baccalaureate degrees in forest resources, fisheries, wildlife or other areas. While we often receive applications from students with a variety of undergraduate degrees, note that if your degree is in an area different from your intended emphasis in graduate school, you may need to complete additional course work. Step 1: Match your interests with a professor who shares them If you found your way to this page because you were referred by a member of our faculty who has indicated they will serve as your major professor, great! Please be prepared with their information as you move through the application process. But many of our applicants have not yet made this connection. If you haven’t, please use our Potential Areas of Study page to connect your professional interests with faculty members who teach it. It is imperative that you contact a faculty member before starting your application in order to discuss any prerequisites and other program details. Step 2: Submit the Graduate Study Objectives Form Complete the form by entering your name and selecting your preferred area(s) of interest. Select your preferred faculty member(s) from the list and submit the form using the button. Submit Areas of Interest Step 3: Complete the Graduate School application Once you have connected with a Warnell professor and submitted your program of study preference, it’s time to officially apply to UGA’s Graduate School! Here are some things to have lined up before you start your application: 1. Statement of Purpose (career goals) Submit under the "Statement of Purpose" supporting document portal in the Graduate School application. This personal statement should express your reasons for seeking the degree, your interest in the field, and your expectations for the future. The statement should be typed in essay format with a title of "Career Goals." 2. CV/Resume A CV is a comprehensive document that elaborates on education, publications, and other achievements. Submit this under the “Resume” section of the application. 3. English Language Proficiency Requirement (international applicants only) International applicants whose native language is not English must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores that are not more than two years old to Graduate Admissions directly from the testing agency. Minimum TOEFL score requirement: overall score of 80 with a minimum of 20 on speaking and writing Minimum IELTS score requirement: overall band-width of 6.5 with no single band (score) below 6.0 Minimum Intensive English Program requirement: successfully complete Level 6 and provide confirmation from Intensive English Program Director (iep.uga.edu) 4. Transcripts Submit unofficial transcripts from all institutions attended. Official transcripts are not required during the review process and will only be required for applicants who are offered admission. 5. Three letters of recommendation This is a departmental requirement. Please include the email addresses of three recommenders. This will prompt the recommenders to submit letters of recommendation for your application. 6. Application fee The cost to apply to UGA’s graduate program is $75 for domestic applicants and $100 for international applicants. 7. Supplemental essay PhD Integrative Conservation & Forestry and Natural Resources applicants only must submit a Supplemental Essay. Please email the Office of Graduate Admissions if you have any questions regarding the online application. START YOUR APPLICATION (What happens once you apply? Keep scrolling for details) Other Important Details Warnell Minimum GPA Required Masters PhD Undergraduate GPA 3.0 3.0 Graduate GPA — 3.5 Application Deadlines Applicants are urged to apply as early as possible up to one year in advance of the desired matriculation date. Domestic Applicants: Semester Deadline* Fall Semester July 1 Spring Semester October 1 May Session April 1 Summer Semester May 1 International Applicants: Semester Deadline Fall Semester April 15 Spring Semester October 1 Summer Semester February 15 *To be considered for a Warnell or Graduate School assistantship, applicants must have a complete and accepted application by the appropriate deadline (below) to be eligible for an assistantship. See the Assistantships section for more information on these and other funding opportunities. Graduate School Assistantship: December 1 Warnell School Assistantship: December 1 (fall) or October 1 (spring) Step 4: After all application materials are submitted... When applicants have submitted all materials required of the Graduate Admissions Office and Warnell, all documents will be sent to the faculty selected as potential major professor(s) on the Graduate Study Objectives form. If the faculty member agrees to serve as major professor, and the student meets minimum requirements, the Warnell Graduate Office submits a recommendation of acceptance to the Graduate School. If a faculty member agrees to serve as major professor but the applicant does not meet Warnell minimum requirements, the faculty member and student may petition the Warnell Graduate Affairs Committee for admission. Please contact the Warnell Graduate Programs Office for more information regarding admission appeals. If no faculty member agrees to serve as a major professor or if the Graduate Affairs Committee does not recommend admission, the application must be denied admission. After Warnell makes a recommendation to the Graduate School, Graduate Admissions will send a letter in approximately 10 days informing the applicant whether he/she has been accepted.
