How We Evaluate Your Application

The typical fall admissions cycle proceeds as follows.

  • As applications arrive, they are loaded to a secure computer server for
    initial review by faculty.


  • Highly qualified applicants may be invited to visit campus to interview with prospective faculty advisors.


  • New students must be matched with a faculty advisor in order to be admitted. Faculty with open positions nominate applicants for admission.


  • The GPSA Admissions Committee will not review an application until a faculty advisor nominates an applicant for admission. Applications must be complete before the committee will review them.


  • Admission offers may be made at any time.  The GPSA Admissions Committee votes to make offers when it has a faculty nomination supporting the entry of an applicant who has submitted a complete application.


  • The GPSA Admissions Committee does not observe a specific timetable for making offers.


  • The GPSA Admissions Committee makes decisions about financial awards after an applicant is approved for admission.


  • The fall admission review period is normally held open until mid May.


  • Applicants who cannot be placed by the end of the review period will be sent denials or may be considered for entry in a different term.


  • Applicants are evaluated on the basis of
    • academic performance and background,
    • GRE scores,
    • letters of recommendation,
    • research interest match with GPSA faculty, and
    • related work experience.

What to Expect from Us

When you apply, you may expect the following regular communications from us.
  • We will respond to your e-mail and telephone calls in a timely way,
    usually within 24 hours (excluding weekends and holidays).


  • We will contact you by e-mail when your Graduate College application is received.


  • We will contact you by e-mail to confirm when your application is complete
    (all supporting documents have been received).


  • After your application is complete, we will contact you by e-mail or telephone if any problems or questions arise.


  • If you are selected for an admission offer, we will contact you by e-mail, telephone, and/or by post to relay it.


  • If we cannot place you in our program by the end of the regular admission cycle, we will contact you by e-mail, telephone, and/or by post to inform you.
If at any time you want an update on the status of your application, please contact us via e-mail at gpsa@iastate.edu or by telephone at 515.294.6518.

Between the time that your application is confirmed as complete and the time that the admission review period ends, we will not normally contact you unless we can make an offer or it is necessary to clarify some detail in your application.

You are welcome to contact us any time to check the status of your application, to ask questions, or to seek assistance.  We promise to do our best to help.

Thanks for your cooperation and interest in the GPSA!