Included below are a number of commonly asked questions about the Cornell MS&E Ph.D. program. If you have a question not covered below, please email Prof. Bruce van Dover, MS&E’s Director of Graduate Studies.
What is the deadline for the application and all accompanying materials?
The deadline for submitting all application elements (online application form, transcripts, GRE scores, TOEFL scores (if necessary), letters of recommendation) is January 2.
How many copies of recommendation letters, transcripts, etc. should I provide?
Please send only one copy of each and do not send any full publications. Sending an abstract of any publications is acceptable.
May I send photocopies of transcripts, GRE and TOEFL scores, and letters or recommendation?
We must receive official copies of transcripts in sealed envelopes. If you send photocopies of these documents, they must be notarized or they will not be accepted. We accept the official GRE & TOEFL scores sent to us electronically by the Educational Testing Service. All letters of recommendation must come directly from the applicant's recommenders in sealed envelopes. Cornell graduates are not required to provide us with GRE or TOEFL scores. PLEASE NOTE: Cornell University is not accepting computer based GRE scores taken before September 2002 from: China, Taiwan, or Korea.
Where do I send my application materials?
Cornell now requires applicants to complete an online application with statement of purpose. For best results, mail all supporting materials (letters of recommendation, transcripts, etc.) directly to the Materials Science & Engineering Department:
Graduate Field Representative
214 Bard Hall
Department of Materials Science & Engineering
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853-1501
What code should I use to have the Educational Testing Service send my GRE and TOEFL scores to Cornell University?
Use only the following codes:
GRE: Institution Code: 2098; Department Code: 1499
TOEFL: Institution Code: 2098; Department Code: 69
How will I know that Cornell has received all of my application materials?
Approximately one week to 10 days after the application deadline, we will send email correspondence to all applicants for whom a complete set of application materials have not been received. We will identify the pieces still outstanding. PLEASE NOTE: the more frequently you correspond with us about your materials, the less efficient we are in processing applications in general, including your own. The best insurance for having your application processed in a timely manner is to follow the process outlined on the Graduate School website and the recommendations spelled out in this FAQ.
What are the minimum GRE and TOEFL test scores considered by the MS&E admissions committee?
In general, any GRE test with a combined verbal and quantitative score of 1335 or less plus an analytical score below 5.0 will not be competitive. TOEFL score requirements as outlined by the Graduate School: reading (20), writing (20), listening (15), and speaking (22).
How important is my GPA?
Grade point averages along with grades for individual courses on an applicant's transcript(s) are an indication of ability, effort, and progress. A minimum GPA for a competitive application would be 3.3 on a 4.0 scale. Please keep in mind that the GPA, like GRE and TOEFL scores, is evaluated as part of the full set of application materials and against all other applicants.
How can I insure that my application will be competitive with other applicants?
Make sure your application and all supporting materials arrive at Cornell University before the deadline of January 15th. Be sure your application is neat (if completed by hand). Take your GRE and where applicable, your TOEFL tests well in advance of submitting your application. Provide ETS with the following code to forward your scores to Cornell: 2098. Exception: Cornell graduates do not have to take the GRE test to apply for graduate studies. Make sure those who write your letters of recommendation send them to us well ahead of the deadline. If all application materials are received by the deadline, then that application is in the best possible position to compete with all other applicants. Making our decisions as early as we can provides our applicants with the best possible service; applicants know what our decisions are early in the admissions process.
May I contact MS&E Faculty about my application?
If applicants or prospective applicants wish to contact faculty with specific questions about research, then contact with faculty is encouraged. However, all questions directed to faculty about applications, the application process, or an applicant's status will be forwarded to the Materials Science & Engineering Graduate Field Assistant for response.
Does MS&E offer a Master of Science degree?
MS&E offers a separate thesis-based, two-year Master of Science degree.
Ph.D. students are awarded a special Masters degree after successfully completing the A Exam (typically after the second year). Ph.D. students wishing to leave the program after receiving a Masters degree may do so.
If I’m accepted into the Ph.D. program, will I receive support?
Currently, all candidates accepted into the MS&E Ph.D. program receive funding in the form of a graduate research assistantship (GRA) for the duration of the candidate’s program. A GRA includes tuition, stipend, and health insurance. Ongoing support is contingent upon the candidate remaining in good academic and research standing and upon satisfactory performance in the candidate's assistantship responsibilities.
Are MS&E Ph.D. students required to work as Teaching Assistants (TA)?
Service as a TA is an important component of the MS&E Ph.D. program. We require Ph.D. candidates to serve as a TA for at least one semester – usually during the second year. All prospective TA's are required to complete Teaching Assistant training (typically in the second semester).
Do you provide support for a Master of Science Candidate?
Students accepted into the Master of Science program in the Field of MS&E can receive financial support from outside sources in any of several forms: external fellowships, loans, and private support. The Cornell Department of Materials Science and Engineering cannot offer direct financial support to students in this program, but will assist in securing outside support. The Cornell Graduate School maintains a useful database of fellowships. You may also be eligible for government-supported loan programs.