Applying to the Cornell University Graduate Field of Natural Resources The Graduate Field of Natural Resources accepts about 15 graduate students each year from an applicant pool of approximately 150 applicants. Each student works closely with a faculty advisor who shares similar interests throughout his/her graduate program. We do not accept students pursuing a general course of study.

Following are some general guidelines for applying to the Natural Resources graduate program.

1. Decide on the appropriate degree - If you haven't already, decide which degree is most appropriate for your interests. The following degrees are offered in the Field of Natural Resources.

   Master of Professional Studies (MPS)--This degree is appropriate for professionals who have been in the workforce and are looking to enhance their knowledge and skills. The focus of the degree is on coursework and a professional project. The professional project can take various forms, for example, developing a management plan or an educational resource, conducting an in-depth literature review, or conducting a survey. The MPS degree is not appropriate for someone who plans on going on for a PhD degree or to otherwise enter a research career. Students normally take one year to complete the MPS degree.

   Master of Science (MS)--This is a research degree. It requires completing a thesis in the student's area of interest. Students work closely with their faculty advisor and other members of their graduate committee to plan and conduct the research. Normally students take two years to complete the MS degree. After completing the MS degree, students may apply for the PhD program.

   MS/PHD--Students who know they want to go on for a PhD but do not yet have an MS degree should apply for the MS/PhD program. In almost all cases, we require an MS degree prior to entering the PhD program. Students accepted for the MS/PhD program may enter into the PhD program after completing the MS degree without an additional application.

   PhD--This is an advanced research degree. It requires completing a dissertation in the student's area of interest. Students work closely with their faculty advisor and other members of their special committee to plan and conduct the research, but they generally have more say in designing the research than do MS students. Normally students take three-four years after the MS degree to complete the PhD.

2. Identify and contact one or more faculty members who share your interests - Look over the biographies of faculty on the Department of Natural Resources web site. Identify one or more faculty members whose interests match yours, and with whom you might be interested in studying. Contact these faculty members by email to express your interest in studying with them. Include in your email a short synopsis of your background and interests in further study.

   This step is important because of the nature of our admissions process. Admissions depends on the following factors: (1) superior student credentials, (2) overlap between the students' interests and the interests of a faculty member who is available to serve as a graduate student advisor, and (3) funding. Students are accepted into the Field of Natural Resources only if a faculty member expresses interest in working with them and presents their folder to the graduate faculty for admission. If a faculty member is interested in working with you, you will still need to have good credentials (minimum combined verbal and quantitative GRE score of 1200 expected for applicants with English as a first language; analytic and biology GRE test scores, undergraduate grades and institution, work experience, research goals, and letters of recommendations also reviewed).

   If you don't get a response from a faculty member, you are free to follow up with another message or phone call, but likely that person is not accepting new students during the semester you plan on starting.

3. Discuss your interests with faculty and current graduate students during a visit, on the phone, or through email. If a faculty member shows interest, discuss with him/her the possibility of visiting Cornell. During your visit, meet with Cornell faculty and current graduate students in your area of interest. Arrange times for meetings well in advance. It is important to meet with several faculty who might share your interests so that you get to see the range of resources to support your graduate program. Current graduate students can provide insight on the graduate program, and may be able to provide housing during your visit (contact our Graduate Field Assistant, Nancy Bowers, at nlb6@cornell.edu for help finding housing).

   During your visit, ask faculty about their research programs and opportunities for funding graduate students. Discuss your plans for graduate school and research interests. Also take note of factors such as: Does the faculty member have an active research program? Does s/he have current graduate students? Are the students progressing satisfactorily toward their degrees? What kinds of funding has the faculty member provided for his/her students? Remember, the purpose of your visit is to find out if Cornell is right for you as well as if you are right for Cornell.

   If you are unable to visit, try to find out the above information through email correspondence and phone calls.

4. Investigate funding opportunities. Most MPS students are self-funded, although there a limited number of Duke Conservation Fellowships for MPS students, and MPS students from former Soviet Republics receive support from the Open Society Institute. Nearly all MS, MS/PhD, and PhD students are funded by a combination of fellowships, research assistantships, and teaching assistantships. Be sure to investigate NSF, EPA, Fullbrights, and other fellowships you may apply for during the application process, and speak with potential faculty advisors about funding they may be able to provide. It is especially critical for international students to secure financial support for their graduate programs from sources external to Cornell.

5. Reflect on whether Cornell is right for you. Remember, the graduate program in the Cornell Field of Natural Resources is very individualized. We allow students a great deal of freedom but expect them to take responsibility for many aspects of their education. To a great degree, the success of your program depends on quality interactions with the chair of your graduate committee.

6. Submit your formal application - You can submit your formal application before or after communicating with potential faculty advisors. It often is helpful for faculty to have your application before you visit or speak with them on the phone or through email. On the other hand, prospective students sometimes revise their graduate study plans through communicating with faculty, and may want to incorporate these changes in their application.

   You can submit applications throughout the year, but students planning to start during the fall are encouraged to submit all their materials prior to December 1. Meeting this deadline allows consideration for University fellowships and a more thorough review by the faculty. Students planning to begin their studies during the spring semester should submit all materials by October 15.

   Applications are available from the Graduate Field of Natural Resources, Fernow Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, (607) 255-2807. You can also download the application materials directly off the web at http://www.gradschool.cornell.edu. Applications must be returned to the Cornell University Graduate School, PO Box 305, Ithaca, NY 14851-0305.