Admissions FAQ

How do I apply?
What if I can't find the school code or there are more than one of them?
I have already applied on-line, now what?
What happens if I did apply more then once by accident?
What if I can't get everything there by the deadline?
What else do I need to send?
What about my transcripts?
How can I check to see if everything I need to send is there yet?
How will I know about my application status?
How will I know about my admission status?
What about financial aid?
How do I contact my department?
What address can I use to express mail something to the Graduate College?
What about a phone number?
Where are the instructions for filling out the online application?




How do I apply?
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First, please be aware that application to graduate studies here at the University of Arizona is a two step process. You must apply both to the Graduate College and to your intended major department. The exceptions to this are the MBA and Chemistry program where, when you apply on-line with these programs, your application to the Graduate College is automatically facilitated by your department. When applying to the Graduate College you can apply by three different methods. Please choose only ONE of the methods. If you apply with multiple methods you will end up with multiple applications and fee charges. The Graduate College application site is: http://apply.grad.arizona.edu. Do not be concerned by small differences in the format of the questions between the on-line application and the paper application, either one will be sufficient. The only receipt you will receive for your on-line application is the e-mail confirmation we send after you apply.

What if I can't find the school code or there are more than one of them?
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If more then one school code comes up while you are entering your on-line application simply choose the first one associated with your particular school. If you are unable to find a school code simply leave the code number blank and fill in the complete name of your school in the name field provided.

I have already applied on-line, now what?
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For questions about what is to be submitted to your department please contact your department directly. Basically the Graduate College will accept TOEFL and GRE scores electronically from ETS, our school code is 4832. Please contact your department about what would be the last date they would accept for submission of these test scores, the Graduate College can not make that determination. In addition to the application and fee the Graduate College will need a Financial Guarantee form from you before any visa documents can be prepared. If you do not need visa documents prepared you will not need to submit this form. You may send this form later then the application and it is not subject to the published deadline dates. If you are a domestic student and an Arizona Resident you will need to fill out the Domicile Affidavit form. Only students who are claiming ARIZONA RESIDENCY need fill out this form. We do not have the option of letting you print a copy of your on-line application, although it is something we are working on for future enhancements of the program, but your department can access a printable version for their records.

What happens if I did apply more then once by accident?
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If you are charged more then one fee due to a multiple submission please e-mail Teresa M. Embry at tembry@grad.arizona.edu with the multiple charges details. She will need to know your name and student ID (if known), when you applied, how you applied, and the details of why you believe you were charged more than once. Please understand that if you submitted your on-line application multiple times our computer staff typically will catch those duplications of application and charge upon importing and correct them immediately. Please contact your banking institution to verify that multiple charges have not already been voided before contacting Teresa.

What if I can't get everything there by the deadline?
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If you have questions about when your application must be received please discuss this with your intended major department. Although deadline dates are published on our web site, any detailed explanation about which portions of your submission materials must be received by the deadline is up to your intended major department. Many have different expectations and dates so you will need to contact them directly. If you are not sure of how to contact your major department please look up your department through our Graduate College on-line program descriptions at: http://grad.arizona.edu/Prospective_Students/Program_Descriptions/.

What else do I need to send?
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Review the attached material about submission instructions. If you are still not clear on what else must be sent please contact your major department. They are the only ones who can extend deadline dates or make special allowances for items arriving late. The Graduate College will use the official transcripts you have provided to your major department to process your final admission after your department has made a positive recommendation for your admission. If you are not sure of how to contact your major department please look up your department through our Graduate College on-line program descriptions at: http://grad.arizona.edu/Prospective_Students/Program_Descriptions/.

What about my transcripts?
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Effective this year the Graduate College no longer requires that you send your transcripts to us directly. The Graduate College will use the official transcripts you have provided to your major department to process your final admission after your department has made a positive recommendation for your admission. If you are not sure of how to contact your major department please look up your department through our Graduate College on-line program descriptions at: http://grad.arizona.edu/Prospective_Students/Program_Descriptions/.

How can I check to see if everything I need to send is there yet?
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The best way to check on completion status is to contact your major department. The details of what is needed, so that your file can be presented to their committees, can only be determined by communicating with your major department directly. Check out the 'How do I contact my department' question below.

How will I know about my application status?
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We do not yet have on-line application tracking options although we are hoping to have such features available in the future. For now if you have applied on-line you will received your user name and password directly. You can use this information in contacting your major department to make sure they have all of your materials. Once you have applied on-line you are already in the Graduate College data base. If you have mailed your application to the Graduate College our mail room sends an e-mail to international students to let them know their application has been received here. If you are a domestic student you should send a post card with your mail in application so that can be sent back to you upon arrival of your application in our offices. Once your application is in our system no further action will be taken until your major department makes a recommendation. You will be e-mailed as soon as a positive recommendation has been made by your department to us. We will then begin processing your application for final admission. We will always contact your department first for any needed information or materials. Only if your department does not have the material will we then contact you, typically by e-mail. You will be instructed if any needed items are missing from your file only after a positive recommendation has been made by your department. In the meantime it is important to check with your major department to assure they have everything they need to properly evaluate your file for possible admission into their program.

How will I know about my admission status?
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It is always best to contact your intended major department first. The Graduate College is the administrative branch of your admission process, but your major department is where the initial decisions about your admission will take place. Most of your documentation and information is provided to your major department, not the Graduate College. If there is something else that we need we would contact your major department first before considering it not here. Always maintain contact with your major department when trying to find out when decisions will be made and when you might expect to hear back from our University regarding your admission status.

What about financial aid?
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You will need to contact your major department and/or the financial aid office. The Graduate College sponsors many different programs but all decisions about this funding is done at the departmental level. Only your department can tell you their particular funding options and what may be available to you. The financial aid office can assist domestic students with student loans and grants only after a FAFSA has been completed. You can fill out and check on your FAFSA at this link: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/. For financial aid at the University of Arizona please check out this site: http://finaid.arizona.edu/.

How do I contact my department?
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You will need to look that contact information up on our Graduate College Program Description Guide located at: http://grad.arizona.edu/Prospective_Students/Program_Descriptions/Graduate_Programs.php. From this site you will choose your major program and follow the link to find out all of the contact information for that specific major. Some departments keep very specific instructions in this area, others supply general information only, but all departments maintain the best method of contact for their graduate student applicants through this guide.

What address can I use to express mail something to the Graduate College?
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The Graduate College physical address for admissions documents is:
University of Arizona
Graduate College Admissions
1401 E. University Blvd, #322
Tucson, AZ 85721

For regular mailing it is best to use the following address:
University of Arizona
Graduate College Admissions
Administration 322
PO Box 210066
Tucson, AZ 85721-0066

What about a phone number'
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It is always best to send e-mail rather then call our offices. Our office staff serves all 118 departments on the University of Arizona campus for graduate services. If you do not find the answer to your question on this web page, please contact me directly at the e-mail address listed below. These phone numbers are provided for express mail, embassy contact, or emergency services.
The main line phone number for the Graduate College is: (520) 621-3471
The main line phone number for Graduate College Admissions is: (520) 621-3132

Where are the instructions for filling out the online application'
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You can download a Microsoft Word document containing the Online Application Instructions.

If you find you still have questions that do not seem appropriate for your major department you may contact the Graduate College Admissions area by email.

Thank you for your interest in the University of Arizona and we look forward to receiving your application soon.