Admissions

Requirements for Admission

There are five requirements for admission to the School of Graduate Studies.

1. A baccalaureate degree from a college or university approved by a regional accrediting agency
2. Grade point average of at least 3.0 for undergraduate work and 3.0 for graduate work, on a 4-point scale and based upon all work for which a grade is given
3. Satisfactory scores on the Graduate Record Examination
4. Satisfactory standing at the most recent educational institution attended
5. Acceptance in a Graduate program

Individual Programs may establish requirements more rigid than the minimal standards of the School of Graduate Studies, so a student meeting minimal School requirements may not be adequately prepared to enter graduate study in a particular program.

All international students must present acceptable scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)  or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination before they will be accepted as graduate students. These examinations are offered several times a year throughout the world.

Graduate students, who apply for admission to the LSU School of Medicine, or any other professional school, shall not be enrolled in the professional school until they have completed the graduate degree toward which they are working.

Types of Admission

Unconditional Admission - Applicants who meet all requirements are normally granted unconditional admission.

Probationary Admission - Applicants who fail to meet all qualifications but are judged by the program concerned and by the Dean to show promise for successful graduate work may be considered for probationary admission.

Provisional Admission - Applicants who appear to be admissible but who are unable, for good reason, to supply the required credentials prior to the stated deadline may request provisional admission. In such cases, complete credentials must be received not later than sixty days after the first day of classes (forty-five days in the Summer term).

Admission Procedure

Complete the School of Graduate Studies Application Form available on the School of Graduate Studies Website.

Application Fee - The application fee for the School of Graduate Studies is $30. Make checks or money orders payable to “LSU Health Sciences Center.” The fee of $30 must be submitted each time you apply to a program.

Official Report of GRE Scores - Request that the Educational Testing Service send an official report of your Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores to the School of Graduate Studies. The code is 6600. We do not require that you take the GRE Aptitude Test. We also suggest that since it takes at least six weeks and sometimes longer for the official GRE reports to reach us, you might like to submit a photocopy of your “Student Copy” of the scores. This would enable the Admissions Committee to evaluate your application while waiting for the official scores to arrive. We require a total combined score of 300 on the Verbal and Quantitative segments as a minimum for consideration.

Official Transcripts - Send one copy of your official transcript from each college or university that you have attended (including other institutions in the LSU System). Transcripts that show transfer credits from other colleges you have attended are not acceptable. We require that the transcripts be sent from the Registrar’s Office of your University directly to this Office. Transcripts issued to students are not considered official.

Goal Letter - All programs require a letter from applicants stating your long-term and short-term goals in relation to your program of study.

Letters of Recommendation - Arrange for at least two letters of recommendation to be sent to the School of Graduate Studies (preferably from professors who have taught you in the basic sciences). Use the Letter of Recommendation Form provided on the Website.

TOEFL/IELTS - International students must submit scores for both the GRE and either the TOEFL or IELTS.

Send the 7 items described above to the following address.

Student Affairs Office
School of Graduate Studies
LSU Health Sciences Center
433 Bolivar Street, Suite 826
New Orleans, LA 70112-2223

The completed application, including transcripts, letters of recommendation, goal letters, and GRE scores, will be sent to the Program for review and recommendation. Students will be notified of acceptance into the graduate program by the graduate coordinator or department head and then by the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies.

Deadlines

Deadline dates for each Program vary, depending upon the number and quality of applicants, so early application is advised. You may contact the Graduate Studies Office at (504) 568-2211, and your call will be transferred to the proper department to inquire about their deadlines.

Reapplication

Students once registered in the School of Graduate Studies who wish to resume work after an absence of more than one semester will be required to submit an application for re-admission at least ten days before registration. Supplementary transcripts must he submitted if any work has been taken at another institution during the interim. Exceptions to this requirement must be by successful petition of the Dean.