SOCIOLOGY GRADUATE ADMISSIONS FAQs
What is the required score on the GRE? What is the minimum GPA?
There is no minimum requirement or cut-off point. The Admissions Committee takes all parts of your application into consideration and reviews it as a whole. On average, most entering students have GRE scores in the 80th percentile and GPAs of 3.5 or higher.
What is the required score for the TOEFL?
The minimum allowable TOEFL score is 560 for the paper exam and 220 for the computer exam.
What is the deadline for application submission?
The application deadline is December 15th. All materials (including letters of recommendation and transcripts) must be in our office by December 15. No exceptions will be made.
What are the types of scholarships available and what are their deadlines?
If the department budget allows, we try to fund all incoming students for 5 years through a combination of fellowships and Graduate Students Teaching/Assistant positions. This includes full tuition, medical coverage and a stipend. Both the Rackham Graduate School and the Department of Sociology have funds available for purposes such as travel to a conference or for emergency expenses. Students should first apply to the Rackham Graduate School for funds before applying to the department. The Rackham Fellowship website is http://www.rackham.umich.edu/Fellowships/
What is the expected duration of the graduate program?
We hope that students will finish their dissertation at the end of the fifth year, though it may take longer depending on the nature of the topic and the research methods employed.
I am an international student, do I need to submit the financial affidavit?
No. International students will only be asked to submit a financial affidavit if they are admitted. You do not need to include it with your application materials.
Can I send in the copy of my GRE/TOEFL scores that I received from ETS?
You can submit an unofficial copy of your test scores with your application if you like; however, the official copy from ETS must
be sent to Rackham and to the department. Without your official scores, your application will not be complete.
When are final selection decisions made?
The Admissions Committee cannot predict how long it will take to review all applications since the number of applications vary from year to year. In years past, final decisions were made in late February/early March.
Can I be put on a waitlist if I am not initially admitted?
We do not keep any form of waitlist; however, you are welcome to reapply next year.
I applied last year and was not admitted. Can I reuse any of my application materials?
Yes. You will still need to submit an online application; however, if you wish to reuse your letters of recommendation, transcripts, writing sample, or statement of purpose just email us and let us know: sociology-graduate-program@umich.edu.
Can I schedule a visit to campus to meet a specific faculty member?
Faculty schedule their own appointments, so if you are interested in speaking with specific faculty members you should contact them directly. The link to our faculty members by research interest is http://www.lsa.umich.edu/soc/directories/research.asp.
Please provide me with information on the joint programs.
The Department of Sociology is not the home department of any of our joint programs. For more information on the joint program with Public Policy/Social Work/Women's Studies, you should contact the School of Public Policy/School of Social Work/Women's Studies Department.
- Public Policy
- email: fordschoolphd@umich.edu
- (734) 764-3490
- Social Work
- email: ssw.phd.info@umich.edu
- (734) 763-5768
Should my letters of recommendation be sent separately or with the rest of my application?
Letters of recommendation can now be submitted online with the online application. If your recommenders wish to send a hard copy instead, the letters should be sent directly to our department by the recommender.
Since I am doing a Masters program in the US, do I need to take the TOEFL?
No. If you will be receiving a degree from a U.S. English-speaking university, you are not required to take the TOEFL.
I will be graduating this year/semester so my transcript is not complete, can I still apply?
Yes, you can still apply. Send us a current copy of your transcript now and then once your grades (and/or degree) are posted, send us an updated copy.
Which faculty should I contact in regards to a specific topic of research?
You can find faculty listed by their research interests on our website:
http://www.lsa.umich.edu/soc/directories/research.asp
How can I apply to the Master's program?
We currently do not offer an MA program. We only offer a PhD program.
What is the GRE report code?
UofM institution code: 1839
Sociology Dept. code: 2102
Should I send more than three letters of recommendation?
You may send more than three letters of recommendation; although it is not necessarily beneficial. Because three is the requirement, some members of the Admissions Committee may choose to only read three regardless of the number submitted.
Can I use my old GRE scores that were a different format?
Yes. GRE scores are valid for five years from the test date. The Admissions Committee will take into consideration the different formats of the exam.
How do I get an application fee waiver?
If you feel you are eligible for an application fee waiver, please contact the Rackham Admissions Office at (734) 764-8129 (rackadmis@umich.edu). The department does not handle application fees.
I applied online and included my Statement of Purpose and Writing Sample, do I need to send those to the department as well?
No. If you applied online, the department will be able to access anything you submitted on the embark website.
How can I transfer into your graduate program?
The Sociology graduate program doesn't transfer students into our program. You can apply to be admitted into the program, and once admitted you can petition to the Committee on the Administration of Graduate Affairs (CAGA) to have previous coursework count toward your course requirements and to reduce the amount of credits required. It is not guaranteed that any or all of your previous coursework will be approved.
One of my letters of recommendation will not arrive until after the 15th; will you still accept it?
We will only accept the letter if it arrives by December 15th. That is our application deadline and it will be firmly enforced.
Does an A+ = 4.3?
No. Your previous coursework is evaluated on a 4.0 scale:
- A = 4.0
- A- = 3.7
- B+ = 3.3
- B = 3.0
- B- = 2.7
- C+= 2.3
- C = 2.0
- C- = 1.7
- D+= 1.3
- D = 1.0
The online application asks me to select a program area. Do I need to choose one now?
No, you do not need to select a program area now. This will not affect your admission eligibility or the Admissions Committee's decision.
Can I apply to both the Sociology Ph.D. program as well as the Sociology and (Public Policy/Social Work/Women's Studies) joint program?
Yes, you can apply to multiple programs; however, each application requires that you submit a separate application fee.
Do you think my GPA/GRE/Writing Sample is good enough to get in?
The Admissions Committee takes all parts of your application into consideration and reviews it as a whole. No evaluation of your application will be made before the Admissions Committee makes its decision.
What are the graduate student support groups for students of color?
- Students of Color of Rackham (SCOR)
- http://www.umich.edu/~scorweb
- SCOR is a network for Rackham graduate and professional students at the University of Michigan. SCOR is dedicated to the social, cultural, and academic well-being of students of color of African, Asian, Latino, and Native American descent, and also welcomes students of other cultures, ethnicities, and international origins.
- Sociologists of Color (SOC)
- A network of students of color within the Sociology department
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