Advice from Applied Science Faculty
To: Prospective Students
From: Prof. Eric Bradley
Re: Advice for applying to our Ph.D. program
I am delighted that you are considering applying to our Ph.D. program in Applied Science at William & Mary. Here is some advice that may be helpful to you. Each Ph.D. student pursues a highly individualized program of study. Our faculty members have a broad range of research interests, which attract students of various different backgrounds and levels of training. Thus, we tailor the academic program to meet the training requirements unique to each student.
The admission decision is based on a good fit between faculty mentor and student. If you have not done so already, you should consult the web pages of core and affiliated faculty members in Applied Science to identify the faculty members whose research interests most closely align with your own. Then begin an email dialog (or better yet, arrange to come and visit) in order to see if there is a good fit between what you want to do and what the faculty members have planned. William & Mary uses an online application system, therefore all application materials can be submitted electronically. Be sure to add any supplementary material you believe will strengthen your application dossier, which could include a CV or any co-authored papers or reports from your research.
Upon applying, the core faculty will evaluate your dossier. Applied Science does not prefilter by GRE or GPA scores, but rather takes a holistic approach to review and evaluate. Applied Science pays close attention to letters of reference and the applicant’s personal statement. Applicants are reviewed for Fall semester admission in mid-February so for full consideration, make certain that your application dossier is complete by January. Do not panic if it takes a few weeks for us to get back to you regarding the admission recommendations. Our full application and review schedule takes several months. Again, communicate any questions or concerns with your prospective advisor in the department as well as the Graduate Program Coordinator Professor Runfola ([[danr]]) who is your primary contact regarding technical issues during the application process.