How to Apply (Graduate Studies)

Are you interested in becoming a graduate student in the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences? If so, please follow the official application process described below.

PROCEDURE

  1. Applicants wishing to pursue graduate study in Plant and Soil Sciences must take the General GRE (Graduate Requirement Examination). See http://www.gre.com/edindex.html for details.
  2. Students from nations in which English is not the primary spoken/written language are required to take the TOEFL (Testing for English as a Foreign Language) Exams. Information on the TOEFL exam can be obtained at http://www.toefl.com .
  3. Once the GRE (and TOEFL exam, if applicable) has been taken, go to the Mississippi State Office of Graduate Studies website (http://www.msstate.edu/dept/grad/). Online and/or downloadable application forms can be accessed by selecting the “Admissions” link in the web menu. Alternatively, one can go directly to the Admissions page via the link http://www.msstate,edu/dept/grad/admission/. At the top of the Admissions page under the header there are four tabs- Graduate Domestic, Graduate Unclassified, Graduate International, and Graduate Readmissions.Select the tab that most appropriately describes your status.
  4. Select either “Apply Online” or “Apply by Mail.” If you choose the former option, you will be asked to set up a MyBanner account with Mississippi State University.
  5. Open the online application or the PDF version. Fill out Section I according to the instructions.
  6. In Section II of the application, you will see the following question:

    Major Field you wish to study ______________________

    You must enter Plant Science, Soil Science, Agronomy, and/or Horticulture in the blank. This does not mean that you will be obliged to do agronomy or horticulture research, but it will ensure that the application is directed to the Department of Plant and Soil Sciences.
  1. Immediately next to the “Major Field” line is the “Subspecialty” line.

    Subspecialty (minor): ________________________

    If you would like to work with a specific faculty member or with a subset of faculty members, enter a subspecialty term that describes their research (e.g. turfgrass, remote sensing, biomass crops, floristry, genomics, etc.). To be extra-sure that your application is sent to a faculty member with whom you wish to work, express this wish in your application background/objectives statement.
  1. You can choose to apply to either a “Masters of Science” (M.S.) or “Doctor of Philosophy” (Ph.D.) programs.
  2. If you fill out the application online, you can submit is electronically. If you print out an application and fill it in, send it to the following address:

Office of Admissions
P.O. Box G
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, MS 39762-5507