For questions and answers specific to the School of MME, please review the information below. For questions and answers specific to the University, please review the Graduate School’s FAQ page.
- 1. Can I have my application evaluated without paying the fee?
- No. It is department policy that before an application can be evaluated, the student has to apply, pay the application fee, and submit all required application material. It is the University’s policy that the application fee can not be waived for any reason.
- 2. Is there a deadline for receipt of my application?
- Yes. Our department adheres to the University priority deadlines (January 10 for the fall semester and July 1 for the spring semester). If you wish to apply after the priority deadline, please check with us first to determine whether we are still accepting applications.
- 3. Is it okay if I apply to more than one degree program?
- There is no rule limiting how many degree programs you can apply to. However, be aware that if a student is applying to three or more degree programs, our department may question whether the student is really interested in our programs.
- 4. Is the Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering offered at all campuses?
- There are two separate MS ME programs. One program is offered at the Pullman and Tri-Cities campuses, and the other program is offered at the Vancouver campus (there is no MS ME program offered at the Spokane campus). When you apply online, you need to choose which program you want.
- 1. If you want the Pullman and/or Tri-Cities one, choose Degree Plan “Mechanical Engineering (MSME)” plus choose Location Pullman and/or Tri-Cities (Tri-Cities applications are processed through the main campus, Pullman).
- 2. If you want the Vancouver one, choose Degree Plan “Mechanical Engineering-Vancouver (MSMECH)” plus choose Location Vancouver.
- 3. If you want to apply to both programs (Pullman/Tri-Cities and Vancouver), choose both Degree Plans and the appropriate Locations.
- 5. What GPA should I list in the online application?
- There are two times when your GPA is calculated. The first time is considered unofficial, and is when you are asked to self-report your GPA in the online application (the application has a link to click in order to calculate it). The second time is considered official, and is when the Graduate School determines it when the review process is nearing completion. Remember that the GPA that the Graduate School determines is based on the student’s most recent two years (60 semester hours or 90 quarter hours) of graded coursework. If you aren’t sure how to calculate your GPA, leave that space blank on the application so you don’t run the risk of automatically being denied admission for not meeting the minimum requirements.
- 6. I am an international student. How do I convert my GPA?
- If your GPA is in a format other than a 4-point scale, convert it from the current format prior to reporting it on your application. International students may find this link helpful for doing the conversion calculations. If a letter grade appears on your conversion, then the grade point equivalents are as follows: A=4, B=3, C=2, D=1, F=0.
- 7. My GPA is below the required minimum. Can I still be admitted?
- No, except in rare cases. Our department adheres to the University policy of strictly enforcing the minimum GPA requirement (3.0 GPA for MS, 3.4 GPA for PhD). Exceptions to this policy are made on a case-by-case basis.
- 8. Does the department require GRE/GMAT scores?
- Yes, GRE/GMAT scores are required for domestic and international students. Our department does not require a minimum score for admission, but the scores are considered in the review process. Scores must be sent to university code 4705.
- 9. Does the department require TOEFL scores?
- Yes, TOEFL scores are required for international students. Our department adheres to the University’s minimum TOEFL score requirement (550 paper, 213 computer, 80 internet). Scores must be sent to university code 4705.
- 10. Do you have letter of recommendation templates?
- When you submit your online application, your references will be contacted automatically through the online application system and asked to submit electronically a recommendation form. If your references want to send a hard copy of their reference letter rather than using the online form, they are allowed to do that and the letters should be sent to the Graduate School. However, we do not have a template they can use. The letter should include such things as how long the person has known you, in what capacity (i.e., your instructor), how you compare with your peer group in academic ability, creativity, initiative, and overall promise as a graduate student, etc. Our department prefers to have recommendation letters from faculty who know your scholastic abilities although letters from other professionals will be accepted.
- 11. What should I include in my Statement of Purpose?
- Like the majority of graduate programs at WSU, our department does not interview their applicants. Thus, the statement of purpose might be the only part of your application that lets us know who you are. It should state your engineering experience, your reason for applying to graduate school, your research interests, what research you want to work on while here, and your long-term goals. Please try to limit the document length to one page.
- 12. What counts most when the School of MME evaluates applications?
- There is not one specific thing that counts the most. The University and our department require certain material in order to get a complete picture of you. Without every piece, we are not able to do that. This is why your application must be complete before an admission decision can be made.
- 13. I participated in the School of MME's BS-MS Program. Do I still need to apply to graduate school, and am I automatically given an assistantship?
- You must apply to graduate school just like a regular applicant and complete your application before an admission decision can be made. Admission can be denied if your application is not completed. There is no guarantee of financial support for BS-MS Program students, although every effort is made to find funding.
- 14. I already started a graduate degree program at another university but want to transfer to WSU. Is this possible?
- Like most universities in the U.S., our department has a policy of not accepting students who have already started a graduate degree program at another university unless the student can provide a letter of release. This letter should come from and be signed by the Chair of their department (or the Chair of their Graduate Studies Committee), and should indicate that the student is free to leave the program and state a reason why. If the student can provide such a letter, our department would also need a written response from the student indicating why they wish to leave the program. These are then reviewed along with the other required application material.
- 15. I want to have financial support. What is available and how can I apply for it?
- Our department has two kinds of financial support available for both domestic and international students: a Research Assistantship (RA) and a Teaching Assistantship (TA). All applicants are automatically considered for them.
- The majority of our assistantships are only available at the main Pullman campus for fulltime students starting in the fall semester. Very few assistantships are available for students starting in the spring semester.
- The majority of our assistantships are of the RA type, awarded by individual faculty who have grant and/or contract funding. How many are awarded to new students is different each semester and depends on what funding is available. Competition for such support is very high. The students get these by directly contacting the faculty by email after their application file is complete.
- We have a limited number of TA slots. They are awarded primarily to continuing students but on occasion to an entering graduate student. They can not be applied for, but if you are interested in one please let us know (some students want the teaching experience as part of their career goals).
- For a student to be considered for any assistantship, all application material should be submitted by December/early January (for the summer or fall semester), or July or early August (for the spring semester).
- The majority of our assistantships are only available at the main Pullman campus for fulltime students starting in the fall semester. Very few assistantships are available for students starting in the spring semester.
- 16. What exactly is an assistantship?
- An assistantship is a half-time appointment that requires a minimum of twenty hours work per week with a monthly salary of approximately $1,374.50 (MS) or $1,458.50 (PhD). All assistantships include a monthly salary, a tuition waiver, and special health and dental insurance. The student still has to pay a residual fee of about $717 per semester, which fee pays for Health & Wellness Services, Pullman Transit, the Student Recreation Center, and a small portion of tuition not covered by the assistantship. During the term of their appointment, the student is expected to be at work each normal workday, including periods when the University is not in session with the exception of the legal holidays designated by the Board of Regents.
- Assistantships are considered taxable income, and federal income tax is deducted from the salary (Washington State has no state income tax).
- In our department, appointments are made on a semester-by-semester basis (fall semester is 8/16 to 12/31; spring semester is 1/1 to 5/15; summer can be all or part of 5/16 to 8/15). Assistantships are usually awarded for the academic year (8/16 to 5/15) with summer funding given if funds are available.
- Non-resident students on an assistantship are expected to become a resident of Washington State as soon as they are eligible (after one year).
- 17. I want a scholarship. What is available and how can I apply for it?
- Some scholarships are available for domestic students, but they can not be applied for directly; all domestic applicants are considered for them. Scholarship decisions (for students applying for the fall semester) are made very early in the spring semester. We rarely have scholarships available for students applying for the spring semester.
- Unfortunately we do not have any scholarships available to offer to international students.
- 18. I was offered admission but not an assistantship. If I come using my own funding, can I expect to get an RA or TA later?
- No. If you decide to come using your own funding, please plan on providing your own funding throughout your graduate program. Our department has limited assistantships available every semester, and competition for them is very high. We can't guarantee that there will be any future funding available to offer you.
- 19. I am an international student and have been offered a TA. Do I need to do anything special?
- Yes. All international graduate students whose native language is not English and who have not previously had a TA at WSU are required to take an English Proficiency Examination (also called an ITA evaluation). The exam should be scheduled just after you arrive at WSU. Information about it can be found here.
- 20. Can I have a friend or family member check on the status of my application for me?
- No. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. This law prohibits WSU from revealing any information about a student's records to anyone other than the student. Our department is always happy to provide you with your status, you just need to ask.
- 21. When will I know if I have been admitted or denied?
- There is no deadline for notification. The MME Graduate Studies Committee will only review your application once it is complete both with the Graduate School office and our department. Because of the large number of applications we receive, the review process can take several months. Applications for the fall are usually reviewed from December to April, and for the spring from July to October. Once our Graduate Studies Committee has made an admission decision, we will notify you by e-mail as to whether we are recommending to the Graduate School that you be admitted or denied. The Graduate School will then send you an official letter with the final decision.
- 22. I haven't been informed of an admission decision yet, but have determined that I'm not able to attend the semester that I applied for. What can I do?
- You are allowed to update your application to the following academic semester without having to reapply, but only if you make a written request to our department that it be updated before the semester begins that you applied for. If you miss the deadline, you must reapply for admission and pay the application fee again. You are allowed to update your application a total of two times.
- 23. I have been admitted but have determined that I'm not able to attend the semester that I applied for. What can I do?
- See the answer above. If you have been offered an assistantship, be aware that the assistantship offer is only valid for the semester it has been offered for. When an application is updated, it is given a new chance for admission or denial, and a new chance for an assistantship offer.
- 24. I have been denied admission. Can I reapply?
- Yes. If you were denied admission, you are allowed to reapply for admission and you will have to pay the application fee again. Some reasons for denial can include 1) you did not meet one or more of the minimum requirements, 2) you met the minimum requirements but our department was not able to match you with a faculty member who had similar research interests and who was able to take on a new student at this time, or 3) you met the minimum requirements but your qualifications did not make the best fit with our programs and research direction as those of other applicants. An excellent student can still be denied admission.
- 25. I have just been told that my application was incomplete by the deadline. Why wasn't I told that items were missing to complete it?
- Our department makes every effort to remind you of missing items, but ultimately it is the student's responsibility to ensure that their application file is complete both with the Graduate School office and our department.