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Dear Prospective
Applicant:
Thank you for your interest in the Food Science Graduate Program
at Penn State
University. 
To complete your application
for admission to our graduate program, you will need to provide the following:
- A completed application form
from the Graduate School at Penn State.
- A
nonrefundable application fee is required (Electronic application $45).
- Graduate
Record Examination (GRE) scores (an original report of scores form is required).
The institution code is 2660, Penn State Univ., University Park, PA.
The department
code is 0107.
- For
international applicants, official TOEFL scores are required. Educational Testing
Service (ETS) will begin to administer a new on-line version of the exam called
TOEFL iBT during 2006. For this reason, the Food Science Program will accept scores
based on one of three formats: the paper version, the computer version, and the
internet version. Each test format has a different scoring system. Comparable
scores that meet The Graduate School's minimum criteria for admission are 80=iBT,
213=Computer version, and 550=paper version. For further information about the
new test version, go to http://www.ets.org/toefl/nextgen/.
This exam must be taken within 3 years of the application date.
- Two
copies of your official current transcript for all baccalaureate and post-baccalaureate
studies. You should have a grade-point average of at least 3.0 for your junior
and senior years of undergraduate study.
- Personal
statement (2-3 pages maximum). Please include the following information.
- Reasons
for choosing food science as a career and your plans for the future.
- Aspects
of food science which you hope to emphasize in graduate work.
- Particular
research interests and career goals.
- Proposed
means of financing graduate work.
- Hobbies
or other special interests.
And
if applicable:
- Previous
graduate work
- Previous
research experience.
- Internship
experience
- Previous experience
in industry or other work experience.
- Three letters
of recommendation (forms included). Please have your references use our recommendation
forms.
- A completed
program application entitled, "Student's Background
and Interest Form," indicating your interest in research of specific
Food Science faculty members (form included).
The
most common type of financial support in our program is a half-time assistantship.
The student normally schedules 9 to 12 credits per semester, receives a stipend
plus a grant-in-aid of tuition, and is assigned tasks which, on the average, require
approximately 20 hours per week. These assistantships are awarded on a competitive
basis. In the 2005/06 academic year, the current annual stipend is approximately
$16,620 for M.S. students. Students are also encouraged to seek scholarships from
organizations such as the Institute of Food Technologists. These scholarships
vary in amount and are based on academic achievements. Some students support their
graduate studies by working for faculty members on an hourly basis. The hours
and amount vary depending upon the agreement established between student and professor.
Though we do accept applications all through the year, most of our incoming
students join us during the Fall semester. We recommend that you send in your
application by January 15 if you would like to be considered for an assistanthip
starting Fall semester. If
you have questions regarding this information, you may contact me at (814) 865-3004
or by e-mail (rca3@psu.edu). We look forward
to receiving your application for admission into our graduate program in Food
Science.
Sincerely,
Ramaswamy C. Anantheswaran
Professor of Food Science
Graduate
Program Coordinator
No single item is used to determine your admission status. Therefore, it is important
for you to provide all of the requested information promptly for processing
of your application.
Frequently
Asked Questions & Answers IF
YOU HAVE READ THE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS FOR FOOD SCIENCE, THEN YOU MAY FORMALLY
APPLY THROUGH THE FOLLOWING LINK 
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