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Application faq's

Applicant Background
I have an undergraduate degree. Can I apply without having done graduate work?
What is the usual profile of an admitted Ph.D. applicant?

Deadlines
What is the application deadline for the doctoral program?
Are applications to the doctoral program accepted for Spring semester?

Application Materials
What materials must be sent in support of an application to the doctoral program?
Do you mail application forms?
What is the GMAT/GRE/TOEFL code for the University of Houston?
Is the statement of purpose important?
Who should write letters of recommendations?

Interview
Is an interview required?
Should I talk to the Ph.D. Coordinator to present my case for admission?

Reconsidering the Decision
I was not accepted. Can you reconsider your admission decision?
One of my letters of recommendation did not get to the Bauer College in time. I was rejected. Can you add the new letter to my file and reconsider the application?

Applicant Background

I only have an undergraduate degree. Can I apply without having done graduate work?

Yes. Although the average applicant has completed some studies at the graduate level prior to application, such work is not a prerequisite for admission. If you have an undergraduate degree in fields such as economics, mathematics, business, engineering, or the physical sciences, you may be well prepared to do a Ph.D. at the Bauer College of Business.

What is the usual profile of an admitted Ph.D. applicant?

Ph.D. applicants are admitted on the basis of past academic performance. Applicants usually have demonstrated good quantitative skills. Last year, the typical accepted Ph.D. student had a GMAT score of 680+ (or parallel score on the GRE for Finance applicants) and an MBA

Deadlines

What is the application deadline for the doctoral program?

The deadline is February 1, because only students who apply early have an opportunity to receive Bauer College scholarship support in addition to their stipend. Also, fellowships often go to early applicants. However, many programs consider applicants who are technically "late." It is sensible to contact by e-mail the coordinator of the program of interest if February 1 has passed, to see whether they have filled their quota or whether it is worthwhile to apply.

Are applications to the doctoral program accepted for Spring semester?

Most departments accept only for Fall semesters, although it is sometimes possible to apply for a spring semester.

Application Materials

What materials must be sent in support of an application to the doctoral program?

Application Checklist	Application form
Official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended. Transcripts from foreign countries must be translated into English by a translation company.	Official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended. Transcripts from foreign countries must be translated into English by a translation company.
Official test scores on the GMAT. Note that GRE scores may be a substitute for those applying to Finance.	Official test scores on the GMAT. Note that GRE scores may be a substitute for those applying to Finance.
Official TOEFL scores if previous degrees were completed in a country in which English is not the primary language.	Official TOEFL scores if previous degrees were completed in a country in which English is not the primary language.
Basic application fee: $45.	Basic application fee: $45, International Evaluation Fee: $75
	Letter of Financial Backing Statement of Understanding
Statement of Academic and Research Interests	Statement of Academic and Research Interests
Three reference letters	Three reference letters

Do you mail application forms?

No. You can download all application forms from the Bauer College Ph.D. admissions page .

What is the GMAT/GRE/TOEFL code for the University of Houston?

The code is XT1-26-69 . (It is listed under University of Houston -University Park.)

Is the statement of purpose important?

Yes. It is a very important component of your application. We are looking for evidence that the applicant understands the nature of the selected Ph.D. program, can articulate scholarly intentions that fit with the current research interests of current faculty, and is academically prepared to successfully undertake the quantitative demands of the program.

This is, in many ways, the most important aspect of an application. We have rejected many applications from individuals with excellent academic credentials who write a statement of purpose that is vague , generic, or otherwise poorly written. Thus, superior academic qualifications (i.e. grades, GMAT/GRE scores) are necessary but not sufficient criteria for admissions.

Who should write letters of recommendations?

We look for letters of recommendations written by former professors, academic advisors, department chairs, etc. Non-academic letters are not very informative of your potential academic performance. Do not send letters written by friends, co-workers, etc. They carry no useful information to us. We'll give more weight to letters written by professors that taught you or worked with you at your more recent school. Again, make sure that the letters of recommendation arrive at the Bauer College of Business by the application deadline.

Interview

Is an interview required?

No. We do call, however, some applicants that we feel are strong candidates (that is, applicants who have passed an initial screen of their credentials). Accordingly, we ask that applicants refrain from attempting to schedule an interview or visit until a completed application has been received and evaluated. After initial review, some of the promising applicants will be contacted by one of our faculty to talk about their interest in our Ph.D. program.

Should I talk to the Ph.D. Coordinator to present my case for admission?

No. There is no need to call any member of the Bauer College once your application has been sent. Your application should speak for itself.

Reconsidering the Decision

I was not accepted. Can you reconsider your admission decision?

No. All admission decisions are final. Conditional admissions are also not possible.

One of my letters of recommendation did not get to the Bauer College in time. I was rejected. Can you add the new letter to my file and reconsider the application?

No. The Bauer College will not reconsider any application once it has already been evaluated. It is the responsibility of the applicant to make sure that all the required and supporting material get to the Bauer College by the application deadline.