Admissions FAQ
How do I apply to the Master's program?
How do I apply for a scholarship or financial aid?
What is the mailing address for Master's application materials?
How do I know if the school has received my application and supplementary materials?
Do I need to take the GRE?
Do I need to take the TOEFL?
Can I apply if I have not taken undergraduate science or math classes?
What are the Master’s degree requirements?
What are the general areas of study at FES?
What happens after my application is complete?
What are the criteria for admission to FES?
Do I need to identify a research advisor before I apply?
When will decision letters be mailed?
How much does it cost to attend?
What courses can I take?
Will I have a job after graduation?/What can I do with my degree?
Can I visit FES?
YES! We encourage prospective students to visit campus. Two open houses are held during the fall term (October 23 & December 4). A complete list of our Fall 2010 recruiting events is available here. Information sessions are held on Thursday mornings from 9 to 11 a.m. from September through December 15.
If you cannot attend one of our scheduled events and would like to visit New Haven at a different time, please contact the Admissions Office at fesinfo@yale.edu or 800.825.0330. NOTE: Please plan your visit prior to December 15, 2010. We will be busy processing applications from January – March and will not be available for visitors until the Admitted Student Open House on April 3, 2009 (this event is for admitted students only).
Information sessions are held on Thursday mornings from 9 to 11 a.m. during the months of September through January. Individual appointments are also possible if you are unable to attend an open house or information session, but no visits will be scheduled during March because of the Admissions decision-making process. It is best to visit campus on a Monday through Thursday if possible. Visitors are welcome to sit in on classes of interest with no advance notice. To schedule a visit: fesinfo@yale.edu or 203.432.5106 (tollfree in the US – 800.825.0330).
How do I apply to the Master’s program?
Applicants to the Yale FES master’s program are encouraged to use the online application system. Paper applications are available by request. The application deadline is January 6, 2010.
See: How do I apply to the FES master’s program
How do I apply for a scholarship or financial aid?
Individuals interested in receiving a scholarship from FES must submit the FES Financial Aid and Family Support application forms by February 15th. U.S. citizens and permanent residents must also submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (www.fafsa.ed.gov) by February.
See: Financial Aid
What is the mailing address for Master’s application materials?
Office of Admissions
Yale FES
195 Prospect Street
New Haven, CT 06511
USA
How do I know if FES has received my application and supplemental materials?
The online application system allows you to monitor the status of your application. The Admissions Office will also send an email letting you know that your application has been received and whether or not it is complete. All communications are sent to the email address you include on your application form.
Do I need to take the GRE?
A standardized exam is required for the FES Master’s application, but it does not necessarily have to be the GRE. You can take the GRE, GMAT, or LSAT. We recommend that applicants sit for these exams by the end of December so that scores can be received by the application deadline. Most applicants choose the GRE, but students interested in the joint MBA or JD degree programs should choose the GMAT or LSAT respectively. Applicants taking the LSAT must contact the FES Office of Admissions for special instructions. For further information about these exams or to schedule an appointment, please visit the following websites: www.gre.org, www.mba.com/mba, or www.lsac.org.
Do I need to take the TOEFL?
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required for all applicants for whom English is not a native or customary language of university instruction. Additional information about TOEFL can be found by visiting www.toefl.org/index.html. Applicants should contact the Office of Admissions if the TOEFL is unavailable in a specific country or region. The International English Language Test System (IELTS) may be submitted in this situation. Additional information about IELTS can be found by visiting www.ielts.org.
Can I apply if I have not taken undergraduate science or math classes?
Yale FES welcomes individuals from a variety of undergraduate and professional backgrounds. While undergraduate science and/or math courses are not a prerequisite for admission, they are highly recommended. Introductory course work in the biological and physical sciences, the social sciences, and college mathematics prepare students to take greater advantage of courses at the graduate level. For this reason, the Committee on Admissions favors applicants who have successfully completed a combination of these courses.
What are the Master’s degree requirements?
See: Masters Degrees Offered
What are the general areas of study at FES?
There are nine broad areas of research and study at FES. In addition to a degree type, each applicant is asked to select one general area of study.
See: Focal Areas
What happens after my application is complete?
If your application is completed prior to the January deadline, it will be forwarded to the Committee on Admissions for a thorough review. This consists of a two-tiered, individualized, and random evaluation conducted by 2-4 committee members. Applications are not categorized by degree type or area of interest. The review process occurs during January and February. Therefore, applications received or completed after the January deadline may still be accepted, but there is no guarantee that they will be forwarded to the Committee. For this reason, we encourage applicants to have all materials submitted by the beginning of January.
What are the criteria for admission to FES?
- Completion of an undergraduate degree. Whatever your major, introductory coursework in the biological, physical, and social sciences, plus college mathematics, is preferred.
- Achievement and integrity in your academic and/or professional career.
- Established commitment to professional and/or scholarly engagement in environmental issues, whether at the local, national, or global scale; one or more years of experience post-baccalaureate is a plus.
- Promise of a future career as an environmental leader.
- Demonstrated capacity for critical, creative, entrepreneurial, and strategic thinking.
Do I need to identify a research advisor before I apply?
Yale's environment school is set up differently than most master's degree programs with respect to academic advisors. For the MEM and MF degrees, no selection of a faculty advisor is needed before you apply. However, for the MESc and MFS degrees you must identify up to three faculty members as potential advisors at the time of application. This is because the research degree programs require a more in-depth thesis project. These potential advisors are given the opportunity to review your file before they accept you as a research student. For this reason, applicants are encouraged to contact prospective advisors when they apply to FES.
MEM degree students are assigned an advisor once they arrive on campus in order to help design a course of study, but we encourage our students to collaborate with many faculty members to put together a program that best suits their interests. Of course, if there is a faculty member whose research is of particular interest, prospective students are welcome to ask that person to be their advisor.
When will decision letters be mailed?
Decision letters are electronically posted to your online application account in mid-March. Applicants admitted to the program will also be sent a paper letter to the mailing address listed on the application form.
How much does it cost to attend FES?
Tuition rates are the same for all students, whether you are a CT resident, U.S. citizen, or an international student. Tuition is approximately $27,000 per year, plus $15,000 for books, health insurance and living expenses.
See: Tuition, Fees and Expenses
What courses can I take?
Yale FES offers more than 150 courses. In addition, Master’s students can take up to 50 percent of their courses outside FES. This means that you have the entire Yale University campus at your disposal. Many students choose to take courses in law, business/management, international studies, public health, or languages.
See: Course listings
Will I have a job after graduation/What can I do with my degree?
FES graduates find jobs in the non-profit, private, public, and academic sectors. The Career Development Office at FES offers a number of services to help you find your internship, a job after graduation, and positions later in your career. Among other things, the CDO website contains information on past internship organizations and places of employment immediately following graduation.
See: Careers
