Apply to Masters Program

http://www.wes.org/IMPORTANT NOTE: Do not mail unofficial paper copies of transcripts, grade reports or mark sheets to apply to Yale F&ES. Unofficial documents should be uploaded online and official documents only should be mailed to Yale F&ES. If admitted, however, you must submit official or certified transcripts for all registered coursework from each college or university you have attended before enrolling at Yale F&ES. All offers of admission are conditioned on the receipt and verification of official documents.

1. Completed online application form.
2. Personal statement (NO MORE THAN 650 WORDS)
   • Describe your academic and career objectives and how Yale F&ES can help you achieve them.
   • Include other considerations that explain why you seek admission to F&ES and your interests in the environmental field.
3. Supplemental statements (NO MORE THAN 300 WORDS)
   • MESc or MFS: Write one short paragraph for each advisor you would like to work with describing why you want to work with them and why they are a good match to serve as your advisor to your research project.
   • 1-year MEM or MF: Explain how relevant professional experience in the environmental or forestry field have provided experiential learning equivalent to one year of academic study.
   • 5-year MEM or MESc (only available to Yale College undergraduates): In outline format, identify undergraduate coursework satisfying prerequisites and your proposed senior-year courses.
   • TOEFL or IELTS: In paragraph format, describe any educational, professional, and/or personal experiences that reflect your knowledge of the English language (e.g. courses, internships, study-abroad, etc).
4. Résumé or curriculum vitae (Do not send hard copies; they will not be read or returned.)
   • Include dates of service, employers, titles, nature of duties, and any significant volunteer experience.
     • Please include a notation for each job/internship/volunteer position you have held describing whether the position was full or part time.
   • List also original research work, reports, or publications.
5. Three letters of reference (Extra letters will not be accepted.)
   • Academic letters and/or letters from professional supervisors are preferred. These individuals can evaluate your scholarship, professional activities, leadership skills, and career goals.
   • The submission of the recommendation form and a one- to two-page letter is expected. Letters from family, friends or nonsupervisory colleagues are not acceptable.
6. Official transcripts
   • A four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. institution or the international equivalent.
     • Applicants with a three-year degree from an accredited international institution are eligible to apply, but potential admission will depend upon an equivalency evaluation of your degree. Most evaluations can be done at F&ES upon submission, but in certain cases WES or ECE evaluations may be required after review.
   • A scanned or electronic copy of each transcript from every college or university you have ever attended.
     • Electronic transcripts must officially list your name and the name of your college/university. Documents may not be altered by applicant.
     • If you have already completed a bachelors degree at the time of completion, please ensure that the transcript submitted for that institution shows the date of degree conferral.
     • Study abroad or other transcripts are not required if your degree-granting institution transcript includes the courses AND grades taken at another school.
   • If submitting official transcripts, all final transcripts must include the degree type and graduation/degree conferral date.
   • Although not required for admission, applicants completing a bachelor’s degree outside of the United States or Canada are encouraged to submit a transcript evaluation from World Education Services (wes.org) or Educational Credential Evaluators (www.ece.org). The evaluation should be a course-by-course or ICAP evaluation of all transcripts and diplomas (undergraduate and graduate) and must included a certification of U.S. bachelor’s degree equivalency. Applicants are responsible for any fees associated with these evaluations.
     
     For WES or ECE evaluations: Submit your official transcripts/diplomas directly to WES or ECE and not to Yale. F&ES does not need to see your transcripts if you use one of these services.
     
     Official (notarized) English translations are required for academic records and transcripts not published in English. A certified translation of the diploma certificate must also be uploaded if the transcript does not include the date of graduation and the type of degree awarded.
     
     Attention applicants from China: Admitted students submitting transcripts and degree certificates from Chinese Universities MUST arrange for a verification report of your university transcript with the China Academic Degree and Graduate Education Development Center (CDGDC). Do not request your verification report from the CDGDC until your degree has been awarded. The report must be mailed directly to the Office of Admission and Financial Aid by the CDGDC, rather than by you or any third party. Any transcript not mailed by the CDGDC will not be considered as a final official transcript.
7. Official GRE, GMAT or LSAT score report
   • GRE: institution code = 3996; there is no department code (www.gre.org); GMAT: institution code = 3TJ-WT-45 (www.mba.com/mba)
     • Copies sent by applicants will not be accepted.
     • Name on test exam must match name on application exactly. You must use your “legal” name on all materials.
   • Tests taken by December 15 will be considered “received” by the deadline.
   • LSAT: for current applicants to Pace/Vermont/Yale Law Schools joint degree programs only. LSAC will not send score reports to Yale F&ES (lsac.org). If you take the LSAT, you must contact the Office of Admissions or Registrar’s Office at a law school to which you have applied and ask that they fax or email a copy of score report to Yale F&ES: 203.432.5528 or fesinfo@yale.edu.
8. Official TOEFL and IELTS test score report
   • Required if your native language is not English or if English was not your primary language of instruction at your degree-granting undergraduate institution.
   • TOEFL: institution code = 3996; there is no department code (ets.org/toefl)
     • Minimum iBT = 100/120
   • IELTS: institution code = 3996; there is no department code (ielts.org)
     • Minimum overall band = 7.0 (please note: you must receive a minimum of a 6.5 on each individual section)
   • Copies or reproductions of test score reports will not be accepted by Yale F&ES. Score reports must be sent directly from the testing service.
9. Application fee
   • US $80.00 (Submitted by credit card or electronic transfer via the online application.)
   • Application fee waiver request are considered on a case by case basis and are based completely on financial need. Fee waivers MUST be requested no later than the application deadline. To request a fee waiver, one must submit the fee waiver request form to fesinfo@yale.edu. The form is available here. Please note that current college students applying for a fee waiver MUST also submit an official letter from their financial aid office attesting to their financial hardship in order to be considered. Returning Peace Corps Fellows who qualify for the Coverdell Fellowship must also fill out this application form.

We look for students capable of making effective contributions to scientific knowledge or to professional service in addressing environmental problems. Special weight is given to relevant experiences after graduation from college. Clarity regarding professional career goals is a critically important part of the applicant's personal statement. Admissions staff and faculty review teams read the applications submitted to the Master’s degree program. Final admissions decisions rest on an integrated assessment of the components described above. 

The University is committed to basing judgments concerning the admission, education, and employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities and affirmatively seeks to attract to its faculty, staff, and student body qualified persons of diverse backgrounds. In accordance with this policy and as delineated by federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of that individual's sex, race, color, religion, age, disability, status as a protected veteran, or national or ethnic origin; nor does Yale discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression.

University policy is committed to affirmative action under law in employment of women, minority group members, individuals with disabilities, and protected veterans.

Inquiries concerning these policies may be referred to Valarie Stanley, Director of the Office for Equal Opportunity Programs, 221 Whitney Avenue, 3rd Floor, 203.432.0849. For additional information, see www.yale.edu/equalopportunity.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 protects people from sex discrimination in educational programs and activities at institutions that receive federal financial assistance. Questions regarding Title IX may be referred to the University’s Title IX Coordinator, Stephanie Spangler, at 203.432.4446 or at titleix@yale.edu, or to theU.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, 8th Floor, Five Post Office Square, Boston MA 02109-3921. Telephone: 617.289.0111, Fax: 617.289.0150, TDD: 800.877.8339, or Email: ocr.boston@ed.gov.