Applying for Admission

The University encourages applications from all qualified applicants. The University does not discriminate on the basis of handicap in admission or access to its programs and activities.

Basic Requirements for Admission

Basic Requirements for Admission to the University of Florida Graduate School

There are three basic requirements for admission to the Graduate School of the University of Florida: an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution of higher learning, GRE scores of 1000 or more on the verbal and quantitative portions of the Exam, and a grade point average of 3.0 (scale of 4.0). Please note that the Graduate Admissions Committee in the Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences requires additional information from prospective students and takes additional factors into account (see below).

You must have an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution of higher learning. An undergraduate degree in Family, Youth and Community Sciences or closely affiliated fields is not a requirement for admission to this department. However, students whose undergraduate degrees lie outside these areas will need to complete prerequisite courses prior to enrolling in some graduate courses.

Completion of the verbal, quantitative and analytical sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required of all students. You must achieve a combined score of at least 1000 on the verbal and quantitative portions of the Exam.

In addition to the GRE, foreign students must complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A minimum score of 550 on the paper TOEFL or 213 on the computer-based TOEFL is required. Students whose native language is English are not required to take the TOEFL exam.

Evaluation of Candidates by the Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences

The Graduate Admissions Committee in the Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences will take the following factors into consideration during its review of your application for admission to our program.

GPA

Admission to the graduate program is normally restricted to students who have an upper division grade point average of at least 3.0 (based on a 4.0 system) and at least a 3.0 in their major undergraduate field. The Department may request that otherwise strong candidates who do not meet this requirement be granted conditional admission to the graduate school.

GRE Score

We also normally restrict admission to students who have a combined verbal and quantitative score of 1000 or more on the Graduate Record Examination. The Department may request that otherwise strong candidates who do not meet this requirement be granted conditional admission to the graduate school.

Statement of Interest

Your statement of interest in our program is important. Please answer the following questions. The Statement should not exceed two pages in length. 

1. Why have you selected the Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences for your graduate program? What professional interests do you have that are addressed by our discipline? 

2. What are your intermediate and long-term professional goals? How will an advanced degree in Family, Youth and Community Sciences help you achieve those goals?

3. What previous experience or educational background do you have that will contribute to your ability to achieve an advanced degree in Family, Youth and Community Sciences?

4. Do you have any interest in completing a complementary course of study while enrolled in the Master’s program (a minor or certificate, for example)?

5. What contributions to you feel that you can make to this department and to the University of Florida as a member of our graduate student body? 

6. Please describe any other outstanding professional or academic achievements that you believe make you a good candidate for our program.

Resume

Please submit a copy of your resume. A short version (approximately two pages) is sufficient. The resume should highlight educational and professional experience relevant to your interests and professional goals associated with the Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences.

Letters of Recommendation

The letters of recommendation are another important component of your applicaion package. You need to provide three letters of recommendation. They should be from individuals who are familiar with your performance as a student or professional. Make sure that all of your references complete the standard University of Florida forms and mail them directly to the graduate coordinator (Mickie Swisher). You should point out to your references that comments regarding the qualities included in the standard recommendation form as well as other observations about your potential performance as a graduate student and professional are important.

The Application Process

Admission to the University of Florida and admission to the Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences are two separate processes that occur at the same time. Therefore, you need to provide documentation to both the University of Florida Office of Admissions and to the Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences.

You must supply the following items directly to the Registrar's Office, Office of Admissions, University of Florida, Box 2946, Gainesville, FL 32602-2946.

  1. Application Form. You may apply on-line, print out the application forms and mail them, or request further information and paper copes of the application forms from the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. We strongly encourage you to apply on-line. If you do not apply on-line, mail the completed application forms to the Office of Admissions.
  2. Application Fee ($20.00 US).
  3. Official Transcripts. You will need to have an official transcript from all other institutions of higher education mailed to the Office of Admissions.
  4. GRE and TOEFL Scores. An official copy of your scores from these exams (TOEFL only if English is not your native language) must be mailed to the Office of Admissions.
 
Mail the following documents to the Graduate Coordinator, Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-0310.
  1. A copy of all of the information and documents mailed to the Office of Admissions. If you complete the admission application form on-line, make sure that you make a departmental copy and send us an e-mail informing us that you have submitted an application.
  2. Three letters of recommendation from individuals who can attest to your potential for graduate study on the University of Florida's official letter of recommendation form (see above).
  3. Your statement of interest (see above).
  4. Your curriculum vita or resume.
  5. If you want to apply for an assistantship or fellowship (see Financial Aid), complete the University of Florida Application for Graduate Fellowship or Assistantship and mail it to us with your other documentation.

International Students must also complete the Certificate of Financial Responsibility to verify that sufficient funding is available to complete a program of study. Mail the form to the Office of International Student and Scholar Services, University of Florida, Box 113225, Gainesville, FL 32611-3225. The University of Florida Admission Information for International Students provides excellent information for international students applying for admission to UF.

All deadlines and critical dates published by the University of Florida Graduate School apply.

The Review Process

The Graduate Admissions Committee, chaired by the Graduate Coordinator, makes the final decision about your admission to the program, subject to approval by the Graduate School. We may not be able to accept all applicants who meet the minimum requirements for admission at the University of Florida. Alternatively, we may accept a candidate who does not meet all of the minimum requirements if exceptional strength is shown in a particular area. For example, if the GPA or one of the GRE scores is below the minimum, yet strength is demonstrated in other aspects of the application, we have the option of accepting a student on a conditional basis, subject to approval by the Graduate School. The Graduate Coordinator will inform you of our decision.

If You Are Admitted

If you are accepted to our program, contact the Graduate Coordinator as soon as possible. You will need to be assigned a temporary advisor before you start your program. This person will help you decide which courses to take, especially during the first semester, and will provide you with guidance in selecting a supervisory committee and meeting university and college requirements.

Readmission

Students who wish to take a leave of absence for two or more consecutive terms should obtain written approval from their academic units before they leave. Students who skip a single term will be scheduled automatically for a registration appointment for one additional term.

All readmission applicants must meet the current admission requirements of the college or school they expect to enter. Readmission is not guaranteed and is subject to availability at the level, college and major. Readmission, like admission, is for a specific term. If you are unable to enroll for the term for which you have been admitted, you must reapply for readmission again to a different term. 

The graduate readmission application must be completed via a PDF copy and mailed to the Office of Admissions. This application should be used for graduate, post baccalaureate and professional-level readmission. The application requires you to indicate the college, level and major at your last enrollment at the university as well as the college, level and/or major you want to apply/return to. You can complete the form online before printing it or you can print it first and complete by hand. Then mail the application with the application fee to the Office of Admissions. 

 

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