When is the deadline for submitting my application packet?
Completed application packets must be delivered to the College of IST by December 15, 2009. Applications submitted without all required documents will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed for admission.

When will I be notified of an admission decision?
Application packets will not be reviewed before the December 15 deadline. Decisions are expected to be made by early to mid February.

How does IST differ from computer science and engineering?
The College of Information Science and Technology (IST) is housed in the same building (the IST Building) as the Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) department,  which is a part of the College of Engineering. Compared to CSE, the graduate program of IST addresses broader issues dealing with computing (especially those involving large volume of heterogenous information), beyond creating new algorithms.

Do you offer spring admissions?
No, we only admit students for the fall semester.

Can the application fee be waived?
No. University policy does not allow the waiver or deferment of the application fee. If you cannot pay the fee yourself, a third party (friend or relative) may pay the fee on your behalf. Applications received without the fee cannot be processed.

Exception: The Penn State Graduate School offers application fee waivers for members of selected minority groups, including Native Americans, Hispanics, and Black/African Americans. McNair scholars also may be eligible. Students requesting fee waivers must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. For more information, please contact the Office of Graduate Educational Equity.

Can the GRE scores be waived?
No. The GRE scores are part of the required application packet and cannot be waived.

What are the GRE codes to submit official scores?
For the GRE test, our institutional code is 2660 and our college code is 0404.

There are two types of GRE tests, which do you require?
We require the the GRE General Test.

Do you have a minimum GRE score requirement?
No, we do not have a minimum requirement; however, to be a strong candidate, you should have a combined total of 1100-1200 on the verbal and quantitative tests.  If your score is lower, we will still review your application materials as our recruiting committee will take the complete application into account accordingly.

Do you accept GMAT scores in place of GRE scores?
No, for our M.S. and Ph.D. program, we do not accept GMAT scores.  We do accept GMAT and/or GRE scores for our M.P.S. program.

Do you have a minimum GPA requirement?
No, we do not have a minimum GPA requirement; however, to be a strong candidate, you should possess a 3.5 GPA.

Can I have an example of a writing sample that is acceptable as part of the application packet?
The admissions committee is looking for evidence of your ability to compose scholarly/academic writing. This could be a conference paper, a final paper from a class, or a few chapters from your thesis. 

As an international student, I only have writing samples in my native language. Do I need to have these translated to English for submission as part of my application packet?
Yes, all documents submitted as part of your application packet must be submitted in English.

Is it necessary to have a master's degree before applying to the Ph.D. program?
No, you may apply directly to the Ph.D. program without a master's degree.

May I apply to more than one graduate program at the same time?
No, Penn State's Graduate School does not allow students to apply to more than one program at a time.

As an international student, is it necessary to submit the TOEFL score?
Yes, all international students must submit an official TOEFL score. However, the TOEFL can be waived if you have a degree conferred from a university in an English-speaking country. Our institution code is 2660 and our program code is 99.

Do you have a minimum requirement on the TOEFL score?
Yes, we do, please see the following scores:
Paper-based test = 585
Computer-based test = 240
Internet-based test = 90 points, with a minimum of 19 points on the speaking portion
IELTS = 7.0

What is the annual cost to attend Penn State?
You can calculate the tuition and college cost on the bursar's Web site. 

Where can I find general information about Penn State?
Statistics about Penn State can be found in the Penn State fact book.

Where can I find housing if I am admitted to IST?
Housing options are available on campus and off campus.

How do I apply for a graduate assistantship?
To apply for a graduate assistantship, you should complete a graduate assistantship application. If you submit the assistantship application as part of your application packet, there is no need to submit a separate resumé. We can use the resumé sent as part of your application packet.

Does IST offer any on-line graduate degrees?
Yes, the College of IST offers a master of professional studies degree that can be taken online.

Does IST offer any part-time evening classes for adult learners to obtain a graduate degree?
No. IST requires full-time matriculation at the University Park campus for both master's and doctoral degrees. The master of professional studies degree can be completed on a part-time basis.

How long does it take to complete a graduate program in IST?
Generally, it takes four to five years to complete our doctoral program and approximately two years to complete our master's program.  The new M.P.S. program typically takes two to three years to complete.