FAQ - Graduate Admission

What is the School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation website address?
http://www.arch.umd.edu

What Programs are offered, and what are the program codes (for use on application)?
Master of Architecture (ARCH)
Master of Community Planning (CMPL)
Joint Master of Architecture and Master of Community Planning (ARCP)
Master of Historic Preservation (HISP)
Master of Real Estate Development (RDEV)
Ph.D. Urban and Regional Planning and Design (URPD)
Joint Master of Community Planning and J.D. (LCPL)
Joint Master of Community Planning and Master of Historic Preservation (CPHP)

When is the Fall 2008 application deadline?
For Fall 2008, the deadline has passed for all graduate programs of the School except for the Master of Real Estate Development.  

For Fall 2009, the University of Maryland Graduate School requires that the online application be completed by December 1; this deadline only pertains to the online application. All remaining application materials, such as transcripts and reference letters, must be received by Friday, January 2, 2009.

For candidates interested in the Master of Real Estate Development the deadline for the fall semester is June 15.  Interested candidates may apply for the spring semester.  For the spring semester, the deadline is November 1 while it is preferred that applications be submitted by October 1.

PLEASE NOTE: ARCH and ARCP applicants must submit a portfolio to the School. Portfolios must be received by January 15.

What are the University eligibility requirements for admission?
The University encourages applications from students with solid academic backgrounds who have earned or will earn at least a bachelor's degree at a regionally accredited college or university in the U.S., or the equivalent of this degree in another country. As a minimum admission standard, the Graduate School expects candidates to have a "B" average, or 3.0 on a 4.0 GPA scale.

What materials do I need to include in my application, and where should I send them?
Candidates should submit the following application materials to the Graduate Admissions by the stated deadline as listed above in a single maiing:

To ensure all materials are reviewed, the Online Graduate Application should be submitted before sending any other materials to the University.

Send all of the materials listed below to:

•  A completed Online Graduate Application. All applicants should complete the online application no later than December 1.

•  A non-refundable application fee of $60.00 U.S. Submitting an Online Graduate Application (by clicking “Submit”) incurs a non-refundable fee of $60. Applicants have the option of paying online as part of the Online Graduate Application process or by credit card or check using the Credit Card/International Check form.

•  A completed Application Supplemental Form (ASF).  Graduate degree programs in the School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation require applicants to submit an additional application called the Application Supplemental Form (ASF).  The ASF acquires more specific information on each applicant, such as areas of particular interest within the discipline, faculty with whom the applicant would like to work, textbooks used, and other information.  The ASF also contains an Online Letters of Recommendation feature, through which applicants can request electronic letters from their recommenders.

Applicants will be contacted by e-mail after submitting the Online Graduate Application. A system-assigned login and password will be provided at that time. In most cases, students will be contacted within two business days of submitting their Online Application; during peak times, however, the notification may take as long as 3–4 business days.

•  One complete set of transcripts reflecting all undergraduate and graduate work completed or in progress.  Each transcript must bear the signature of the registrar and the seal of the granting institution and should include the years of attendance, courses taken, grades received, class standing, and the degree, certificate or diploma received. If the applicant attended the University of Maryland, College Park, the Graduate School will obtain your records of courses completed on the College Park campus.  To facilitate the processing and review of an application, unofficial copies of transcripts from institutions other than the University of Maryland, College Park may be used for review purposes.  Official copies of those transcripts, however, are required before full admission can be granted.

•  A Maryland In-State Status Form, if you wish to apply for Maryland resident status. Students who apply online do NOT have to submit this form in hardcopy as well.

•  Three letters of recommendation submitted by professors or others who can assess the quality of the applicant’s academic performance and scholastic potential. The Application Supplemental Form (ASF) contains an Online Letters of Recommendation feature, through which applicants can request electronic letters from their recommenders.  If applicants prefer not to use Online Letters, they can download University of Maryland Recommendation Letter Forms. Be certain that the applicant’s full name is included on each recommendation.

•  Statement of Goals, Experiences, and Research Interests (1000-2000 words).  All graduate programs within the School require applicants to prepare a statement of their goals and objectives in pursuing graduate study.  This can be submitted using the Application Supplemental Form (ASF).

•  Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. GRE scores must be sent directly to the University by the testing authority. The University of Maryland, College Park institutional code for the GRE and GMAT is 5814.

•  Any additional graduate program requirements.  All candidates must provide an updated resume to be submitted via the ASF.  Candidates to degree programs in the Architecture Program must submit a portfolio while candidates to the Master of Historic Preservation must submit a writing sample.  Portfolios are to be mailed to the School, while the writing sample may be submitted via the ASF.

•  International applicants: In addition to sending the above materials, you must submit documents as required by the Office of International Education Services – www.ies.umd.edu.

The following application materials must be received by the School by the stated deadline of January 2, unless otherwise noted:

•  Unofficial transcripts. In addition to official transcripts sent to the Graduate School, please provide unofficial copies of all transcripts to the School.
•  Statement of Goals, Research Interests, and Statement of Experiences (1000–2000 words). As described above, the Statement can be submitted via the ASF.
•  Writing Sample (only applies to candidates for Master of Historic Preservation).
•  Resume.  All candidates are requested to submit an updated resume via the ASF (see above).
•  Portfolio (only applies to candidates for degree program of the Architecture Program)—must be received by January 15, 2008.

What is the GRE and TOEFL institutional code for the University of Maryland?  What is the GMAT institutional code?
The University’s institutional code for the GRE and TOEFL is 5814.  The GMAT code is SQT-3H-56.

Is the TOEFL required of international applicants?
The TOEFL is required of all non-native English speakers. Those who have received a degree from an institution in the U.S., United Kingdom, English-speaking Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or the Commonwealth Caribbean need not present TOEFL scores. Even if you have been living in the U.S. for a number of years, if your undergraduate degree was earned abroad the TOEFL must be taken. For more information, visit www.ies.umd.edu.

Is the GRE required of all applicants?
Yes.   Exception are for candidates applying to the Master of Community Planning who hold a 3.5 or higher, on a 4.0 scale, GPA and candidates applying to the Master of Real Estate Development may may request a waiver of the GRE for those with 5+ years of experience.

For candidates to the Master of Architecture, what should be included in the portfolio?
The portfolio should be bound and not exceed 9" x 12". It should contain reproductions of creative work, including drawings, paintings, photographs, sculpture, sketches, and architectural designs. Creative writing and original papers and research may also be submitted within the portfolio, but overall emphasis will be on visual creativity. Any other form of portfolio will be automatically rejected. If return is requested, a self-addressed envelope of sufficient size and adequate postage must be included. All portfolios not returned must be picked up from the School by September 1, 2008.

What financial assistance is available?
There are merit-based scholarships available both from the University and the School. For more information, refer to the following: http://www.gradschool.umd.edu/gss/ --. In addition, the School provides graduate assistantships that provide both a stipend and tuition remission.

Who can be contacted for further information?
School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation
Lee W. Waldrep, Ph.D. Associate Dean, 301-405-8000

Graduate Student Services, 301-405-0376
2123 Lee Building
University of Maryland
College Park, Maryland 20742-5121
Fax: 301-314-9305
Email

Online Application

Graduate School Catalog

International Education Services, 301-314-7740
Email

Financial Aid Office, 301-314-9000

Graduate Student Housing, 301-422-0147
Email