Frequently Asked Questions about Graduate Studies
in
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Rice
- Can I apply directly to a Ph.D. program, or must I apply for
the Master's degree first?
- Can I apply for either Spring or Fall admission?
- When should I begin the application process?
- I may have some documents sent to Rice before I submit the application
forms. What will happen to them?
- If I do not have all required documents quite ready and the January
15th deadline is approaching, what should I do?
- Is there a minimum GRE score?
- What is the minimum GPA?
- How do I find out if you've received all my application materials?
- How do I find out my application status?
- When are admission decisions made and how will I find out if I'm admitted?
- What if I have other
questions?
Can I apply directly to a Ph.D. program, or must I apply for the
Master's degree first?
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering admits primarily applicants
seeking the PhD degree and students do not have to complete an
MS degree
first.
Few students interested solely in a master's degree are admitted
and only under special circumstances.
Can I apply for either Spring or Fall admission?
The Rice Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Enginering
admits graduate students for matriculation in the Fall
semester only.
The deadline
for receiving your completed application is January 15th of
the calendar year in which you wish to enter the program.
When should I begin the application process?
You should begin your application process as early as possible.
To make sure scores are available when admission decisions are normally
made, you should take the required GRE and, if applicable, the TOEFL test(s) at least
a few months before the January 15th deadline. Experience has shown us that you should take the test(s) no later than November to have scores available by the application deadline. You should also
request transcripts and letters of recommendation well in advance
of the deadline in order to give the senders time to send the material
to Rice.
I may have some documents sent to Rice before I submit the application
forms. What will happen to them?
It is always our preference that you send your supporting documents electronically. Instructions are located within the application. If you are mailing your supporting documents, all information should be included in the same envelope. Please include a cover letter with your name, address, social security
number and e-mail address with the documents you are mailing. These
actions ensure the fastest processing of your file.
Should any documents arrive before the application is completed,
we will hold them in a pending file until the completed forms and
application fee are submitted. (Pending file items are held for
one year and then destroyed.)
REMEMBER: Materials submitted in support of an application
are not released for other purposes and cannot be returned to
the applicant.
If I do not have all required documents quite ready and the January
15th deadline is approaching, what should I do?
Go ahead and send in what you have ready (including, at a minimum,
your completed online application form and the application fee). Meeting the January
15th deadline is of paramount importance, however, and you must call
or write to the department if you see a delay is unavoidable for
one piece of your application package. You can write to the Graduate
Studies Coordinator at chbe@rice.edu.
Is there a minimum GRE score?
Rice University does not have an established minimum GRE score.
However, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering is a highly competitive
program and
most of our top candidates have high GRE verbal, analytical and
quantitative scores.
What is the minimum GPA?
Chemical engineering has not established a minimum GPA requirement.
However, our top candidates have demonstrated excellence in their
performance in the undergraduate programs they have completed.
Typically this means very high GPA's from former undergraduate
and, when applicable, graduate institutions.
How do I find out if you've received all my application materials?
Due to the volume of applications received, we are not currently able to check individual application packets to ensure that all materials have been received. For your convenience, we have provided a checklist of required materials. If we find that we are missing materials during the review process and the committee would like to see them, you will be contacted via e-mail to send those documents.
How do I find out my application status?
Because applications are collected by a third party, we are not able to provide a status update beyond the message that you received when you submitted your application. We will not tell you the status of your application over the phone or via e-mail.
When are admission decisions made and how will I find out if I'm admitted?
Admission decisions are usually made by March 31st. While we appreciate that applicants who have applied to other universities often have to make a decision to accept or reject an offer from another institution, we cannot supply an early decision.
If you are selected for admission, you will receive an e-mail from the Chair of the Graduate Recruiting Committee, followed by the official offer letter.
All applicants will receive an official decision letter via mail.
What if I have other questions?
Applicants may obtain departmental information on graduate study
by contacting the Graduate Admissions Coordinator:
Graduate Admissions Coordinator
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, MS 362
Rice University
P.O. Box 1892
Houston, TX 77251-1892
Fax: 713/348-5478
Email: chbe@rice.edu
Further information is available on our web site: http://www.rice.edu/chbe
For substantive questions about our program and graduate training
in general, contact Prof. Biswal, Chair of the Graduate Recruiting
Committee at biswal@rice.edu.
Modified 07/14/2009
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