ESPM Frequently Asked Questions

A: We currently have 246 graduate students enrolled in the ESPM graduate program. Since advanced students often travel to complete their field research, there are roughly 200 registered graduate students each semester. In 2008-2009, twenty-nine Ph.D., and five M.S. degrees were awarded by the department.

A: We received 288 applications during the 2009-2010 admission cycle. These applications were for the ESPM Ph.D. and M.S., the M.F. (Master of Forestry), and the M.S. in Range Management. We made 51 offers of admission and enrolled 30 new students this year.

A: No, you do not need a faculty sponsor to apply. However, at the time you submit your application, we require that you list faculty with whom you are interested in working with in order of preference. This assures that the listed faculty members have an opportunity to review your application in time to make their preferences known to the Admissions Committee. Faculty sponsorship of entering graduate students is not determined until all applications are reviewed, and final admission offers have been made.

A: We accept applications for the Fall Semester only. The application deadline for Fall 2010 is December 1. However, the deadline for your supplementary materials (letters of recommendation, GRE, TOEFL, and transcripts) is December 20, 2009.

A: The application review process will begin a week or two after the application deadline of December 1. The admission results will be out in February or early March. The deadline to notify the University of your plan to accept or decline the offer of admission is April 15. Denial letters are sent out approximately 2-3 weeks after admission offers have been made.

A: The Admissions Committee uses a combination of all submitted materials to rank your application for admission. The GRE scores and the GPA comprise 60% of the score and the letters of recommendation, your statement of purpose, and other relevant background information comprise 40% of your final rank.

A: We look at the strengths of your academic training, research and work experience.

A: Yes. Although the Graduate Division no longer requires the GRE, ESPM requires all applicants to submit current scores.

GRE code is: 0110
TOEFL code is: 40
GRE/TOEFL Institution Code for UB Berkeley is: 4833

A: The GRE scores and GPA are very important to gain admission to the ESPM graduate program. Average GPA and GRE scores vary slightly each year but are approximately as follows:

GPA: 3.5 – 3.7
GRE

Verbal: 570 – 670
Quantitative: 650 – 750
Analytical: 4.8 – 5.4

The GPA is based on all undergraduate course work completed after the second year. We do not accept the GMAT or LSAT scores in place of the GRE scores.

A: The GPA you should calculate should include all courses taken *after your first two years* of your undergraduate program. For example, if you attended college for 4 years, you would calculate your GPA for courses you took in your 3rd and 4th year. If you attended for 5 years, then you would include courses from your 3rd, 4th and 5th years. If you have done post-graduate work, your GPA as a Masters student is not used in the calculation.

A: No, we do not require a GRE Subject Test for admission.

A: Yes, we make every effort to support our entering and continuing students from a variety of resources including University Fellowships, Departmental Restricted Fellowships, and Graduate Student Research Assistantships (GSRs). We also encourage our students to apply for Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) positions. We also encourage applicants to make every effort to find external funding as well. Some programs will provide funding for entering graduate students, and we encourage you to investigate such programs. We make our financial support offers at the time of admission.

A: No specific coursework is required for admission. Coursework relevant to your interest area is of course useful.

A: We are predominately a Ph.D. program and only accept up to two M.S. students per year. If you apply for the M.S./Ph.D. program, it allows you to get the M.S. degree en route to the Ph.D. by doing some extra coursework and an oral exam.

A: Submit your supplementary forms, such as the GRE scores, TOEFL scores (if you are an international student), and 2 copies of your official transcripts to the following address:

University of California, Berkeley
Graduate Student Services Office
Department of ESPM
137 Mulford Hall
Berkeley, CA 94720-3114

Although we prefer online letters of recommendation, we accept paper recommendations mailed to us, by December 20th, 2009 to the above address.

A: The average length is approximately 5 years.

A: We have been tracking initial employment for our graduates for several years and have compiled data about placement:

• Postdoctoral Fellowships 23%
• Academic (tenure and non-tenure track positions) 19%
• Non-Government Organizations 11%
• Government 22%
• Consulting/Industry/Research 21%
• Other 4%