Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I check the status of my completed application?

Unfortunately, we do not have an on-line status check. When our Admissions Committee reaches a decision on your application, you will receive an E-mail notification. You are welcome to send E-mail to the department, but we ask that you please refrain from contacting us until after March 1st because the applicant review period is during January and February.

Please note that we will not give admission decisions to anyone but the applicant.

Can the TOEFL exam be waived?

The TOEFL exam will be waived for any student who has, or will be receiving, a degree from a U.S. institution before enrolling at Penn State.

Where should ETS send my GRE & other test scores?

Please specify the following codes when requesting ETS to forward your test results.

GRE Institution Code 2660 Dept. Code 1203

TOEFL Institution Code 2660 Dept. Code 66

Is a photocopy of my GRE/TOEFL acceptable?

No, we must receive official scores from ETS. Applications without official scores will not be reviewed

Can I request an application fee waiver?

No, the fee is collected to help defray the cost of processing applications. Your application will not be considered until the appropriate fee is received by Graduate Enrollment Services.

I was refused admission. Can my file be re-evaluated or can I reapply?

Once an applicant is refused admission, the applicant may request that the Admissions Committee re-evaluate the application for the next academic year. If you wish to renew your application for fall 2008, please follow the renewal instructions on the application forms web page.

Can I defer my admission?

Yes, you can request a deferral. Your file must be re-evaluated by the Admissions Committee. There is no guarantee that an applicant will be offered admission for a second year. Please follow the instructions on the application forms web page.

Why haven't I received my I-20?

The International Student Services Office (ISS) is responsible for issuing these documents. If you provided a financial guarantee with your application materials, it was forwarded to their office for processing. If you haven't provided a financial guarantee, you need to do so. Please be patient as the ISS office has thousands of these documents to process. They work diligently to get these documents issued in a timely manner.