MS in Geosciences

Bachelor Certificate

Transcripts from any degree-granting institution (BS or MS). Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. If you are admitted, you will need to provide official transcripts at that time.

Three letters of recommendation.

Reasons Statement. Instead of an open-ended personal statement, we ask you to specifically address the following 5 points. These tie into our evaluation rubric and help us better assess your candidacy. 1.Why a graduate degree?  Explain why you are seeking a research-based graduate degree.  What skills and knowledge do you hope to gain, and how will this help you pursue your long-term career goals? 2. Why UWM? The geoscience field is very broad, and not every department can have expertise in every geoscience discipline. What topics within the field of geoscience excite you most?  Explain how you see your own research interests overlapping with specific UWM Geosciences Department expertise.  If you have discussed possible thesis or dissertation topics with UWM faculty, explain what excites you about these topics. 3. Research Experience. UWM Geosciences graduate programs are research-based, so we are looking for any prior experience with scientific research, or evidence documenting your enthusiasm for scientific research. Describe any previous research experience and what you accomplished. 4.Ability to persist through challenge.  The graduate student experience and life in general can pose a variety of challenges. Describe an example of how you have shown resilience and/or perseverance in the pursuit of your academic goals or in your personal life and how you have grown as a result. 5. Any  additional information that you want us to know or that will help us better understand your application.  Do you have strengths that might not be obvious from other parts of your application? (And what specific accomplishments demonstrate those strengths?) Are there any parts of your application that you would like to explain in more detail, in your own voice?