Students typically assemble their graduate school application during the fall semester so that they have all the required items in hand well before the application deadline.

31 December

Deadline for application for entry into the graduate program for those who wish to be considered for a prestigious Penn State Graduate School Fellowship, which provides a larger monthly stipend than a Department-level assistantship (Ph.D. applicants only).

15 January

Deadline for application for entry into the graduate program in the fall semester of the same year (this is the "standard application deadline" for those not interested in being considered for a fellowship). The faculty evaluates applications on a rolling basis.  Offers of admission (which come with an assistantship offer) are typically made by the Graduate Program Chair between late January and late March.  

15 April

If you received an offer of an assistantship, you must accept or decline the offer by this date. 

Near the end of August

New graduate students arrive for orientation and the beginning of classes.