Thank you for completing the Mandatory Department Form and congratulations on taking the first step. You may now continue to the UF Graduate School Application.
This guide provides extra information on how to successfully apply. If you have further questions, please reach out over email at mcsadvising@ifas.ufl.edu. Please bookmark this guide to reference as you complete the University of Florida graduate school application.
For the purpose of initial review, the Office of Admissions accepts unofficial transcripts. These can be uploaded directly through the application portal. To upload your transcripts, go to the section for Academic Background, then for each college upload them to the Optional Upload of Transcript.
If you have already submitted your application, you can upload unofficial transcripts through your Application Status page.
Applicants are required to complete the Self-Reported GPA Calculation. The GPA Calculation must be completed or the application will not be reviewed.
Students with a non-traditional GPA (non-4.0 scale) can check the corresponding box on the application to move forward without completing the calculation. Erroneously selecting this option can lead to review delays and possible cancellation of your application.
If you are admitted to the program, the University of Florida must receive official transcripts before the end of the first semester.
Contact all post-secondary institutions attended and request your official, original academic records or transcripts be submitted one of two ways:
UF Office of Admissions
PO Box 114000
201 Criser Hall
Gainesville, Florida 32611-4000, U.S.A.
If mailed, transcripts must be received in a sealed, signed envelope which you forward, unopened, to the UF Graduate Admissions office. All academic credentials become property of the university. They will not be returned to you or forwarded to a third party.
If you are an alumnus of the University of Florida, we can retrieve your official UF transcripts internally, but you will need to submit an unofficial version within the online application.
This is your chance to highlight experiences that can enhance your application. You should include relevant job experience, volunteer work, publications, coursework, or certifications that demonstrate your readiness for pursuing a graduate degree at the Department of Microbiology & Cell Science.
This is your chance to explain why you would like to attend the program and how you hope to use your degree. Sound enthusiastic and provide context for your application.
The statement is optional for our department. If you choose to skip it, upload a Word doc that says, "Personal statement not required for this program."
Where Activities is a highlight of your experience, the CV should include all post-high school:
Although not required, letters of recommendation can provide extra support or background for your app. Generally, applicants submit anywhere from 1-3 letters of recommendation from a former professor, colleague, or employer (if you are working in a related field).
Note: You can submit your application without letters of recommendation. Your recommenders can submit letters any time after you have submitted a recommendation request to them, including both before and after you submit your graduate application.
When you hit "Submit Recommendation Request" the person will receive an email from lor_help@collegenet.com with instructions on how to submit the letter of recommendation. This email will be sent right away, so be sure to ask your recommender before submitting.
To check if your letter of recommendation has been submitted, you can go to the Letter of Recommendation section, then select “Manage Your Recommenders.”
The residency of our students has no bearing on tuition cost for our program, but this information is required by the University of Florida.
Remember, your application will not be submitted until the $30 application fee is paid.
Upon completion of your application submission, our admissions team will review your application and contact you with any questions. If the admissions team has no questions, your application will be reviewed, and a decision will be delivered.
Note: The advising team does not receive applications until they have been submitted. They can not view in-progress applications and incomplete applications will not be considered.
The University of Florida Department of Microbiology and Cell Science offers admissions on a rolling basis. There is no set date for acceptance, but you will receive an admissions decision with time to enroll in classes.
