Electronic application is required for both domestic and international applicants. Deadline for international applicants is December 1 and for domestic applicants, December 15. We will consider applications after the deadline.
Keep in mind that putting together your application materials is both a goal and a means to a goal. The primary goal is discovering if your interests and abilities match those of the Cognitive Science Program, and if you seem likely to benefit from an education here.
You have the option of choosing to supplement the required application materials with other data that shed light on your capabilities, but this is not required. Some materials (the transcript of your bachelor's degree, for example) are required by the university and cannot be waived by the program.
Items that are important in the evaluation process, for both domestic and international students, include:
If you have majored in other fields and you are encouraged to apply if you have been exposed to have mastered basic computer programming skills and basic knowledge of mathematics for science, including calculus and statistics. The best preparation for graduate work in cognitive science normally comes from degrees in psychology, computer science, philosophy, or linguistics, as well as in cognitive science itself. Students who have majored in other fields, such as sociology, political science, biology, mathematics, and music, are encouraged to apply if they have been exposed to a wide range of coursework as undergraduates. In exceptional cases, the programming or mathematics admission requirements may be waived and satisfied while pursuing graduate study.
Except in special cases, references should be from academic faculty. We ask for three letters, but you may submit more. For example, if you have experience as a teaching assistant, an additional letter from your teaching supervisor attesting to your teaching abilities could help your application for aid. Keep in mind that the committee is trying to evaluate your potential to successfully complete an advanced degree at IU, so provide us with references that can illuminate your potential performance as a graduate student. Try to get up-to-date letters. If you have spent the past two years at the University of Fredonia but none of your letters is from faculty there, it might raise questions in the minds of the admissions committee.
We do not require scores for a GRE area exam. We do not have cut-offs for GRE scores, preferring instead to use the full information available in your dossier.
This is your chance to explain to us what your plans are. Briefly convey your vision of the future of cognitive science if you wish, but also try to give us an idea of your personal plan of action for the future. We are aware that such plans can and should change rapidly, particularly in a fast-moving area like cognitive science. You should tell us which research areas you are most interested in and describe any research experiences you have had. You can use the statement of purpose to explain any anomalies in your record, but in general dwelling on the past is backward-looking—what you want to communicate is your forward-looking plan.
You need a transcript from all previous undergraduate institutions attended, and the university requires at least one that certifies that you have received a bachelor's degree (or “bachelor's equivalent” for international students).
If you have any questions regarding what department and institution codes to use, visit the ETS website.
Supplemental admissions materials are not required but you are welcome to submit any that help define you as a Cognitive Science student. Send updates of any information that is relevant to the admissions process, such as the publication of a paper or winning of an award. Do this even if it is past the application deadline; sometimes your dossier will be under consideration for a lengthy period. If you have work that has been refereed and published, send a citation to that work. Please forward a PDF file of research or publication papers to: stowle@indiana.edu.
The following points are relevant only for international applicants.
Domestic applicants should send admission materials (e.g. paper recommendation letters, transcripts) to the following address:
International applicants should follow instructions from the Office of International Services page:
Office of International Services
Contact information for admission questions:
newtoiu@iu.edu
Phone: (812) 855-9086
You must apply to the originating program for admission. Once admitted, you then contact the Cognitive Science Program to apply for a dual degree. For more information, contact Susan Palmer at stowle@indiana.edu.
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