If you have a question that is not listed below, please consult the Stanford Graduate Admission FAQ.
Application Process Questions
Q: Can I use a paper application?
A: No; the review of applications is done entirely online. The central Office of Graduate Admissions no longer provides paper applications to applicants for any reason.
Q: Which degree objective should I select on the application form?
A: Please select the degree you ultimately seek to obtain from Stanford. For example, if you hold a Bachelor's degree and desire to study for the Ph.D., indicate Ph.D. on the application. If you desire a Master's degree, select the Master's degree option.
Q: May I waive the application fee?
A: Application fee waivers must be approved by the central Office of Graduate Admissions. Their policy on fee waivers can be found on their website: https://sites.stanford.edu/grad-diversity-council/fee-waiver. If you have further questions regarding the fee waiver, please contact their office directly at [email protected].
Q: What is the definition of "Technical Grade Point Average"?
A: All engineering courses (except technical writing), mathematics, computer science and hard sciences (chemistry, physics) should count toward overall technical GPA.
Q: What if my current institution does not have a grade point average? What if we have percentile scores?
A: In this case, please enter the percentile score only. Do not type an explanation and do not convert to a 4.00 scale.
Q: If I am not accepted into the Ph.D. program, can I be considered for the Master's degree program?
A: Yes; apply for the Ph.D. program and answer "yes" to the question on the online application form that asks you if you would like to be considered for the master's program.
Q: How and when will I be notified of the Admissions Committee's decision?
A: All admissions decisions are communicated via e-mail from the EE Admissions Office. For full-time programs, all decisions will be sent by the second week of March. For the part-time program, decisions will be sent within four weeks after the application deadline. For current Stanford students applying for the coterm or petitioning to add a degree in EE, decisions will be sent within three weeks after the application deadline. For reinstatements, decisions will be sent 1-2 weeks after the application is received.
Q: I am applying to the Honors Cooperative Program. Do I need to submit a different application?
A: No. The application process for the Honors Cooperative Program and full-time program is the same. Use the same online application forms; please make sure to complete the Honors Cooperative section of the application. As an Honors Cooperative applicant, you are eligible to apply for admission to any quarter. Please make sure to check the Application Deadlines and Timeline section, as well as the Honors Cooperative Program section of our website for further information.
Q: If I applied previously, what do I need to submit with my new application?
A: Please read the section on Reapplicants on our Application Procedures and Requirements page.
Q: May I submit my application before my recommenders submit their recommendations?
A: Yes. Please do not wait for all of the letters of recommendation to be submitted before submitting your application. The online recommendation system will remain open for your recommenders until they submit their letter. You may view the status of received letters of recommendation on your status page.
Supporting Documents Questions (transcripts, letters of recommendation, statement of purpose & other documents)
Q: May I mail in my official transcripts before submitting my online application?
A: Yes. We strongly encourage you to mail in your official transcripts as soon as possible (no earlier than three months in advance of the deadline). Please do not mail any other documents to our department, as the review of applications is completed entirely online. The official transcript that you mail in will only be used to verify the information on the transcript you upload as part of the online application.
Q: I have been working in industry for several years. Can I use letters from industry instead of from academia?
A: Letters of recommendation preferably come from faculty who know you well and can speak strongly of your abilities in an academic environment. While academic references are strongly preferred, if you have been out of school for more than 5 years, you may substitute an academic reference with a letter from a supervisor.
Q: May I send the admissions committee a copy of my CV/Resume, published article or school paper for the review of my application?
A: As part of the new application system, applicants now have the ability to upload one additional document as part of the online application form (this feature is located on Page 15 of the application). These files must meet the following criteria in order to be successfully uploaded:
• Files must be 10 MB or less in size.
• Files must not be password protected.
• PDF files must not be digitally signed.
• Multiple documents may be combined and uploaded in this section
• Documents may contain URL links to other documents/publications
Students who have already submitted their application will not be able to upload documents via this system. However, any resumes, articles/papers, which you wish the committee to review that you have not uploaded via the online application system must be sent to us, via email, as a PDF or Word document and we will attach it to your application for review.
Please DO NOT mail any other paper documents to EE's Admissions Office such as a resume/CV, publications, or financial documents, as they will not be seen by the admissions committee. The committee completes their review of all graduate applications online, and will not see hard copies of any documents sent via post.
Q: I am in the first term of my Master's program. Do I need to send transcripts from my current school?
A: Yes. If you have been in your current MS program for less than one year please send us 2 official copies of the transcript that is available to you, even if you have not yet received any grades. If a transcript is not yet available, please upload a statement indicating when a transcript will be produced, in lieu of the actual transcript. Two copies of the transcript should be sent to our office as soon as they are available.
Q: Will I be able to see when my official transcripts are received?
A: Yes, on your application status page. Click on "Review Your Activity" at https://www.applyweb.com/apply/stanford/index.html and log in with your username and password. Please allow two (2) weeks after you have submitted your application for the status of your received transcripts to be updated, even if you had them sent long before you submitted the application.
Q: My university provides only one official copy of a transcript. I cannot get another copy. What should I do?
A: In this case, please just upload a legible copy of the official transcript in your possession. Make sure the copy is in English. It does not have to be certified if this is difficult. We will use this unofficial copy to assess your application. If you are granted admission and accept the offer, we will need the official hard copy. You may then work out an appropriate solution with the Office of Graduate Admissions when you arrive on campus in the fall.
Q: I have a few publications and a resume. May I send them via post for review?
No. In an effort to save money, paper and time, please email your information to [email protected] as a PDF or Word document and we will attach it to your application for you. Documents other than transcripts sent via post will not be reviewed.
Q: Where should I send my supporting documents?
A: Remember that the department only requires that you send hard copies of your academic records (i.e., official transcripts). DO NOT SEND ANY OTHER PAPER DOCUMENTS TO THE EE ADMISSIONS OFFICE. Other documents such as resumes, articles/papers, which you wish the committee to review must be sent to us, via email ([email protected]), using a PDF or Word document and we will attach it to your online application. Send official transcripts to the following address:
Stanford University
Department of Electrical Engineering
Graduate Admissions Office
350 Serra Mall
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-9505
Q: Can letters of recommendation be faxed or emailed to the EE department?
A: No. Recommenders must submit their letters via Stanford's online recommender system. If your recommender is unable to submit their letter using the online system, please send us an email detailing their circumstances.
Updating Application and Status Check Questions
Q: How may I check my application status?
A: In order to check the status of your application, click on "Review Your Activity" at https://www.applyweb.com/apply/stanford/index.html and log in using your application username and password. On this page, you can view your overall application status as well as the status of individual application materials (recommendations, transcripts, test scores, and additional documents). You may also edit your recommender list and send a reminder e-mail to your recommenders if they have not yet submitted their recommendation letters for you. Please allow two (2) weeks after you have submitted your application for the status of your received transcripts and test scores to be updated, even if you had them sent long before you submitted the application.
Q: Will I be able to see when my official transcripts are received?
A: Yes, on your application status page. Click on "Review Your Activity" at https://www.applyweb.com/apply/stanford/index.html and log in with your username and password. Please allow two (2) weeks after you have submitted your application for the status of your received transcripts to be updated, even if you had them sent long before you submitted the application.
Test Score Questions
--- GRE ---
Q: I entered a department code when asking ETS to send my scores to stanford. Will you still receive my scores?
A: If you input a department code, do not worry, the scores will still be sent to us; as long as your scores are sent to institution code 4704, we will receive your scores.
Q: Do I need to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)?
A: Yes. All applicants to departmental graduate programs at Stanford must take the GRE in order to be eligible for admission. This is a University requirement that cannot be waived by the department. All three sections of the general GRE test (verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing) are required. Our department does not require any subject GRE scores.
Q: Does the EE department require a subject test?
A: No, we do not. The general test is all we require.
Q: What is the minimum GRE score required in order to be considered for admission to the EE department?
A: The Electrical Engineering department does not have a minimum GRE score requirement. The evaluation of each applicant is based on all the materials in the file and is not exclusively based on test scores. We do not provide average GRE score information of previous applicants or current students.
Q: When should I take the GRE Examination?
A: We strongly recommend that you take all exams early in the fall, at least three (3) weeks prior to the application deadline. This will ensure that your scores arrive in a timely fashion. Stanford receives scores directly from the Education Testing Service (ETS). Inquiries regarding transmission timelines must be directed to them. You are responsible for having your scores submitted by the application deadline. Stanford's school code is 4704. A department code is not required. Your scores will be reviewed by the department regardless of whether you entered a department code.
Q: What is the deadline for sending my GRE scores?
A: The deadline for submitting supplemental admission documents, including test scores, is the same as the application deadline. You are responsible for ensuring that your scores arrive at Stanford by the relevant deadline. Be sure to self-report all available scores on the application and have the official scores sent immediately to Stanford University at institution code 4704. A department code is not required. Your scores will be reviewed by the department regardless of whether you entered a department code.
Q: Do I have my test scores sent to the EE department directly or to Stanford?
A: Please have all test scores sent directly to Stanford by ETS. Stanford's school code is 4704. You do not need to indicate a department code. The scores will be electronically routed to the EE department. If you input a department code, do not worry, the scores will still be sent to us.
Q: I took the GRE examination more than once. How should I report this on my application, and which score will be received/reviewed?
A: When self-reporting your GRE scores on the application, please choose scores from one test administration (do not pick and choose scores for each section independently). When sending the official scores to us, the GRE ScoreSelect option allows you flexibility in choosing which scores are included on the report; the scores you self-report on the application should be included on this report. For more information, please see https://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/about/scoreselect. Please note that scores for a test administration must be reported in their entirety. The department will review all scores that are included on your official score report.
Q: How recent must my GRE scores be?
A: GRE scores are valid for approximately 5 years from the date taken. No scores are valid beyond the date ETS will send or resend them to schools. In order to ensure your scores have not expired, please contact the Education Testing Service (ETS).
Q: I took the GRE and have informed ETS to forward my scores to Stanford University. Could you please confirm that my scores were received?
A: We cannot confirm the status of your received scores until after you have submitted your application. You can check the status of official scores on your status page. Please allow two (2) weeks after you have submitted your application for the status of your received test scores to be updated, even if you had them sent long before you submitted the application.
Q: The name on my Stanford application is different than the name on my GRE score report. What should I do?
A: Please send an email to EE's Admissions Office ([email protected]) and provide us with your name, as it appears on your Stanford application and your GRE score report, as well as your date of birth (MM/DD/YY). This will help us locate your scores.
--- TOEFL ---
Q: How may I waive the TOEFL if I believe I am eligible?
A: If your native language is not English and you did not earn a degree at an accredited institution where the primary language of instruction is English, an exemption from the TOEFL must be granted by the central Office of Graduate Admissions. Please send an e-mail to [email protected] (subject: "TOEFL waiver request") witih the following information:
Full Name (last name, first name)
Department and program to which you are applying (e.g., Electrical Engineering-MS)
University attended or are attending (provide full name, no abbreviations)
Degree obtained or to be obtained (e.g., BS)
Date (month/year) the degree was or will be conferred
The central office will review your request and send you an e-mail notification once a decision has been made. Please forward this e-mail notification to [email protected] as soon as you receive it.
Q: Can I submit scores from IELTS instead of the TOEFL?
A: No; the TOEFL is the only English language proficiency test accepted by the University.
Q: What is the minimum TOEFL score required in order to be considered for admission?
A: The minimum TOEFL scores required are 575 for the paper-based test (600 for PhD applicants) and 89 for the internet-based test (100 for PhD applicants). If you are admitted, Stanford may require you to take an English placement exam and/or take English classes.
Q: How recent must my TOEFL scores be?
A: TOEFL scores submitted to Stanford must be taken within the last 18 months. For Autumn 2013-2014 applications, scores from March 2011 and later will be accepted.
Q: What is the deadline for sending my TOEFL scores?
A: The deadline for submitting supplemental admission documents, including test scores, is the same as the application deadline. You are responsible for ensuring that your scores arrive at Stanford by the relevant deadline. Be sure to self-report all available scores on your application and have the official scores sent immediately to Stanford University at institution code 4704. A department code is not required. (Your scores will be received by the department regardless of whether you entered a department code or not.)
Q: Do I have my test scores sent to the EE department directly or to Stanford?
A: Please have all test scores sent directly to Stanford by ETS. Stanford's school code is 4704. You do not need to indicate a department code. The scores will be electronically routed to the EE department. If you input a department code, do not worry, the scores will still be sent to us.
Q: Do I need to take the TSE exam?
A: No. We do not require the TSE exam. Only the TOEFL is required.
Q: I will have completed a Master's degree by the time I enroll at Stanford. Do I still need to submit TOEFL scores?
A: If the Master's degree was earned at an accredited institution where the primary language of instruction is English and the degree is completed by the time you would enroll at Stanford, you do not need to submit TOEFL scores with your application.
Q: The name on my Stanford application is different than the name on my TOEFL report. What should I do?
A: Please send an email to EE's Admissions Office ([email protected]) and provide us with your name, as it appears on your Stanford application and your TOEFL report, as well as your date of birth (MM/DD/YY). This will help us locate your scores.
--- GPA ---
Q: What is the minimum GPA score required in order to be considered for admission to the EE department?
A: The Electrical Engineering department does not have a minimum GPA requirement. The evaluation of each applicant is based on all the materials in the file and is not exclusively based on test scores. We do not provide average GPA score information of previous applicants or current students.
Honors Cooperative Program and Non-Degree Option Questions
Q: I am applying to the Honors Cooperative Program. Do I need to submit a different application?
A: No. The application process for the Honors Cooperative and full-time programs is the same. Use the same online application forms; please make sure to complete the Honors Cooperative section of the application. As an Honors Cooperative applicant, you are eligible to apply for admission to any quarter. Please make sure to check the Application Deadlines and Timeline section of our website. You may also want to check the Part-time Graduate Degree Information section of our website for further information.
Q: My company has given me a leave of absence in order to finish my degree. May I change my status from part-time to full-time study?
A: Yes. Please contact the Stanford Center for Professional Development for the appropriate form. They will route the form to the EE department for approval. You will receive a formal notice from the SCPD office when the process is complete.
Q: What should I do if a class is not offered though the Stanford Center for Professional Development?
A: Contact the professor teaching the course in question, explain your concern and discuss your academic and professional background. The professor can best evaluate whether you are sufficiently prepared to pursue the course.
Q: How many NDO units may count toward the HCP graduate degree?
A: Stanford will permit a maximum of 18 NDO units to count toward the HCP, MS or Engineer's degree programs. These units must meet departmental requirements.
Q: The online application link is no longer valid. How do I apply?
A: In June, the online application link becomes inactive due to preparation for the next application season. Please make sure to check our application deadlines section of our website to make sure you submit your application by the appropriate deadline.
Q: I have taken Non Degree Option courses. Must I incorporate these into my Honors Cooperative Program application?
A: Yes. Please add Stanford University as one of your Post-Secondary Institutions in the Educational History section of the application, and upload your unofficial Stanford transcript there.
Transfer of Credit and Deferral of Admission Questions
Q: How many units may I transfer toward my degree at Stanford from my current institution?
A: No credit from another institution may be transferred to the Master's degree. However, up to 18 NDO units maybe applied toward the Master's degree. A maximum of 45 units from a Master's degree may be transferred toward the Engineer or Ph.D. degrees.
Q: How many NDO units may count toward the HCP graduate degree?
A: A maximum of 18 NDO units may be transferred toward the HCP graduate degree. These units must meet departmental requirements.
Q: I was admitted to graduate study in the EE department. May I defer my admission to a later quarter?
A: The EE department's policy is not to allow deferrals. If you feel your circumstance warrants a deferral, please send an email to the EE Admissions Office detailing your reason(s). Please allow 10-15 business days for a decision.
