UB - University at Buffalo, The State University of New York

Frequently Asked Questions

The following are questions that are often asked about admission to graduate study in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University at Buffalo:

• How can I get an application and the required forms?
• What criteria do you use to evaluate applications?
• How can I apply for financial aid?
• What financial support is provided by TA or GA positions?
• May I send a personal letter to a faculty member I wish to work with? Do individual faculty members offer financial aid?
• If I am not admitted to the program, can I be reconsidered for another semester?
• I was admitted but without aid, can I be reconsidered for another semester?
• Where can I learn more about your faculty and their research interests?
• If I do intend to earn a Ph.D., should I say so in my application?
• What Undergraduate majors can be considered for admission into the Graduate program?
• Do you admit students for the Spring semester?

How can I get an appplication and the required forms?

The MAE online application is available here. The application fee is $50.00. The Letter of Recommendation form, required for the online application, available in MS Word and PDF.

Mail To:
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Graduate Program
University at Buffalo
318 Jarvis Hall
Buffalo, NY 14260-4400

NOTE: The best thing you can do is to submit an online application. E-mails and letters to faculty asking them to admit you to the graduate program or determine eligibility, cannot, and will not, be evaluated.

What Criteria do you use to evaluate applications?

We take the following elements into consideration when we evaluate applications, for both admission and financial aid:

• GRE scores (verbal, quantitative, analytic) — Required for international applicants and recommended for US applicants
• TOEFL scores (international applicants)
• Grades in relevant coursework at the undergraduate and, if applicable, graduate levels (you will be required to provide official transcripts from all colleges and universities previously attended)
• Your personal statement explaining why you are interested in graduate study in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University at Buffalo
• The three letters of recommendation, preferably from faculty members at your college who know you well, that you will submit with your application (under certain circumstances, letters from employers can be used)

It is our policy not to make an evaluation, or to offer advice, without a completed application and full supporting documents in hand.

How can I apply for financial aid?

When you submit your application, you can indicate on the application if you need financial aid. We will then consider you for a teaching assistantship (TA). If you are not awarded a TA, you must document your finances to prove that you can support yourself. If you wish to receive a research assistantship (RA), your best course of action is to register for courses, do well in them, and initiate contact during the semester with faculty members who have research in your area of interest. Please be aware that most faculty members will not offer an RA until after they have seen your performance in the department. This often takes one semester or even longer.

What financial support is provided by TA or GA positions?

For 2007-08, a TA/GA position provides a stipend of $15,680 plus a tuition scholarship worth $10,920 to non-NY state students and worth $6,900 to NY state residents.

May I send a personal letter to a faculty member I wish to work with? Do individual faculty members offer financial aid?

See above. This is, in general, not productive for you. Many faculty strongly discourage this.

Special Note for Ph.D. applicants (who already possess a Master's degree): After submitting your application, you should get in touch with faculty members who are potential advisors in your area. If they request a personal letter, you would submit it at that time.

If I am not admitted to the program, can I be reconsidered for another semester?

No. Unfortunately, once admission has been denied, you cannot reapply.

I was admitted but without aid, can I be reconsidered for another semester?

Our ruling on deferrals is that you can defer one time. Any further deferral is only granted if there is a major new development—a new degree, or much different GRE or TOEFL scores.

Where can I learn more about your faculty and their research interests?

Information about faculty and their research interests can be found in the Faculty section of this website. For in-depth information about departmental research interests, see the Research section.

If I do intend to earn a Ph.D., should I say so in my application?

Yes, we need to know. Our admission decisions are based on how well your qualifications match your ultimate graduate program plans. Please check off "Master's only," "Ph.D. only," or "Both Master's and Ph.D" when applying.

Please fill out the Master's application, not the Ph.D. application. In this application it will ask you what you are applying for, and that is where you will make your selection.

What Undergraduate majors can be considered for admission into the Graduate program?

At a minimum, an undergraduate degree (Bachelor's or other four-year equivalent) is required for admission. Graduates from accredited Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering Departments comprise the bulk of our applicants. However, students from Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and similar programs have successfully completed our program. Students from other, related engineering and science disciplines may have some additional undergraduate coursework to make up.

Do you admit students for the Spring semester?

Yes, but this is a comparatively small group. There may be problems getting the right course sequence for your area of interest, and you may need an additional semester. In general, there are comparatively few TA and RA positions available to students entering in Spring.