Admission criteria

Competition for admission to Georgia's MLA program is very keen. In recent years there have been 75 to 100 applications for the 12 to 15 positions in each entering class. The school seeks applicants who are academically capable of studying landscape architecture at an advanced level, and who understand and sympathize with what landscape architecture is and the kinds of demands that will be made upon them, so that they will be happy, committed and productive when they get here. In its evaluation of applicants, the MLA Admissions Committee takes all possible information into account, and attempts to reach a full and balanced understanding of each applicant.

Because of the different combinations of strengths that individual candidates offer, there are no fixed quantitative standards that guarantee admission or rejection. However the following characteristics of admitted students can be interpreted from admissions decisions in recent years. Almost all admitted applicants have 500 or higher on both the quantitative and verbal portions of the GRE; the average total GRE score (math + verbal) is about 1200. Almost all admitted applicants have 3.0 or higher grade point average; the average is about 3.6. Even for applicants who have these characteristics, admission is competitive. Students admitted with relatively low GRE or GPA have other extraordinary strengths to contribute to advanced study, the landscape architectural field, or productive professional work in society. These strengths may be in the areas of character, experience, motivation and direction.

For students from overseas, the school is very concerned about English language ability. On the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), admitted applicants always score over 630, and usually over 650. Scores on the verbal portion of the GRE must also be adequate.

All applicants should apply to a number of MLA programs. Admission of any applicant to a program as competitive as Georgia's cannot be guaranteed.

The on-campus interview

On-campus interviews are required for all applicants within a half-day's drive of Athens, and very strongly encouraged for all others. Interviews are very important in reaching an understanding about what a school offers and whether it is the right "match" for an applicant. At Georgia's interviews, the school arranges for the applicant to meet students and multiple faculty. An customized itinerary is given to each applicant upon arrival. Candidates should plan to spend a day or two seeing the facilities of the school and university, meeting students informally in the studios, and seeing the town. In recent years, essentially all admitted applicants who interviewed at Georgia have decided to come to Georgia.

To arrange an admissions interview, call (706) 542-4720 or e-mail donnag@uga.edu

Application requirements

All MLA applicants are expected to apply under the "prospective candidate for a degree" admission category. Essentially all admitted students enter in the fall semester.

A timely and orderly admissions process is the only way to for the MLA Admissions Committee to make its way through the overwhelming number of students who apply here. Successful application for admission requires, among other things, the applicant's planning and organization to find out in a timely manner what information is required for a Georgia application, and to complete the application on time.

All applicants are required to submit the following:

• Academic transcripts from all colleges and universities attended to the Graduate School Admissions Office.

• GRE scores.

• Three references (forms are provided by the Graduate School on their website and are available in the online application).
  

• A letter of intent, outlining the reasons for the applicant's interest in landscape architecture, the relevance of previous education and experience, and the applicant's aims and ambitions. The letter should include how the applicant found out about landscape architecture as a potential field of study and work, why landscape architecture is the right field for the applicant, and what kind of application or contribution within the field is anticipated. The letter of intent is also the applicant's opportunity to provide any additional information that might help the faculty to evaluate the applicant fully and accurately.

• Admission interviews are required for all applicants within half a day's traveling time of Athens; for these applicants the interview must be conducted before an admission decision can be made. Interviews are strongly encouraged for all others who can arrange to travel to Athens. Interviews assist the school in evaluating applicants accurately, and applicants in selecting a school that can best meet their specific needs.

Applicants from foreign countries where English is not the native language are required in addition to submit TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) scores.

Applicants with prior training or experience in landscape architecture or another design field must submit a design portfolio. There are no restrictions on portfolio format; we request only that material be neat and easy to read. Slides are discouraged, because the admissions committee does not use projectors or other special equipment. If you wish us to return the portfolio by mail, you must enclose an appropriately stamped, self-addressed envelope.

Application and instructions are found at the Graduate School admissions website. 
www.uga.edu/gradschool

The application is online as well as application fee payment.   As part of the online application, you will need to furnish complete address information for recommenders for three letters of recommendation.  Official transcripts from all institutions, and test scores are sent to the Graduate School Admissions Office 320 E Clayton Street Suite 400, Athens, Georgia 30602-4401

For the department, send letter of intent, and optional design portfolio to MLA Program, School Environmental Design, 609 Caldwell Hall, Athens, GA 30602-1845.

The Reference forms are available online at the time you apply.  The link for the form can be electronically sent to your recommender while completing the online application.

The importance of the application timetable.

Completion of the application by December 31 is very important for you and for the school. A complete application includes test scores, letter of intent, references, transcripts, and optional portfolio.

Completing you application by December 31 is to your advantage in consideration for admission. Later in the year, positions in the entering class have already been taken, and further admissions must be closed off, even for the best students.

Georgia's admission decisions following the December 31 deadline are earlier than those made at some other schools to which you may be applying. Georgia's early decision helps you to plan in a timely way for your graduate education, and the school to plan for the incoming class.

Georgia's Graduate School selects entering students for "university-wide" assistantships and Regents' out-of-state tuition waivers only from among the students whose applicants are complete by December 31 and who are admitted in the Admissions Committee's first meeting.

Application timetable

At the earliest possible date take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and, if required, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). These tests are given only a few times a year. Waiting for the scores is a common cause of delayed applications. Contact the Graduate Record Examinations Board, Educational Testing Service, CN 6000, Princeton, NJ 08541-6000.

After taking the test(s) in a timely manner, follow the following timetable:

Graduate School

Financial Information

back to top