Graduate Studies > Prospective Students

Tips for Applying to Graduate School at the University of Southern Maine

• Once you have completed the application, send it to the appropriate Office of Graduate Admissions, on either the Portland or Gorham campus, depending on the program to which you are applying. Both addresses can be found at the top of the application form and the recommendation form.
• Be sure to include the $50.00 application fee, as we cannot process your application without this fee. We will send you a receipt for the fee which will also indicate the application materials missing from your file at the time we receive your application.
• We must have two sets of OFFICIAL transcripts from every institution you attended. Transcripts must come to this office either directly from each institution (preferred), or in a sealed, signed envelope that you obtain from them, have not opened, and forward to us.
• Official standardized test scores must be sent directly from ETS. This can be arranged on site on the day of your examination. Be sure to schedule your examination well in advance (at least one month is recommended) of your program's priority filing date and/or deadline, as scores must be received by our office before your application can be sent to the department for review by the appropriate Admissions committee.
• Recommendations must be received either directly from the recommender or forwarded by you in sealed envelopes with the recommender's signature over the seal. Providing addressed, stamped envelopes along with the recommendation forms facilitates prompt response from your recommender.
• If we receive application materials such as test scores or recommendations before your application arrives, we will keep them in a holding file to add to your folder once the application is submitted. If you choose to collect all application materials yourself and mail or deliver everything to us at once, do not open any official transcripts or recommendation letters.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to insure than all necessary materials arrive at the correct office by any program deadlines. Applicants should call several weeks in advance of deadlines to follow up on missing application materials, as only completed application folders can be sent to the respective departments for review.

Once submitted, all application materials become USM property and will not be returned.

If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Graduate Admissions: in Portland at (207) 780-4386 or (800) 800-4USM [4876], ext. 4386, or by fax at (207) 780-4969; in Gorham at (207) 780-5306 or (800) 800-4USM [4876], ext. 5306, or by fax at (207) 780-5193.