Competitive Graduate Award 2009-2010
Graduate School
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
These FAQs are provided to assist you with the CGA application process. If you have any questions regarding the CGA competition, please contact the Graduate School at 618/650-3010 or gradsch@siue.edu.
Q: I took a graduate course several years ago, but I did not pursue a graduate degree at that time. Can I compete for a CGA?
A: Eligibility requirements state that applicants must be new graduate students, whose first term of enrollment as a classified student in a graduate degree program at SIUE will be no earlier than Summer 2009. SIUE undergraduates approved for admission to a 3+2 program may submit an application provided their eligibility for such enrollment does not occur before Summer 2009.
Q: Can I delay payment of the SIUE application fee until after I have won a CGA award?
A: No. Your SIUE application is not complete without the payment of the application fee.
Q: Do I need to complete the admission tests for the graduate programs, e.g. the Miller Analogies Test (MAT), Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) before I will be considered for a Competitive Graduate Award?
A: No, not technically. The tests are not required by the Graduate Admissions Office for general admission to SIUE, however, some graduate programs require one of these tests for acceptance into the program. The CGA application files are sent to the graduate faculty of the applicant's chosen major for evaluation and ranking. Please be aware that faculty may give a higher ranking to a CGA applicant who has completed the admission process for their graduate program, and that process may include having the test results from MAT, GMAT or GRE in the graduate program file. If you have questions about the deadlines for taking the required test for your graduate program, please contact the director of the graduate program to which you are applying.
Q: Does the deadline of January 15, 2009, mean 'postmarked by' January 15, 2009?
A: No. All of your CGA application materials must be received in the Graduate School office by 4:30 p.m., January 15, 2009. 'Postmarked by' does not apply to this date.
Q: Can I ask the department of my major to copy my letters of recommendation and send them to you for the CGA competition?
A: Yes, however the members of the University Fellowship and Scholarship Committee prefer to see letters that specifically address the CGA competition.
Q: If a letter gets lost in the mail and I find out about it after the competition closes, can you hold my CGA application until I can get the recommender to send another one?
A: No. It is your responsibility to make sure that your CGA application is complete by 4:30 on Thursday, January 15, 2009. Start calling our office (618/650-3010) two weeks before the deadline or emailing us (gradsch@siue.edu) to check the status of your CGA application. Give yourself enough time to correct any problems or deficiencies with your application. If you wait until the due date to check on your letters, it will then be too late for your reference to mail another copy.
Q: Can my letters of recommendation be written by people that I work with or church affiliates instead of former professors?
A: Such letters are not prohibited, however, the committee will be evaluating your academic potential. Your application should contain letters from former professors whenever possible to increase your chances of winning one of the awards.
Q: Can I collect my letters of recommendation personally and mail or bring them in with my application?
A: No. Please have your recommenders mail the letters with the waiver form from their universities or places of business. Exceptions can be made for letters that must be sent from outside the United States. Please contact us for guidance at 618/650-3010 or gradsch@siue.edu.
Q: Can I have more than three letters of recommendation in my file?
A: Yes, you may have any number of letters in your file, as long as you have at least three. You may wish to consider asking at least four people for recommendations, in case one gets lost in the mail.
Q: Can I send you a copy of my resume instead of filling out the Statement of Personal History and Career Goals?
A: No. Your resume will not be accepted. Please fill out the forms as specified.
Q: What is your grade scale based on?
A: A = 4.0. If your baccalaureate institution calculated your Grade Point Average on a scale wherein A = 5.0, please convert your GPA when you fill out the cover page.
Q: I didn’t hear about the CGA until the last week in December, and I cannot get everything to you in time. Can I have an extension?
A: No. Extensions would create unacceptable delays in the award process.
Q: I received my baccalaureate degree from SIUE and did not take undergraduate classes at any other institution. Do I still have to have my transcript mailed to the Graduate School?
A: No. We have access to the transcripts originated by SIUE. If you completed undergraduate work at another institution, however, you must have that transcript sent to the Graduate School for your CGA application packet.
Q: I transferred to SIUE from another university before I received my baccalaureate degree from SIUE. Doesn't the SIUE transcript have the information from the transferred credits?
A: The SIUE transcript notes the transferred credit but it does not list the grades earned in those courses. In some cases, the titles of courses transferred are not listed on the transcript, merely the total credit hours transferred. You must have the other undergraduate institutions mail copies of your transcripts to the Graduate School so that the committee will have a complete academic record to examine.
Q: I have already ordered a copy of my transcript(s) from my undergraduate institution(s) to be delivered to SIUE as part of my application to SIUE. Do I need to order another copy separately for the CGA competition?
A: Yes. Transcripts for SIUE admission are sent to a different department. Send a set of transcripts to the Graduate School to be used specifically for the Competitive Graduate Award.
International Students Only:
Q: I cannot take my TOEFL test early enough for the results to arrive at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville by January 15, 2009. Will you waive the TOEFL requirement?
A: No. Your TOEFL scores are a vital part of your application to SIUE. You will not be eligible for the CGA competition if your SIUE application is incomplete. Take the TOEFL test as early as possible and have an official set of scores sent to SIUE.
Q: My TOEFL test scores may arrive at SIUE too late for me to be eligible for the CGA competition.
Will you accept an unofficial copy?
A: No. The Graduate Admissions Office needs to receive your official TOEFL score before you can be considered for admission to SIUE. Only those whose applications to SIUE are complete are eligible for the CGA competition.