Application & Admission

• U.S. and international students seeking admission for:
  • fall semester (September) should apply by:
  • February 15 for all students requesting financial support
  • no later than June 15 for students not requesting financial support
  • spring semester (January) should apply by:
  • June 15 for all students requesting financial support  (Note:  financial support may not be available for the spring semester)
  • October 15 for all students
• Late applications are considered if enrollment is not full

Financial aid

• The earliest deadline for The Graduate College, state of Michigan, and other WMU aid is February 15

Minimum requirements

General requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with a GPA (grade point average) of 3.0 (B average) or better AND a minimum GPA of 3.0 for any graduate work completed
• If you have completed more than 20 hours of graduate work with a 3.0 GPA or better, you do not need the 3.0 GPA for your undergraduate work
• There is no restriction on your degree major.

Program-specific requirements

Entry into the program is highly competitive, and is based on:

• Previous academic performance
• GRE (graduate record exam) scores
• Work experience/track record
• Letters of recommendation
• Fit with the program
• Availability of a suitable advisor

More specifically, we are looking for

• Academic ability (strong analytic ability, critical thinking skills, ability to conceptualize, ability to write and present clearly and concisely for multiple audiences, and aptitude to master both quantitative and qualitative methodologies to a high level)
• Ability to handle the nontechnical aspects of evaluation (e.g., ability to think on your feet, be persuasive and articulate, work effectively with clients, seek out and make use of criticism, and create clarity out of ambiguity; low need for structure/certainty)
• A strong desire to become a "thought leader" in evaluation, and some preliminary ideas about the domains where you would like to influence the field (Note: it is important that you have a clear interest specifically in evaluation and not just in a related area, such as applied research, measurement, or statistics)
• A specific interest in the interdisciplinary setting we offer (rather than simply an interest in one of the cognate areas offered)
• A desire to be challenged and spend time outside your comfort zone (e.g., engaging in challenging debates and exploring unfamiliar topics)
• A commitment to (and interest in) engaging in hands-on learning in evaluation by working on Evaluation Center evaluation projects and in dedicating time to connecting with the program and its related activities (such as the Evaluation Café) 
• Your ability to follow instructions, complete application forms with attention to detail, and follow appropriate procedures for applying to the program (these are basic skills for being a good evaluator , so it's important to demonstrate them up front)

Students who are currently at WMU do NOT need to send in new official transcripts or GRE scores to the Office of Admissions if they are already on file. However, you should include unofficial copies with your departmental application. All other application procedures should be followed.

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How to apply

• Use the online application process
• Submit complete application materials 75 days prior to the semester or session in which you wish to enroll
• Instructions for completing the Graduate Self-Managed Application and submitting materials are detailed on the application form, which may be requested online or by calling the Office of Admissions information line at (800) 400-4WMU or (269)387-2000
• Under "program of study desired," write "IEV" (this is the code for Interdisciplinary Evaluation). Otherwise, just follow all instructions
• If you have questions, please direct them to the Admissions Office
• The admissions application packet includes instructions for sending materials to TWO locations:
  • The Admissions Office:
    Completed as stated in the instructions. (Students who are currently at WMU do NOT need to send in transcripts or GRE scores--if they are already on file.)
  • The department:
    Ph.D. in Evaluation (interdisciplinary)
    The Evaluation Center
    Western Michigan University
    Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5237
    (be sure to include this 4-digit zip code extension to ensure timely delivery

• Graduate applications and admissions for international students are handled through the Diether H. Haenicke Institute for Global Education, which assists prospective students in compiling their application files
• No new international students are admitted in the summer sessions
• Prospective students are asked to download and complete the online International Application or to fax or mail requests for admission materials. Use this fax number: (001)-269-387-5899
• Use the following mailing address:

        Haenicke Institute
        Western Michigan University
        1903 W. Michigan Ave.
        Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5245

For detailed questions about international student admissions requirements (TOEFL, visas, etc.), please ask the Office of International Student and Scholar Services directly—they are the experts, not us!

Admissions

Department

In addition to the materials above, please submit:

• A copy of your completed WMU application form
• A completed program application form (available in Word or PDF)
• Photocopies or unofficial copies of graduate and undergraduate transcripts—these must indicate any degrees completed (official transcripts should go in the packet to the Admissions Office) and must be readable
• A current curriculum vitae (CV)
• GRE general scores
  • If you have taken the GRE in the past and still have an official copy of your scores, you may submit that; scores are not required to be less than 5 years old.
  • There is no waiver of this requirement even if you already have a graduate degree from a U.S. university
  • There is no minimum GRE score required. However, entry into the program will be competitive and will be based partially on GRE scores. If you think one or more of your scores is not an adequate gauge of your ability, please submit additional supporting evidence (e.g., a writing sample or technical report)
  • Please see the ETS Web site for information about scheduling and taking the GRE
  • You are welcome to send in your application prior to taking the GRE; however, we are unable to make admissions decisions without your scores (as per WMU Graduate College requirements) and will be giving priority consideration to those for whom we have complete applications
• A 1000-word essay outlining your career goals and reasons for interest in the program, including any preferences for advisors you would particularly like to work with
• A recent writing sample on which you are the sole or first author (e.g., a technical report, a publishable paper, or a class project ). It is helpful if this provides additional evidence of the abilities we use to judge applications
• Three letters of recommendation from academic or professional sources (preferably in sealed envelopes with the recommendation writer's signature across the envelope seal; please ask your referees to address the minimum requirements/selection criteria)
• If you are seeking financial support, include a completed doctoral associateship application form and/or a one-page application letter for a research assistantship (please indicate your areas of interest, skills, knowledge, and availability for work)

Additional things to consider

• Prospective students interested in applying to the program are strongly urged to begin preparations early, especially for scheduling the GRE exam.
• Initial review of applications will begin in February each year for admission in the fall (September). Applications received by February 15 receive priority consideration for financial support. We expect to notify these applicants by late March. Later applications may be submitted and often are able to be considered, but face somewhat lower chances of acceptance. Applications for the program will be received throughout the year for admittance at the following semester.
• Not all students admitted can be offered doctoral associateship funding
• Applicants are encouraged to apply for other types of funding (e.g., Fulbright scholarships, sponsorships from current employer, minority fellowships) in case a doctoral associateship is not available
• Applicants are strongly advised to do as many of the following as possible:
  • Regularly attend Evaluation Café sessions at The Evaluation Center to help give you a sense of what evaluation is and what we do here (if you live in or near Kalamazoo)
  • Attend the American Evaluation Association (AEA) conference in early November (please visit the WMU Evaluation Center display table and make yourself known to faculty and students)
  • Attend any local/regional evaluation conferences you can
  • Join and listen in on relevant evaluation listservs (e.g., EVALTALK - fairly high traffic, so use the digest option if you need to, but this is a real window onto the evaluation profession , AEA_GSNE_TIG - the listserv of AEA's graduate students and new evaluators topical interest group) to get a sense of the issues in the field