STANFORD LINGUISTICS ADMISSIONS FAQ

LINGUISTICS AT STANFORD

What are the research interests and theoretical orientation of your faculty?
Our department has a broad, multifaceted approach to language, emphasizing contact among sub areas and with adjacent academic disciplines. We emphasize theory grounded in diverse empirical methodologies and detailed linguistic description. Current research foci, described in greater detail in the Research section of the website, include computational linguistics, experimental linguistics, grammatical theory, phonetics, phonology, semantics, and sociolinguistics.

What are the strengths of your program?
Our program provides a unique environment where linguistic theory, experimental methodologies, and computational research not only peacefully coexist, but interact in a highly synergistic fashion. We have an unprecedented and unequalled level of collaboration among faculty and students.

LINGUISTICS GRADUATE PROGRAM

What graduate degrees does Stanford offer in Linguistics?
The Linguistics department offers both the M.A. or Ph.D. degree, but the program is primarily oriented towards the Ph.D. degree. Please note that applicants to the M.A. degree are rarely admitted, and then only under very unusual circumstances.

How long does it take to complete the M.A. or Ph.D. in Linguistics?
Doctoral students generally complete the dissertation and receive the Ph.D. in five years. The M.A. degree is considered a two-year program and requires the writing of an M.A. thesis.

What are the tuition costs?
Stanford tuition is updated on an annual basis and posted in the University Bulletin and on the Office of the University Registrar's web site.

What financial aid is available? Are international students eligible for financial aid?
Offers of admission to the Linguistics Ph.D. program are accompanied by graduate support packages that fund the full five years of doctoral study, including tuition and a stipend, regardless of citizenship. Department funding is not available to students in the M.A. program.

We encourage our applicants to apply for as many external fellowships and scholarships as they are eligible for; a compilation of funding opportunities for Linguistics graduate students can be found on our Fellowship and Funding Information page. Applicants should note that the deadlines for these fellowships are typically in the fall of the year prior to admission.

What does your program offer in Teaching English as a Second Language and/or Applied Linguistics?
Students whose interests are primarily in Teaching English as a Second Language or in Applied Linguistics would be better served by applying to a graduate program that includes a full curriculum in these areas, as well as faculty whose research is in these areas. (The Ph.D. minor program of study in Applied Linguistics at Stanford was discontinued in 2008.)

May I enroll in Stanford courses prior to being admitted in the graduate program?
The department does not allow non-matriculated students (that is, students who have not been admitted to a degree program) to enroll in or audit courses.

Is an online program of study or are online courses in Linguistics available?
The department does not offer online or distance learning instruction in Linguistics. Students in a Linguistics degree program are expected to be in residence.

Can I attend the Ph.D. or M.A. program part-time?
No, these programs are designed with the expectation that students will be devoting all their time to their graduate study.

Can I start the graduate program in the Winter or Spring quarter?
No, the department admits applicants to the Fall quarter only.

Can I be a visiting student in the Stanford Linguistics department?
Students enrolled as Ph.D. students at other Universities may apply to visit the Linguistics department for periods ranging from one quarter to an academic year. For information, deadlines and fees involved see the "Visiting Student Researcher" section of the Visitor Information page.

Is is possible to transfer into the Stanford graduate program from another graduate program?
We do not accept transfer students per se. We do accept many students into the program who have already earned or are working towards an M.A. in Linguistics. Students who are in the first couple of years in their current graduate program would be advised to complete the M.A. where they are, before transferring elsewhere for a Ph.D. program. Applicants to our Ph.D. program who already have an M.A. and are admitted would not be treated differently from other entering students: they would be expected to complete all Ph.D. requirements (qualifying papers, language requirements, dissertation proposal, dissertation, etc.), though some slight adjustments might be made to how they fulfill some of the course requirements. Students who are close to the dissertation stage in their current program or are already at this stage would be advised to complete their program where they are. Such students could apply to be a Visiting Student Researcher in our department, though there are fees involved. For information, deadlines and fees involved, see the "Visiting Student Researcher" section of the Visitor Information page.

What kinds of jobs do students who receive the Ph.D. in Linguistics have?
See our alumni web page for information on the placement of our Ph.D. graduates.

PRIOR TO APPLYING TO THE LINGUISTICS GRADUATE PROGRAM

May I request information about your program?
The most up-to-date information about Linguistics at Stanford can be found on our web site: research projects, individual faculty and graduate student interests, courses currently offered and department-specific instructions for applying to the graduate program. If you have specific questions after perusing our pages, please email us at .

Will you mail me application materials?
Stanford's graduate admissions application is found on-line at: http://gradadmissions.stanford.edu/

Can I arrange a visit to the Linguistics department?
Prior to visiting, prospective applicants are encouraged to contact the department's student services officer and specific faculty to arrange individual appointments. It is often difficult to meet with faculty without an appointment, as they may have prior commitments.

The student services officer may be reached at ; faculty contact information (email is preferred) may be found on our faculty page.

The Linguistics department is located in the first floor of Margaret Jacks Hall (Building 460, Room 127) in the Main Quad, just steps from where Palm Drive dead-ends on the University campus. The Linguistics department main office is open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm (1:00 pm to 4:00 pm in the summer). Maps, directions, and other visitor information may be found on Stanford's Visitor page.

COMPONENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL APPLICATION

What does the admissions committee look for when reviewing applications?
In reviewing applications for our Ph.D. program, we look for evidence that the applicant not only will thrive in our graduate program, but will go on to put the training we offer to fruitful use in an academic or a non-academic career. We look for evidence of:

• academic potential as evidenced in past academic achievement
• an understanding of what Linguistics is. In general, we prefer students who have had at least some training in Linguistics
• a strong motivation to engage in Linguistics
• an understanding of, and passion for, research
• a good fit between the applicant's interests and the interests and capabilities of our faculty

Your supporting materials should be designed to provide this evidence.

Whom should I ask to write my letters of recommendation?
In deciding whom to ask for letters of recommendation, give preference to people who have taught you and/or directed your research activities, people who know you and your work well, and/or people who know what Linguistics is and who understand what you're getting into.

What kind of information should I include in my statement of purpose?
The statement of purpose should be designed as a narrative presentation of yourself. We want to know what you've done in Linguistics or in related fields, why you want to study Linguistics and particularly why you think Stanford is an appropriate place for you to do it. We want to know what your linguistic interests are. If you aren't sure yet what you plan to do in Linguistics, that's fine, but we want to know that you have some idea of the possibilities. Don't repeat things that we will learn from other parts of your application, such as your transcript, but do highlight things you think are particularly important, and do feel free to explain any things in your other materials that you are less proud of. Caution: avoid telling us too much about your childhood and your fascination with language.

What should I include in the writing sample?
The purpose of the writing sample is to get a sense of your ability to do research, how you might approach a problem and work through it; that is, not only the way you write but the way you work and think. Send a paper that you are proud of. If possible, this should be a paper in Linguistics or in a related discipline (such as logic or anthropology). The paper does not need to be lengthy; approximately 10 to 15 pages is standard. If you have an M.A. thesis this would also be appropriate.

Is a minimum GRE score and/or GPA required for admission?
The department considers all components of the application. There are therefore no specific GRE or GPA minimums.

Must I have a bachelor's degree in Linguistics to apply for your graduate program?
Most of our students have a B.A. or an M.A. in Linguistics. We very occasionally admit applicants whose B.A. or M.A. is in a related area, but even then only if they give evidence of having carried out considerable coursework and/or research in Linguistics (see the question on what the admissions committee looks for).

Is it important that I contact a specific professor prior to applying?
Faculty members do not admit students directly as "their own".

Students are not admitted to work with particular faculty members; rather, we admit the set of students who we feel are the strongest and would benefit the most from the kind of graduate education that we provide. That is, admissions decisions are not made by individual faculty members, but rather are made by the whole department faculty based on initial recommendations from the Linguistics Graduate Admissions Committee which includes a subset of the faculty and graduate students.

How are admissions decisions made?
The admissions committee first selects the most qualified applicants and presents this subset to the department faculty as a whole to review. No one faculty member makes an admission decision.

How many applicants apply in a given year, and how many do you admit?
The department receives approximately 120 applications each year, of which we are able to admit, on average, 5 to 7 Ph.D. students.

THE ADMISSIONS APPLICATION PROCESS

What is the deadline to apply for admission to the upcoming academic year?
The current deadline information can be found on the Linguistics Graduate Admissions Information page. The Linguistics Department considers graduate admissions applications on an annual basis.

Which tests are required to apply? Are there minimum score requirements?
The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test is required of all applicants. Scores must be from a test taken within the last five years. No minimum GRE score is required to apply.

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required of all applicants whose first language is not English. Scores must be from a test taken within the last eighteen months. The University sets the minimum TOEFL score requirements which can be found on the University Graduate Admissions web site.

The Linguistics Department does not require the Test of Spoken English (TSE).

For more information about these required tests and minimum scores for admission, please visit the University Graduate Admissions web site.

How do I report my official test scores to the Linguistics department?
Applicants must have the Educational Testing Service (ETS) report their official scores to Stanford University using the institution code 4704. You do not need to specify a department code. Applicants must also list their scores on their online application.

When should I take the GRE?
Official GRE scores must be received by the department's application deadline. The current deadline information can be found on the Linguistics Graduate Admissions Information page. Scores typically take six weeks from the date the test was conducted to be transmitted from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to the University. We therefore encourage you to register and complete the GRE well in advance of the application deadline.

Is there a preferred method for submitting letters of recommendation?
As you complete the online application, you will be asked to supply the names and email addresses of your recommenders. Once you save this information in your online application, your recommenders are contacted by email with instructions for submitting their letters of recommendation online.

If online submission is inconvenient or impossible for any of your recommenders, they may submit a paper letter of recommendation to the department. Please provide your recommenders who will submit paper letters of recommendation with the Recommendation Form for Graduate Study to use as a cover sheet for their letter. Paper letters of recommendation should be mailed directly to the department at the address listed on the Linguistics Graduate Admissions Information page.

What if my scores or letters do not arrive by the application deadline?
The department cannot review your application until all of the required components of the admissions application have been received.

AFTER THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN SUBMITTED

What is the status of my application?
The department will contact you to confirm receipt of your application after it has been submitted, and will inform you of any supplementary documents that are still outstanding. Once all materials have been received, the application will be marked complete, and will then be reviewed by the admissions committee. Stanford will be closed during the last two weeks of December; therefore, applicants may not be notified of initial receipt of their application until the first half of January.

When will I hear what decision has been made about admission?
Admissions decisions are generally made by the committee by mid-March. Notices of admissions status are delivered around that time and should be received by mid-April. Please inform us if your mailing address changes by emailing our office at .