Bridge Master's Application

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is no longer required to apply for admission. Students who have taken the GRE may include the test result as additional information in their application if they wish. The GRE scores that we do receive play a minor and supporting role in a holistic evaluation of the application. If you wish to submit your GRE score, include a copy of your GRE score report from ETS with your optional application materials.  

Dates and places to take the examination may be obtained from the Educational Testing Service by creating a GRE account. The University of Michigan code for the GRE is 1839. The GRE scores are automatically added to applicant records as long as name and birth date can be matched. Applicants must request that their scores be sent to the University of Michigan using the code above, on the GRE website.

All applicants should report their Grade Point Average (GPA) on page 5 of the online application. The GPA should be reported using a standard U.S. four point scale. Applicants who attended an institution outside the United States should follow the instructions to convert their international average grade point to a U.S. four point GPA (see "How to Convert Grades to a U.S. GPA" here). All students are responsible for reporting their GPA using a standard U.S. four point scale. 

A scanned/electronic copy of the official transcript will be used for initial review by our admissions committee.  You will be required to have your official transcript sent to the Rackham Graduate School only if you are recommended for admission; please see Instructions for Submitting Transcripts. Be sure to include your University of Michigan ID number on all documents. If there is anything you wish to explain about your transcript, please do so in the Statement of Purpose.

Three (3) letters of recommendation in support of the student's application must be submitted. The admissions committee puts great weight on concrete letters of recommendation from people who are in a position to judge your potential for successfully completing graduate studies in statistics. To write the letters you should select people who can tell us about your training and abilities, and about any special talents you might have. Recommenders must complete their recommendations online. When the applicant registers the recommenders' names in CollegeNet, an email is automatically sent with a link to enter the recommendation online. Please see Instructions for Submitting Online Letters of Recommendations.

The Statement of Purpose gives you an opportunity to tell us about yourself and your reasons for wishing to pursue a graduate degree in statistics at Michigan. You should tell us about your background, motivating influences that engaged your interest in statistics, and your career goals and objectives related to both the Bridge program and an eventual PhD in Statistics.

The personal statement should address the following: How have your background and life experiences, including cultural, geographical, financial, educational or other opportunities or challenges, motivated your decision to pursue a graduate degree at the University of Michigan? For example, if you grew up in a community where educational, cultural, or other opportunities were either plentiful or especially lacking, you might discuss the impact this had on your development and interests. This should be a discussion of the journey that has led to your decision to seek a graduate degree. The statement will be read by the faculty members of the admissions committee. The personal statement has a 500 word limit and should be different from your academic statement of purpose. 

Submit your curriculum vitae or resume that describes your education, work experience, research and teaching experience, professional affiliations, volunteer activity and community engagements, honors and awards.