The Warner School has a self-managed application process. Applicants (including applicants to non-degree programs) are required to assemble and submit one complete application packet to the Office of Admissions. Only those completed applications received (postmarked) by the deadline will be considered by the Warner Admissions Committee. Applications received after a deadline or that are incomplete will be rolled over to the next appropriate deadline. The Warner School will notify you by e-mail of receipt of your application. See deadlines for admissions cycles.

A complete application packet consists of the following:

1. Completed and signed Application Form
Download Application

2. Application fee. Include a check or money order for $40 (USD) with your application. Please do not send cash. Your check or money order should be made payable to University of Rochester and drawn on a U.S. bank. This nonrefundable application fee must be enclosed, or your application will not be processed. UR students and Warner alumni are not required to pay the application fee.

3. Official transcripts of all previous post-secondary education. You must provide official transcripts or certified copies, not photocopies. All transcripts should be included in your completed application packet. Admitted students currently finishing a degree must submit a final transcript showing all coursework, degree granted, and the date of the degree, before registering for courses at Warner. Exceptions to this would be students admitted to early admission programs.

To request a transcript from your college or university, send a self-addressed envelope to the institution’s registrar with instructions to:

• seal the transcripts inside your self-addressed envelope
• sign and stamp with official school seal across the sealed envelope flap to ensure the contents’ authenticity
• return the envelope directly to you (not the Warner School)

4. Letters of recommendation from members of the academic community and/or workplace professionals who know your qualifications for graduate study. Preferably, at least one recommendation should be from a former professor. At least two letters are required for master’s applicants and three for doctoral applicants.

For those applicants who have completed coursework at Warner, please submit one letter of recommendation from a Warner faculty member.

5. Personal statement describing your academic or professional background and your interest in pursuing graduate study at Warner. The personal statement is generally between two and four pages, double-spaced.

6. Current résumé or curriculum vitae.

7. Writing sample. This must be written in English and may be a term paper from your earlier academic work or a five- or six-page commentary on an issue in education that you have written for this purpose only. The paper should support an academic argument, reference citations, and use a research style sheet.

8. Additional admission and certification requirements apply for some programs and must accompany your application. Specifically, applicants to the accelerated Ed.D. program are required to complete an additional personal narrative as outlined in the application.

9. TOEFL scores are required for international applicants who are non-native English speakers. The TOEFL code for the Warner School is 85.

Note: GRE scores are not required. However, should you elect to submit scores, they will be considered by the Admissions Committee. Applicants who are interested in applying for certain University-wide scholarships at the doctoral level are encouraged to submit GRE scores. The GRE code for the University of Rochester is 2928.

Our mailing address for all application materials
Margaret Warner Graduate School of
Education and Human Development
University of Rochester
Office of Admissions
Box 270425
Rochester, New York 14627-0425