Admissions Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

No, you do not need to be admitted to begin taking classes. You can begin taking classes in any semester without applying to the school. We call this status “non-matriculated.” 

Take a class before applying to try us out, or to get a jump-start on your program while you assemble your application. Or you can take a course of particular interest without intending to pursue a degree at all. If you are planning to apply to a program, we recommend that you take no more than three classes prior to admission. If you are interested in a degree program, you should talk to admissions or a faculty member.

It depends. For many of our programs, we do not require entrance examinations as part of the application to the Warner School, with the exception of the TOEFL or IELTS exam for applicants whose first language is not English. If you have taken the GRE already and wish to submit your score, we will be happy to evaluate it as part of your application. Contact admissions for more information.

To report your score to the Warner School use the University of Rochester’s Institution code which is 7614. The subcode for the GRE is 2928 (curriculum and instruction).

Specific criteria for admission include:

1. Applicants must have received a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution or equivalent by the time they enter the program at Warner, with the exception of those applying to early admission programs.
2. Applicants must have the ability to do graduate work at the University of Rochester, as demonstrated by their past academic performance and their academic writing skills.
3. Applicants must demonstrate sufficient communication and interpersonal skills to perform well in their chosen career in education.
4. Applicants’ career goals, professional interests, academic background, attitudes, and philosophy must be consistent with the programs offered by the Warner School and its stated mission.
5. Additional criteria may be established for individual programs.

An academic writing sample is required. It should be a paper that you have written that best displays your ability to write at an academic level. Your paper should include citations and use the same style consistently (APA or MLA for example).

Admissions interviews are often required as part of the application process.

The Warner School offers merit-based scholarships to well qualified master’s and certification applicants, and assistantships to doctoral applicants. Rochester-area preK-12 educators are eligible for the Warner School’s Greater Rochester Area Educators Grants. 

You can complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at any time. Completing the FAFSA provides eligibility for participation in the Federal Loan program.

Courses are offered in the late afternoon and into the evening. Most courses begin at either 4:45 p.m. or 7:35 p.m. Some courses may vary from this schedule. Summer B classes are sometimes offered during the day. 

Classes are intentionally kept small to facilitate learning and discussion. Most classes are capped at 25, although on rare occasions some classes may be larger.

For master’s programs, you can transfer up to nine graduate-level credits from another institution as long as those credits have not already been counted toward another degree. For doctoral programs, you can transfer up to 36 credits into an EdD program, and up to 30 credits into a PhD program. All transfer credits must be approved by your advisor and are usually not granted for required courses.

On-campus housing

Students enrolling at the Warner School can take advantage of the University of Rochester graduate housing for students and their families. There are a variety of housing opportunities adjacent to campus, including a high-rise apartment building and townhouses.

Off-campus housing

There are many apartment options conveniently located near campus. You are welcome to explore these on your own or take advantage of the Office for Off-Campus Living.

The Office for Off-Campus Living maintains a database of housing opportunities within proximity of the University of Rochester campus. They also offer off-campus housing advising, rental application and lease reviewing services, and occasional tours of Rochester neighborhoods. Maps of Rochester, renter’s insurance information, safety checklists, and other information can also be obtained through the office.

U of R transportation and parking

The University's Department of Transportation and Parking Management offers several services to help students, staff, faculty and visitors travel around and between our campuses and the city of Rochester as efficiently as possible.

• Shuttles schedule
• River Campus biking
• HOPR Bike Share
• 511NY Rideshare
• More about alternative transportation options

Public transportation

Rochester public transportation is available for certain neighborhoods and routes. If you would like to take advantage of public transportation, when securing your housing, please ensure that the location is accessible to transportation that will get you to campus efficiently.

Regional Transit Service (RTS)

Other transportation

It’s easy to get in and out of Rochester by plane, train, or automobile:

• Greater Rochester International Airport
• Amtrak train station
• Megabus