Interviews
Evaluative interviews are not part of the admissions process for most programs. If an interview is needed after faculty representatives of a specialized master's program review an applicant's file, the applicant will be given an appointment for this purpose. Applicants are therefore encouraged to provide complete answers to all questions asked on the applications. Applicants who have questions about the information in this catalog concerning admissions, the programs, or related matters, however, are invited to contact the Office of Academic Assistance and Master's Admissions at any time during the application process.

Letters of Recommendation
Letters of recommendation are not required for master's-level admission in the Robinson College of Business. Applicants who wish to submit them, however, may do so. Applicants who choose to submit letters must collect the letters from their recommenders in sealed envelopes; recommenders must sign their names across the sealed portion of the back of the envelope. Letters of recommendation must be submitted unopened with the rest of the application packet. They may not be reviewed by the applicant at any time. An applicant who does not wish to waive access to a letter of recommendation must arrange for the recommender to provide him or her a copy.

Immunization Certification
The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia requires that accepted applicants who have never attended Georgia State University submit proof of immunization from measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) before being allowed to register. Forms for providing this certification to the Immunization Unit of the GSU Department of Health Services are available from the OAA/MA. Questions about the requirement may be directed to the immunization unit (147 Sparks Hall, telephone: 404/651-1171; fax: 404/651-1238).

The college can consider applications for master's-level admission before receiving this documentation. Applicants will be eligible only for conditional admission and will not be allowed to register, however, until acceptable proof of immunization has been received.

Applicants born before January 1, 1957, are considered to be immune to measles and mumps, but the rubella immunization is required; this requires one vaccination.

Applicants born January 1, 1957, or later who have not already received the MMR immunization or who cannot document that they have received it must have two vaccinations at least 30 days apart. Applicants in this category should be aware of this time constraint. Sufficient time before registra

General Admission Criteria
(Refer to the Executive M.B.A. Program and the Global Electronic MBA Program later in this chapter for information about admission criteria for those programs.)

The Master's Admissions Committee determines the eligibility of each person who applies for master's-level admission. Admission is competitive. Each applicant is evaluated individually and among the current group of candidates. In this evaluation, consideration is given to the applicant's academic record, scores on the Graduate Management Admission Test, educational background, educational objectives, narrative information, experience in business or government, professional activities, and character. Though it is not required for most master's programs, the Master's Admissions Committee prefers that applicants have some meaningful full-time work experience. These elements together must indicate a favorable prospect of success in graduate study for an offer of admission to be made. The college is also aware of the appropriate provisions of its accrediting agency, the AACSB_The International Association for Management Education, in making admission decisions.

A bachelor's degree in any field of study from a regionally accredited college or university is required for admission to all of the degree programs, to the certificate program, and to nondegree status in the Robinson College of Business. Only coursework from institutions with accreditation equivalent to that granted by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools is considered in evaluating an applicant for admission.

In reviewing the past academic work of applicants, the Master's Admissions Committee evaluates both the overall undergraduate GPA and the junior/senior GPA. In evaluating scores on the GMAT, the committee looks for a balance between verbal and quantitative scores in addition to considering the total score and the analytical writing score, because all of the master's programs require strong communication skills and quantitative ability.

In cases where the applicant has done additional accredited undergraduate work beyond the bachelor's degree or has done accredited graduate work, a "most recent two-year GPA" will be calculated. This is defined as the most recent ninety quarter hours or sixty semester hours of coursework (to the nearest whole term). If this GPA shows more academic promise than the junior/senior GPA, it will be given more weight in the admission consideration.

Transcripts, test scores, and other materials are received and evaluated by the Office of Academic Assistance and Master's Admissions. In addition, applications to the following programs also are reviewed by faculty representative(s) of the programs: Master of Actuarial Science, M.B.A./Master of Health Administration joint programs, M.B.A. major or concentration in human resource management, Master of Science in Health Administration and Master of Science with