Application Forms:
Graduate Program
Undergraduate Program
Professional Training Program

Selection of participants:

Participants and several ranked alternates are selected in a conference call meeting of the committee after careful review of the applications. This typically takes place one to three weeks following the application deadline.

Courses should have maximum impact on participants, so participants earlier in their graduate careers, participants who are not already highly experienced in the tropics, and others for whom the impact seems likely, are given preference over those later in their careers, more experienced, etc., other things being equal.

Not having had a recent participant in the course in question from the applicant's institution is a favorable factor, other things being equal. (It is not likely to be a disadvantage to have had recent participants from the applicantís school.)

Applicants from non-OTS institutions may be admitted to courses in English (they are the rule in courses in Spanish and Portuguese), however in practice this is very unusual except in course 10, Tropical Biodiversity, where the small group of these applicants are considered equally with those from OTS institutions. There may be exceptions to this in 98-9, Tropical Plant Systematics, with students from non-OTS institutions given serious consideration.

All financial aid from OTS for course participants is distributed equally among participants through a reduction of tuition below what would be necessary to cover the full cost of the course (usually by about 75% subsidy from raised funds). No scholarships or grants to further lower tuition are available from OTS, but most home institutions do provide some assistance.

Recommendations for applicants:

1. Demonstrate a specific interest, and if possible, show how the course would contribute to it. The reviewers are looking for evidence that you can make good use of the course and demonstrating that you already have one or more specific interests is helpful. Some successful applicants cite references in their applications. If you think the course will contribute to your career, for example by helping you in a manner related to your thesis, be sure the application shows this. Be careful not to focus on an interest that cannot be readily pursued in a course, and do not get so focused that unrelated topics in the course appear to be uninteresting to you. You need to be a full participant in the whole course.

Also give the committee a sense of you as a person and what you have accomplished so far. Some applicants, especially from other cultures where it is less appropriate to point to one's self, are too modest and the committee misses the true significance of what they have done previously. Remember that with several applicants for each space, the committee is faced with the unhappy task of eliminating some candidates as the last places are filled. Give them plenty of reason not to eliminate you.

2. Tell the Committee about the relevant experiences you have had. Are you good in the field? Are you likely to thrive under tropical field conditions? Do you have background that can contribute to your gain from this course and that may be an asset to others in the course? Caution: all other things being equal, the selection committee might favor a candidate with less tropical background (on whom the course could be expected to have a larger impact) over someone for whom this is very familiar ground.

3. Get good reference letters. Faculty generally want students from their own institution to participate in the course so your faculty are inclined to be highly supportive. But it may be helpful for you to provide them with assistance about what to say. Do your references know about how well you have done in courses, in preparing for thesis research, in other related activities? Would it help your references to see a copy of your application letter? OTS courses are also intense social experiences. Can one or more of your references speak to your ability to work under these conditions for up to 8 weeks?

Given that most writers of reference letters say that their candidates are good, the selection committee will be asking itself the question, How good? Letters that provide context may be particularly convincing, more so than those that try to persuade mainly on the basis of the writer's enthusiasm. In comparison to other students how does the applicant stack up? In comparison to how many other students? Or in comparison to which other students? Under what circumstances was the applicant known or observed?

4. Get your whole application in on time. OTS's office staff notify applicants with incomplete information only if the application form and fee have been received. You should enclose a stamped, self-addressed post card, or call (919-684-5774), or e-mail the office to confirm that your application was received. It is your responsibility to make sure that your application is received and to complete it by the application deadline.

Typically the reference letters are the parts of applications that are most likely to be late or missing. You can avoid this by requesting them early, and then politely staying in touch with the writers until the letters have been sent. Often someone whom you would like to have write a reference for you will be on leave or otherwise difficult to reach. You really need to start early (months) to insure that these people make the deadline and it doesn't hurt to have an alternative, second choice reference in this sort of situation.

5. Apply early in your graduate career. The selection committee will be less interested in offering a place to someone for whom it appears that the "die is already cast", than someone who is in a formative stage.

6. Be persistent. Many participants have been admitted on the second or even some on the third application. If the competition is very strong for one course, it may simply be a matter of trying again. But do consider every application afresh. Do not assume that the old letters, especially your own, need only be pulled from the previous application. Show some movement and development during the elapsed time.

If you want to discuss any aspect of the application process, you can contact the OTS Academic Director, Dr. Ed Stashko, (919-684-5774 and nao@acpub.duke.edu) or Education Coordinator, Ms. Barbara Lewis (for courses in Spanish call from the US to 011 506-524-0607, blewis@ots.ac.cr).