Admission Information

General Information

Interested students should follow the application procedures provided under "Apply Now." Applicants must select one of the five program areas (e.g., neurosciences), and Fall is the only term during which we accept admission. 

Please see our specific program pages by accessing the Program Areas section of our website and review expectations before starting your application, as meeting minimum university admissions requirements will not be sufficient to be considered for admission.

Typical Profile of Admitted Students: Admission Expectations

Admission into the biomedical sciences programs is competitive and meeting minimal requirements will not be sufficient to receive an admission decision. Faculty use a holistic review process to evaluate academic performance, research potential, and persistence and commitment for research.

Below is the typical student profile to help you write your application.

• Extensive research experience during undergraduate and/or during masters program.
• Average undergraduate GPA of 3.5 and average master GPA of 3.6.
• Academic preparation in undergraduate and/or graduate courses relevant to the program and as listed under Program Areas and in the program information in the catalog.
• Strong letters of recommendation from faculty advisors who speak to research experience, motivation for research, and ability to be resilient and cope with stress.
• A strong goal statement describing motivation to engage in biomedical research, including descriptions of prior research and long-term goals for research interests in the School of Biomedical Sciences. Identification of potential faculty advisors is optional and not required.

Application and Admission Timeline for Fall Admission

• We only offer fall admission into our programs.
• Application deadline is December 1st.
• Applications must be complete by January 1st for assistantship consideration.
• Applications are reviewed in January. 
• Top applicants are interviewed in February-March.
• Final decisions are made in March-April.

Admissions and funding decisions are very competitive and based on review by a committee of faculty.

In our program all admitted students are automatically considered for graduate assistantships. See Financial Assistance.

Faculty Advisor Selection

Choosing an advisor prior to arriving on campus is not required. All incoming students are expected to rotate through laboratories in the first year before selecting a faculty advisor.