Frequently Asked Questions
What are the admission requirements?
What is the application deadline?
What is the GPA requirement for admission?
What are the average test scores (GRE & TOEFL) of admitted students?
Is research experience required for admission?
How many students do you accept each year?
Should official transcripts be sent to the department?
Do I have to pay an application fee?
Is financial assistance provided?
Are students invited for an interview?
How long does it take to complete the program?
Should I contact a faculty member prior to being admitted to the program?
What are the admission requirements?
Students admitted to the BMCB program must have an undergraduate degree in biological or physical sciences and must have completed course work in mathematics (through calculus), chemistry, biochemistry, and molecular biology. Course work in physical chemistry is also encouraged. Students can be admitted with course deficiencies under some circumstances.
What is the application deadline?
December 15th
What is the GPA requirement for admission?
A minimum 3.0 GPA is required for admission. The average GPA of our admitted students is 3.5.
What are the average test scores (GRE & TOEFL) of admitted students?
The average GRE score of our admitted students is 1100-1200. The average verbal score is 500-510, and the average quantitative score is 690-700. A GRE subject test is not required.
For international students, the minimum acceptable score for the TOEFL is 600 (paper-based test), 250 (computer-based test), and 90 (internet-based test). The minimum IELTS score is 7, with a score of no less than 6 on any individual module. Both the TOEFL and IELTS exams must be dated within two years of the date of enrollment. Additional information is available here.
Is research experience required for admission?
YES - it is very important that students have previous undergraduate research experience prior to applying to our program.
How many students do you accept each year?
We receive approximately 150-200 (domestic and international) applications to our program each year. Offers of admission are extended to approximately 30-35 students each year. This includes an offer to approximately 4-5 international students. On average, 8-10 students accept our offer of admission and join our program each year.
Should official transcripts be sent to the department?
NO - official documents are not required from you unless you are being admitted to the program. You are required to upload unofficial transcripts and test score reports (if available) at the time of application.
Do I have to pay an application fee?
The Graduate College requires an application fee for all submitted applications. However, we will review all complete applications, regardless of whether or not the application fee has been paid. You will not be able to submit your application without paying the fee. Please note that the application system does not have the ability to verify if your application is complete unless the fee is paid. Therefore, if you choose to not pay the fee you should verify that all required items have been uploaded to your application, to ensure review by our committee.
Is financial assistance provided?
YES - All students in our program are fully funded. This includes tuition, health insurance, and a stipend to cover living expenses.
Are students invited for an interview?
With the exception of international student not residing the United States, we do not accept students until they have visited campus and are interviewed by faculty in our program. When possible, international students residing outside of the US are interviewed via telephone.
How long does it take to complete the program?
The average length of time to obtain a Ph.D. in our program is five to six years.
Should I contact a faculty member prior to being admitted to the program?
It is not required that students seek a faculty sponsor prior to being admitted. During your first year, you will complete three laboratory rotations. You will select your faculty advisor upon the completion of your rotations.