Application Pre-requisites
Official transcripts are required from every institution where you have earned a degree (Associate's, Bachelor's, and Graduate level). Unofficial transcripts can be uploaded to your application and used for the initial review process., , Official transcripts will be requested if you are selected for an interview. Official transcripts can be obtained from your institution by hard copy through regular mail and sent to the address below or electronically and emailed to gradappboss@bcm.edu. The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences recommends utilizing e-SCRIP or Parchment electronic services. All transcripts must be in English. If they are not, you will need to have them translated by a certified translation service., , *Please note Clearinghouse electronic transcripts are only available for 30 days, and you may be required to submit another official copy at another time., , Hard copy official transcripts should be mailed to:, , Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, MS Code BCM215, Houston, TX 77030, , If you are in the process of completing a degree, you will be required to submit a final, official transcript that must list your major of study, the degree earned, and the date the degree was conferred. Students who have completed degrees from outside the U.S. may be required by the Graduate School or Registrar's Office to submit a transcript degree evaluation from an accredited evaluation service if it does not contain the information listed above., , • The GRE is no longer required by any of the graduate school programs. If you are applying to the Neuroscience or Quantitative & Computational Biosciences programs, GRE scores are optional, but not required. GRE Scores, , • A personal statement, approximately one-page, describing your interest in science and your motivation to pursue a career as a research scientist. You may use your personal statement to provide information that does not fit other parts of the application. Please use 11-point Arial font or 12-point Times New Roman font., , • A Research Statement, approximately one-page, describing your previous research experience, including details of the project, what you did, what you learned, and the significance of the work. If you do not have research experience, you can submit a statement to explain why and elaborate on your desire to be a scientist and other characteristics that make you suitable for Ph.D. training. Please use 11-point Arial font or 12-point Times New Roman font., , • Three letters of recommendation from professors and research supervisors. If you have research experience, one of the letters must be from a research supervisor, preferably the most recent., , If you cannot obtain a letter from your most recent research supervisor, include an explanation at the end of your personal statement and ask other recommenders to comment on your research experience. If you are currently enrolled in a Ph.D. program. We also require a letter from your current research advisor or graduate program director., , When selecting your referees, it is important for them to comment on your desire to be a scientist, intellectual capability, creativity and imagination, scientific background in coursework, laboratory and/or technical skills, comparison to other Ph.D. students, suitability for graduate school and research, ability to complete long-term tasks, ability to interact with others, honesty, integrity and maturity., , You will be asked to enter each recommender's name and email address into the application system, which will send an email invitation to your recommender. You can check the status of your recommendation letters, transcripts, etc. in the admissions portal and determine if the request has been sent, received, or if the recommender needs a reminder. To assure your recommender’s comments are confidential, you are required to waive your right to view your letters of recommendation and we notify your recommenders accordingly., ,