Notes on Applications and Admissions
Admission Requirements
Applicants are accepted only for full-time work towards the Ph.D.
degree. Part-time admissions and terminal Master's applications
are not considered. Admissions are not done on a rolling basis. Applications
are considered for fall admissions only.
Admission to study toward the Ph.D. degree is
restricted to students with good undergraduate preparation in
biology, chemistry, physics,
and mathematics. In addition to the basic college-level courses
in biology, applicants should have college-level course work
in mathematics, physics, and inorganic and organic chemistry.
We also require that all international students who will be
supported as a Teaching Assistant successfully complete the summer
International
Teaching Assistantship Training Program, conducted here at the
University of Pennsylvania, starting in late June and continuing
until the
end of August, prior to the start of the fall semester. (The
University will provide a stipend and health insurance for that
two-month
period.)
A final score of 55 in the TSE will be required by this University
prior to any international student being supported by a Teaching
Assistant Fellowship.
Application Forms
Interested students may apply online using ApplyYourself. Once
you have entered the password information on the ApplyYourself
page and click to begin your application process, select the
Biology Graduate Group application. You can enter your information
in stages, at your own pace, and when it is completed and you
are satisfied with the accuracy, you simply submit it electronically.
The online instructions will walk you through the procedure.
The application consists of three sections: Personal History,
Academic History, and Personal Statement. An applicant's resume
or CV can be included as part of the personal statement.
Application Supporting Materials
In addition to the application forms (Personal History, Academic
History and Personal Statement), the following materials are
required:
Two copies of official transcripts of all undergraduate
and graduate studies.
Three letters of recommendation, one of
which should be from
ascientist with whom the applicant has worked.
Results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). An advanced
test in either Biology, Biochemistry, or Molecular Biology is
not required, but may
also be submitted if it is available. (Institution Code: 2926;
Department Code 0203).
For International students: TOEFL (Institution
Code: 2926; Department Code: 74). or
Test of Spoken English
or TSE (Institution Code: 2926; Department Code: 35) or
IELTS
- International English Language Testing System
There is an application fee of $70 which can be paid by credit
card through the online system. If paying by check, please make
payment to the "Trustees
of the University of Pennsylvania." Please do not make payment
due to the Department of Biology.
All of these requirements can be submitted online
through the ApplyYourself system
(this is recommended as it will expedite the review of the admissions
file). However, if transcripts and/or other requirements are
being sent
in paper
format, please
mail
to:
University of Pennsylvania
Biology Department
Graduate Studies Coordinator
103 Leidy Lab
3740 Hamilton Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6018
Sending requirements to this address will avoid possible delays
and review of admissions files.
We strongly urge prospective applicants to apply online. The
advantages to using the online system are numerous. Applicants
may access their application any number of times until submission.
And once the application has been submitted, applicants will
be able to check the status themselves and note the receipt of
supporting documentation, thus avoiding costly long-distance
calls.
Applicants who do not wish to apply online can download the
applications forms using Adobe Acrobat. To obtain these forms
and apply through the mail, please visit web page, http://www.sas.upenn.edu/GAS/Adminfo.html.
For inquiries, questions, and additional information, please
contact:
Colleen Gasiorowski
Graduate Group Coordinator
Department of Biology
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6018 USA
phone: 215-898-6786
fax: 215-898-8780
email: bio-graduate@sas.upenn.edu
Deadlines
The Department of Biology only considers applications for the
Fall semester. For the 2009-2010 academic year, completed applications
must be received no later than December 15, 2008.
Admissions Policies
Individual faculty members do not grant admission into the programs;
admission decisions are made by the admission committees. Therefore,
please do not send applications, or requests for admission, to
an individual faculty member.
However, please feel free to contact any faculty member with
whom you wish to work in order to discuss research and
opportunities.
A student whose application for admission has been approved,
but who does not enroll within one year, must reapply unless reapplication
is waived, in writing, by the dean of the graduate school.
The University of Pennsylvania values diversity and seeks
talented students, faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds.
The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color,
sex, sexual orientation, religion, national or ethnic origin,
age, disability or status of a disabled or Vietnam Era veteran
in the administration of its educational policies, programs or
activities, admissions policies and procedures, scholarship and
loan programs, employment, recreational, athletic or other University-administered
programs. Questions or concerns regarding the University’s
equal opportunity and affirmative action programs and activities
or accommodations for people with disabilities, should be directed
to the Office of Affirmative Action, 1133 Blockely Hall, 418 Guardian
Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6021 or +1 215 898.6993 (voice)
or +1 215 898.7803 (fax).
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Graduate Program