Academic Performance

The applicant's overall GPA should be considered with special attention to math and science courses. It may be useful to consider whether grades have trended upwards during the undergraduate career, or whether the candidate mentions extenuating circumstances for low grades. In any case, please keep in mind that a special approval is required to admit any candidate with an undergraduate GPA below 3.0. The GRE is not considered.

Research Experience & Potential

Research experience is a valuable indicator of a candidate’s aptitude for a career in science. Indicators of such experience may be found in a candidate’s CV, personal statement and letters of recommendation. Experience in a specialized area of research, although helpful, is not an absolute prerequisite for consideration of a candidate. The goals and interests candidates express in the personal statement will be evaluated alongside prior experience.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Candidates will be evaluated for their potential to increase the diversity of our graduate student population. Candidates from historically underrepresented groups will rate highly in light of the SBS’s commitment to increase diversity, equity and inclusion. A record of working to increase diversity also merits consideration for this criterion.

School of Biological Sciences

Candidates will show evidence of compatibility with the School of Biological Sciences by identifying potential faculty mentors in an authentic way, by speaking to broad interests in one or more of the areas of strength within our research community (ecology, organisms, molecular, cellular and evolutionary biology), and by commitment to communicating science to non-specialized audiences.