Genetics PhD Program - Admissions
Applications to the Genetics PhD Program for fall 2008 are submitted via the Biosciences Program Application System .
You will receive a username and password that will allow you to return to work on your application over several sessions. Your information is transmitted through a secure server and is kept confidential until you submit your application. There is no application fee.
Correspondence as well as all technical support messages will come from biosciences@uiowa.edu. If you use a spam-blocking tool, please be sure to add this email address to your list of known/safe addresses.
Application Procedures
Applications are evaluated by the Genetics Admissions Committee based on the following areas:
• Nature and quality of the undergraduate/graduate program the student has undertaken
• Previous research experience
• Statement of purpose
• Letters of recommendation
• GRE and TOEFL (international applicants)
An application will not be evaluated until the following items have been received:
• Application (via the Biosciences Program)
• Official transcripts
• 3 Letters of Recommendation
• GRE – Institution Code 6681 & Department Code 0299
• TOEFL – Institution Code 6681 & Department Code 45
Deadline
Students wishing to complete the application process should submit required materials to the Biosciences Program no later than January 15th for full consideration.
Letters of Recommendation
3 letters of recommendation submitted via the Biosciences Program automated on-line application system are required.
The application system will require you to submit the name and e-mail addresses of your recommenders to facilitate the submission of each letter. In turn the electronic application system will generate an e-mail to the recommender providing a secure web link for the recommender to submit their recommendation on your behalf.
Hard copy letters of recommendation will not be accepted.
Use the recommender’s professional/institutional e-mail address. Do not use personal e-mail addresses through such services as aol, hotmail, yahoo, etc.
The application system will begin the process of requesting information from your recommenders when you submit your on-line application. Thus, it is important that you submit your application promptly in order to allow enough time for your recommenders to submit their recommendations by the January 15th application deadline.
Please notify your recommenders that they will be receiving an email from biosciences@uiowa.edu containing directions on how to submit an electronic letter of recommendation. Please alert them if they use a spam-blocking tool to please add this email address to their list of known/safe addresses.
Transcripts
An official transcript is required from each institution attended (undergraduate and graduate).
Transcripts should be mailed directly to:
Genetics PhD Program Admissions
c/o Biosciences Program
The University of Iowa
1178 Medical Laboratories
Iowa City, IA 52242-1181
International Applicants
You will need to ask every college, university, technical/vocational institute, or professional institution you've attended to send us your official records or transcripts.
All records should bear the original stamp or seal of the institution and the signature of a school official. Documents not in English must be accompanied by a complete, literal English translation certified by the issuing institution. Records cannot be returned.
Test Scores
Please submit official Graduate Record Exam ( GRE ) results [Inst. Code: 6681 & Dept. Code: 0299]
International Applicants
Please also submit official:
• Test of English as a Foreign Language ( TOEFL ) results [Inst. Code: 6681 & Dept. Code: 45] or
• International English Language Testing System* ( IELTS ) results
International applicants who have earned a degree from an institution where the language of instruction is English, exclusively, are exempt from submitting TOEFL or IELTS results.
*During 2006-07, The University of Iowa will accept the IELTS as certification of English language proficiency for admission of students whose first language is not English. The IELTS will be accepted as an alternative to TOEFL.
The cut-off scores on the IELTS for graduate admission is 7.0, with no subscore lower than 6.0.
The University will reevaluate the use of IELTS in one year.
During the trial period, all students submitting scores from the IELTS examination must take the on-campus English Proficiency Evaluation (EPE) prior to their first UI registration. Students submitting an IELTS score will receive information about the EPE requirement with their admissions information. They will be given information about the time and place of the EPE when they check in at the Office of International Students and Scholars. Data from the EPEs will allow the University to adjust the cut-off scores or determine a score above which the EPE would not be required.
Transfer Students
Students currently enrolled in a graduate program wishing to transfer to the Genetics PhD Program must also submit transcripts from the current graduate institution and a letter of recommendation from the current research mentor.
Financial Support
All Genetics PhD trainees receive a stipend ($23,000 in 2007-08), tuition, and health insurance allowance.
Financial support is provided from training grants, research assistantships, teaching assistantships, scholarships, individual research grants, or other departmental/institutional funds. Trainees are required to teach as part of their development as future scientists and faculty members.
Interviews
Selected candidates are invited for an on-campus interview and will be contacted by email.
Interviews are not conducted prior to submission and evaluation of an application.
Travel costs within the U.S. will be incurred by the Genetics PhD Program.
Telephone interviews are not conducted (except for International students residing outside the U.S.).
Foreign applicants are responsible for travel expenses from their host county to the United States. The Genetics PhD Program will reimburse for round trip expenses incurred from the city of US entry to The University of Iowa.
Interviews allow applicants the opportunity to measure the quality of the program, the research interests of our faculty, talk with current graduate students, and decide if his or her research interests are a good fit with the institution.
Interviews will be conducted February 7 - 9, 2008 and March 6 - 8, 2008.
Checking Application Status
You will be able to check the status of your application materials (transcripts, letters of recommendation, GRE, TOEFL) online by utilizing the username and password provided to you by the Biosciences Program.
Please check the status of your application frequently and follow-up with the appropriate institution(s) or person(s) to facilitate the timely submission of the required materials.
Contact Information
For questions regarding application procedures, please contact the Biosciences Program at the address and phone number listed below:
Biosciences Program
The University of Iowa
1178 Medical Laboratories
Iowa City, IA 52242-1181
Phone: 319/335-8305 or 800-551-6787
Fax: 319/335-7656
Email: biosciences@uiowa.edu
For questions regarding the Genetics PhD Program:
Genetics PhD Program
The University of Iowa
1190 Medical Laboratories
Iowa City, IA 52242
Phone: 319/335-9968 or 800-551-6787
Fax: 319/353-5330
Email: gen-neuro@uiowa.edu
