Admissions - Frequently Asked Questions

Deadlines

The deadline for applications is December 1.  All supplemental documents must be submitted by this date as well, i.e.: personal statement, GREs, transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and any other documents you expect to submit.  Please keep this in mind and allow plenty of time for your referees to write and submit a letter in order to meet the December 1 deadline.  This is also true for contacting your Registrar Office(s) to submit official transcripits on your behalf.  In addition, ETS will need to forward your official GRE scores to us by this date.  While offers of admission and aid are generally made in mid to late winter quarter, there is no guarantee that completed applications received after the deadline will be reviewed.  It is strongly recommended that your official transcripts and three letters of recommendation accompany your application.  It is also strongly recommended that you take the GRE and TOEFL (if applicable) tests at the earliest possible date, since only complete applications will receive final review.

Application Fees

Under University rules, applications must be accompanied by the appropriate application fee.  Failure to send the fee may result in a serious delay in the review of your application.  It is not a policy of the Division of the Biological Sciences to grant fee waivers, but documented cases of substantial financial hardship for domestic applicants will be examined on an individual basis.  Under University policy, fee waivers are not granted to international students.  Application fees can be paid via personal check, money order, cashier's check or with your credit card on-line.

The Application

The University of Chicago BSD Office of Graduate Affairs encourages ALL applicants to apply on-line from their website using the Apply Online Quick Link from the Application link above or the Division Website and view using Adobe Acrobat.

We are no longer mailing paper applications.  All applicants must apply on line using the above link.  When selecting your program of interest, it is best to identify a graduate program directly and not apply to the Biomedical Sciences Cluster generically.  It is preferred that you select a program of study that best matches your area(s) of interest.  Please rate the programs in order of preference.  The Biomedical Sciences Cluster has graduate programs in Cancer Biology, Immunology, Microbiology, Molecular Metabolism and Nutrition and Pathology/Molecular Pathogenesis and Molecular Medicine.  Should you apply to the Biomedical Sciences Cluster without naming a specialization, the admissions committee will determine your area of interest which may not always coincide with your preferred program(s).

For further information regarding the application process please contact the Office of Graduate Affairs at 773-702-5853 or e-mail questions to biosci-grad-affairs@bsd.uchicago.edu.

Supplemental Materials

• Official, final transcripts (copies are not acceptable).  International student documents must be sent directly from the Registrar's office of the university attended.  (Translations should accompany transcripts if origninal is not in English.)
• At least three letters of recommendation from college or university professors who know the applicant's work well.  Individuals who have been away from school for several years may submit recommendations from their employers.
• Graduate Record Examination scores.  When sending GRE scores, the Institution code for the University of Chicago is 1832.  The Department code for Biological Sciences is 299.  Subject exam is optional.
  
• TOEFL scores if applicable.

Q:  Do I need to take the Subject Exam?
A:   The GRE Subject Exam is not required for admission to the BSD Graduate Programs, however there are several funding opportunities with which you may apply, should you matriculate, that do require the exam.

Life at UC

Housing

Q:  What are the housing options for graduate students at UC?
A:   There are a wide range of housing options for graduate students here at the University of Chicago.  Many students opt for UC Graduate Student Housing their first year while involved in course work.  Others opt for apartments available by other property managers in Hyde Park, various neighborhoods in Chicago or the suburbs.  Regent's Park rental residences has many perks for UC affiliated residents.  The choice is up to you.  The University does not endorse any commercial enterprise or activity. 

Questions?