Admissions Information

Campus where offered

University of Arizona - Main - Tucson

 

Admissions Requirements

Applicants must complete at least a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent prior to enrollment in the Program.  Examples of undergraduate majors that normally constitute satisfactory preparation for graduate work in Neuroscience include but are not limited to: Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Neurobiology, Neuroscience and Psychology.

The Genetics GIDP program does not have absolute criteria for GPA or GRE scores, characteristics of a strong application will generally include:

• GPA of 3.5 or higher
• GRE scores are optional
• 3 strong letters of recommendation from college professors, one of whom served as advisor for an independent research study; international students should provide at least one letter from a scientist who works in or is known well the U.S. system
• A strong personal statement indicating basis for interest in genetic graduate study in neuroscience, relevant background, and career goals
• A Curriculum Vitae

The Graduate Admissions Committee evaluates the entire admissions file. Deficiencies in one or two of the areas described above should not discourage interested applicants from applying.

 All required documents *must be* uploaded electronically; no paper copies will be accepted during the application process.

 

Admissions Deadlines

Domestic Applicants:

• Fall: December 1
• No Spring Admission

International Applicants:

• Fall: December 1
• No Spring Admission

 

Standardized Tests

The following is a summary of all materials that should be prepared submitted online prior to the application deadline (December 1 for PhD) in order to complete your application:

• Graduate College Application for Genetics: https://apply.grad.arizona.edu/ 
• Scores from the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
• Scanned copies of transcripts from each college or university attended
• A Personal Statement (see below)
• Three (3) letters of recommendation (follow the instruction on the Graduate College application)
• International students must submit TOEFL scores 

It is recommended that you keep a hard-copy of all online forms, in case there are technical problems with online transmission.

If you are admitted, you will be required to submit 2 copies of your transcripts to:

Nathan Ellis

Genetics GIDP

1548 E. Drachman St.

Tucson, AZ 85721-047

University of Arizona

Tucson, AZ 8572-0476

 

Problems submitting your application should be addressed to Nathan Ellis, Program Chair, at naellis@email.arizona.edu (520) 626-1452.

Personal Statement:

Your personal statement should be between 1000-1500 words long, and might include a discussion of your long-range goals; your reasons for pursuing an advanced degree; your interest in our program; information on your prior research experience or teaching (if any); and topics in genetics that are of particular interest to you and that might serve as the focus of your graduate program.

Letters of recommendation

All applicants must submit three letters of recommendation. These letters should be current or former advisors or instructors, and may address your previous research or laboratory experience, your academic qualification, your scientific potential, and your motivation for graduate work.

Required test(s):

Candidates for admission have the option to take the Verbal/Quantitative/Analytical Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Scores from the advanced examinations (e.g. biology, chemistry, physics, psychology) may also be included in the application, but are not required.

International students are required to submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).  Minimum TOEFL: a score of 550 (paper based) or 79 (iBT) or higher.

 

Funding Opportunities

Financial Aid

The current funding package for doctoral students includes:

Annual Stipend (living expenses) $27,000
Benefit: tuition) $12,512
Benefit: Health Insurance $  1,875
Benefit: Out of State Tuition (if applicable) $18,322

The funds utilized by the Program to support the doctoral student stipends are derived from Faculty contributions, Graduate College Fellowships, and Teaching Assistantships.

Graduate students are guaranteed funding for their first-year during rotations (9 months) by the Genetics GIDP/ABBS programs, pallowing the new students to spend time durint their first year exploring different labs and finding the one best suited to their own research interests. After that, the students declar the lab in which they intend to do their dissertation, the student's funding is derived from support from their faculty advisor.

Because of uncertainties in funding sources, the intention of support cannot be construed as a guarantee of continuous support to any student. However, the Genetics GIDP Program makes every effort to provide financial support to our students throughout their academic careers.

 

International Conditional Admission

International applicants will not be considered for conditional admission by this program.

Other Information

The GRE Institution Code for The University of Arizona is 4832

ETS Major Field Code(s) for this program: 4832

NRC Taxon(a) for this program: Genetics and Genomics

Additional Information About this Program

Program StatisticsInformation about these numbers

Program-level Information
Application Acceptance Rate	24%
Avg. Time-to-degree (years)	6.21
Department-level Information
Enrollment Percent Male	30%
Enrollment Percent Female	70%
Enrollment Percent International	33.33%
Enrollment Percent URM	10%

---