Application Process

Biology Graduate Admissions

The Application Process

Fall 2005

WHEN DO I APPLY?
We begin to review applications in early January 2005 (see below - What Happens After I Apply?). At this time we evaluate applications to determine who we would like to invite to visit our campus and interview. Full consideration for Graduate College Fellowships requires that applications be submitted by January 1st. Thus, while we have no formal deadline, those applications that are the most complete by January 1st will receive the most serious consideration. We urge you to submit your materials before or during the month of December 2004.

WHERE DO I OBTAIN AN APPLICATION?
Online Basic Application (with a link to the Biology Supplemental Application) can be found at: https://www-s3.ais.unc.edu/sis/adm/gradapp.html. Paper Basic Application can be obtained by email request: gradinfo@unc.edu; Paper Biology Supplemental Application can be obtained by email request to Ms. Cottie Pasternak (cpasternak@bio.unc.edu) or by downloading the form in PDF format. Be advised that it takes at least 2 weeks for processing and delivery of mail applications.

WHAT DO I NEED TO APPLY?
The following materials are required before an application is considered complete (please print this out and use as a handy checklist!):

The UNC Graduate School (address below) must receive:

___1. Application (paper copy OR on-line submission)
___2. Non-refundable $65 application fee
___3. One (1) official (carrying seal) copy of each of your transcripts
___4. GRE scores (UNC institution code is 5816) - see below for info on subject test
___5. TOEFL score ONLY IF you are a foreign applicant who does not have an undergraduate degree from a US University or have a degree from institutions listed at http://gradschool.unc.edu/applicant_intl.html#transcripts.

The UNC Department of Biology (address below) must receive:

___6. One (1) official (carrying seal) copy of each of your transcripts
___7. Department of Biology Supplemental Application
___8. Three (3) letters of recommendation

For Graduate School information and submission of application materials:
UNC Graduate School
Admissions Office
CB# 4010, Bynum Hall
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-4010

For department information and submission of application materials:
Graduate Admissions
CB#3280, 212 Coker Hall
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3280
Telephone: 919-962-3391

DO I NEED TO TAKE THE GREs?
Yes. You must take the general test, and we recommend that you take the subject test in either Biology (code 24) or Biochemistry (code 22). The subject test is not absolutely required for consideration, but it strengthens an application. Please take the subject test that you feel most prepared for. We recommend taking the GREs in the Fall prior to the year for which you are applying.” Many students take the general test in October and the subject test in December, but you can do this at your convenience. Remember that it takes 4-6 weeks for the official scores to be reported, so try to take them before you submit your completed materials.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I SEND IN MY APPLICATION?
Applications are received by the Graduate School and processed, then copies of the materials are sent to the departments. This can take several weeks, especially during the peak submission periods around Dec-Jan, which is why we encourage you to submit your application materials early, before or during December of 2004.

At the same time, the Department of Biology directly receives your supplemental application and recommendation letters and puts them into your file. These can be sent before or after the materials for the Graduate School, but it is always a good idea to give your recommenders some time to complete a reference, and to politely remind them periodically that you need this done in a timely manner.

The Admissions Committee of the Department of Biology begins to review applications in early January. We need most of the information to evaluate your application, so it is a good idea to have it in early! Sometimes we request from the applicant copies of transcripts and/or GRE scores before they are officially sent so we can complete the evaluation process.

We are strongly in favor of visits and interviews by applicants prior to making admissions decisions, because in our experience this can more easily determine the fit between the research interests of the faculty and the student. We determine the strongest applications, and we usually begin to issue invitations to visit the campus and interview around mid-January. During the following weeks of January and into early February we continue to consider applications, but we have a limit to the number of applicants that we can invite, and once that limit is reached it is difficult to find resources to invite further applicants.

THE INTERVIEW PROCESS
For the past several years we have had one major interview weekend, usually scheduled around the end of February/beginning of March. We try to have as many prospective students as possible visit at that time, but we can accommodate other dates for applicants who cannot come for that weekend.

The interview weekend usually consists of a travel day (Thurs), an interview day (Friday), a science and fun day (Saturday), and a travel day (Sunday). The interviews are reasonably relaxed - casual/nice dress is sufficient. We strive to accommodate students' requests to meet with specific faculty individually. There are also ample opportunities to talk informally with current MCDB students.

The Admissions Committee meets shortly after the interview weekend to determine which applicants to recommend for offers of admission to the UNC Biology Graduate Program. The Graduate School sends an official offer letter, and the students then have until April 15th to make a decision and inform us of their decision. We are proud to say that our acceptance rates have been very high the last several years.

CAN I FIND OUT ABOUT THE PROGRESS OF MY APPLICATION?
Yes, you can! The status of your application is available at http://admprosapp2.admissions.unc.edu/grad/DEFAULT.ASP.

REQUIREMENTS
1. GRE scores less than 5 years old; should be at least 50th percentile in each general category.
2. TOEFL, required of all international students (except those from countries where English is the official language, or those who have received a degree from a US university) and cannot be over 2 years old. The Graduate School minimum acceptable score is 213 (computer-based test) or 550 (paper-based test).