MICaB Ph.D. Graduate Program

Application Procedure

Application deadline: December 1 for entry the following fall semester

The following items are submitted directly to the Graduate School:

  • Graduate School Application Form
  • Application Fee: $75.00 U.S. Citizens/Permanent Residents; $95.00 International Applicants
  • Transcripts (official)
  • Personal Statements – For the Graduate School, personal statements are optional. MICaB requires a written statement from each applicant, describing their reasons for wanting to earn the Ph.D. degree, their career goals, scientific interests and research experience. If desired, this MICaB statement can also be used for the Graduate School Statement #1.
  • TOEFL Score Report, Department Code 6874
    Minimum scores: 600 paper-based total, 250 computer-based total, 96-110 internet-based total

Graduate School
309 Johnston Hall
101 Pleasant Street SE
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN 55455

  • Three letters of recommendation:
    - Preferred method: On ApplyYourself, use the online letter of recommendation link. You do not need to send hard copies of online letters of recommendation to either the Graduate School or MICaB.
    OR
    - Hard copies of letters of recommendation should be sent directly to the MICaB program (see address below)

The following supplemental items are to be sent directly to the MICaB program:

  • A copy of all transcripts
  • A copy of the Graduate School Application form
  • Graduate Record Examination (GRE) general test scores. Please send scores to Institution code: 6874 (Univ. of Minnesota) Department code: 0212 (Microbiology)
  • A hard copy score report of your TOEFL exam
  • A written personal statement describing your research interests and career goals, including reasons for seeking a degree in Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, career objectives, description of research experience and areas of special interest (this can be the same statement #1 submitted to the Graduate School).
  • Hard copies of three letters of recommendation IF not submitted online.
  • Please see Graduate School Commitment to Diversity Statement.

Your application is complete only when both procedures have been followed. Only complete applications will be reviewed. Complete applications include submission and payment of the online Graduate School application, three letters of recommendation, and the MICaB supplemental packet (a copy of all transcripts, a copy of the graduate school application, GRE scores, statement of research interests and career goals, and TOEFL, if required). Again, please note that the Graduate School application is electronic only. We request that the supplemental packet be sent to the MICaB office in hard copy to:

MICaB Ph.D. Graduate Program Admissions
University of Minnesota
Mayo Mail Code 196
1460 Mayo Building, 420 Delaware Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455-0312, U.S.A

We review applications in December and January and invite our top candidates to visit us at our expense either February 11-14 or February 18-21, 2010.

Please note that the MICaB Program only accepts students interested in obtaining a Ph.D., and not a Master's degree.


Application Information

The MICaB Ph.D. Graduate Program encourages students with appropriate backgrounds to apply for admission. Applicants must have a bachelor's degree that includes the following course work:

Calculus
General chemistry
Organic chemistry
Physics
A minimum of two upper level biology courses, which may include biochemistry, genetics, cell biology, molecular biology, microbiology, or immunology, etc.

Although students who do not meet all of these requirements may be admitted to the program, they will have to complete additional course work to remove any deficiencies as directed by the Committee on Graduate Studies.

The Committee on Graduate Studies considers LAB EXPERIENCE important, particularly hypothesis-based research experience. Letters of recommendation from supervisors of lab work are strongly encouraged.

Students interested in the program should apply by December 1, for entry the following fall semester. Late applications will be considered, but priority is given to those received by the December 1 deadline.

Financial Aid

All MICaB students in good standing are supported. Completion of financial aid forms is not necessary, even though the Graduate School Bulletin lists these forms as being available. The forms are not necessary to obtain support while participating in the MICaB Graduate Program.


GRE Scores
Please have your scores sent to:

Institution code: 6874 (Univ. of Minnesota) Department code: 0212 (Microbiology)
Copies of GRE test reports are accepted for review purposes. However, if the applicant is accepted by the program, official copies of the score reports will be required for the Graduate School to approve the offer.

Attention: Applicants from PRC, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Korea

Split-Test Administration of the GRE General Test in China (including Hong Kong), Korea, and Taiwan

The General Test is offered in two parts. The Analytical Writing section is offered on computer; the Verbal and Quantitative sections are offered at a paper-based administration. Test takers are required to take both the computer-based and paper-based parts of the GRE General Test in the same testing year, and must take the computer-based Analytical Writing portion first. A choice of two paper-based administrations will be offered during the 2009-10 testing year, spaced out so as to minimize congestion in the computer-based test (CBT) centers.

The candidate should schedule an appointment for the Analytical Writing measure through the Prometric Regional Registration Center. The test fee is US$205. The candidate will pay for the entire test at the time he/she registers to take the Analytical Writing section.

The Analytical Writing section is offered beginning July 1, 2009 (candidates may schedule appointments at any time). The test will be offered at all existing computer-based testing centers in China (including Hong Kong), Korea and Taiwan.

The two paper test administrations are October 24, 2009, and June 12, 2010.

At the Analytical Writing session, the candidate will complete the Background Information Questions, select score recipients, and select a paper-based test center. Once the candidate takes the Analytical Writing section and test data are transmitted to ETS, a registration number and admission ticket for the paper-based administration of the Verbal and Quantitative measures will be generated and mailed to the candidate

Candidates must take the Analytical Writing session several weeks before the paper-based Verbal and Quantitative administration to allow time for admission tickets to be mailed to candidates, test books to be mailed to the test centers, and so forth.

Therefore, candidates wishing to test at the October 2009 paper administration must take the Analytical Writing section between July 1, 2009, and September 19, 2009. Those wishing to take the paper-based test in June 2010 must take the Analytical Writing section between September 20, 2009, and May 8, 2010.

See Frequently Asked Questions about the Split-Test Administration.


TOEFL Examination

Those submitting a TOEFL report must score a MINIMUM OF 600 paper-based total , 250 computer-based total, and 96-110 internet-based total. The Graduate School will also accept scores from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) in addition to TOEFL scores. A MINIMUM score of 7.0 is required for the IELTS exam.

Copies of TOEFL test reports are accepted for review purposes. However, if the applicant is accepted by the program, official copies of the score reports will be required for the Graduate School to approve the offer.

 

For further information, you may contact the MICaB program using e-mail: shand@umn.edu; phone: 612-624-5947; or fax: 612-626-0623.

MICaB Ph.D. Graduate Program Admissions
University of Minnesota
Mayo Mail Code 196
1460 Mayo Building, 420 Delaware Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455-0312, U.S.A

 
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