Information in this page:

• How to Apply - CLICK HERE
  
• Dates / Deadlines - CLICK HERE
  
• Application Details - CLICK HERE
  
• Admission Criteria - CLICK HERE
  
• About Test Scores - CLICK HERE
  
• Improving your chances - CLICK HERE
  

 You may apply to one of three programs:

• Graduate Studies in Biological Sciences (M.S. or Ph.D.) CLICK HERE FOR INFO
  
• Professional Masters in Biotechnology (P.M.S.) CLICK HERE FOR INFO
  
• Professional Masters in Bioinformatics (P.M.S.) CLICK HERE FOR INFO
  

NOTE: our Intitutation Code for submitting test scores is 5818

 YOU MUST FORMALLY APPLY DIRECTLY TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL

I. NOTIFY US DIRECTLY THAT YOU ARE APPLYING: Send us at least 2 documents:
1. INTENT TO APPLY FORM: CLICK HERE
2. A COPY OF YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT.

There can be significant delays before the Graduate School informs us that they have received your application.

II. SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL
For information how to use the Graduate School Application site, CLICK HERE.

Applications submitted through the Graduate School will require payment by you of a $40 fee before we can view your application. Once applications are complete and the fee is paid, the Graduate School will notify us of your completed application. NOTE: you can perform all submission activates without paying the fee; the fee must be paid before the Graduate School releases your documents to us.

Your complete application will consist of:

• 1. Application form. (also send us an INTENT TO APPLY FORM)
  
• 2. Personal Statement (see below) (send us a copy).
  
• 3. University Transcripts. (indicate your GPA on the INTENT TO APPLY FORM)
  
• 4. GRE scores (general exam - institutional code = 5818) (indicate your scores on the INTENT TO APPLY FORM)
  
• 5. Language score (for applicants from countries where English is not primary language). (indicate your scores on the INTENT TO APPLY FORM)
  
• 6. Letters of Recommendation (at least 2)

NOTE: our Intitutation Code for submitting test scores is 5818

 DATES & DEADLINES

Applications for Fall 2008 will be reviewed on February 5, 2008, and students we have accepted will be notified soon after. Typically not all of our offers are accepted; we will review applications again on March 20, 2008. We regret that we have limited space and must so limit our acceptances. Late applications will be considered, but can only be done so to the extent space allows (contact the Graduate Director, Dr. Vogt, if you have any concerns or questions). We urge you to complete your applications by February 1, and we strongly advise you fill out the INTENT TO APPLY FORM to notify the Graduate Director that an application has been submitted. We want you! Help us make it possible to select you by getting your materials to us.

Your application will include items from 5 categories (6 if you are non-US):

(1) application form with personal information, indicating Program to which you are applying and research/academic interests.

Notify us that you are applying by filling out the INTENT TO APPLY FORM (DOWNLOAD HERE) (PDF, requires Adobe Acrobat).


(2) a personal statement that discusses your background, your interests and your goals, all relevant to why you chose to apply to our program.
This statement should be 1-2 pages long and should indicate your research and educational goals, but it should also thoroughly describe any prior research experiences and/or educational experiences that are relevant to your pursuing a graduate degree in Biological Sciences. SEND US A COPY OF YOUR "PERSONAL STATEMENT" ALONG WITH YOUR "INTENT TO APPLY FORM"

(3) all college level transcripts of previous work;
You will need to supply transcripts from every school you have attended since high school (or equivalent if you are from outside the US).

(4) scores from the General section of the Graduate Record Exam;
Have the Testing Service send the official copy of your scores to the USC Graduate School (institutional code 5818). Please enter your scores on the INTENT TO APPLY FORM, or notify us directly (gradinfo@biol.sc.edu, subject: "graduate application") when you have the scores.
Note: We do not require the Subject GRE, but we will receive your score on this if you take it.

(5) at least two letters of recommendation from people who know you academically;
Download letter form HERE (PDF, requires Adobe Acrobat); print, fill out your information and give to your recommender. Letters are best from professors or teachers who know you well, either from research experience or from courses with small numbers of students. Letters should be mailed directly to us at:

Graduate Program
Department of Biological Sciences
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC 29208

Alternatively, letters may be sent to us by email (gradinfo@biol.sc.edu) or fax (803-777-4002), provided information is included allowing us to contact the writer. The subject line of the email should say "GradApp Recommendation" followed by your name. The fax should be equally informative.

(6) Non-US applicants only: TOEFL (language) scores, VISA Information and Financial Certification;
English Language Exam For those whose primary language is not English, an English language test is required (please read comments below regarding acceptable test scores). Please enter your scores on the INTENT TO APPLY FORM, or notify us directly (gradinfo@biol.sc.edu, subject: "graduate application") when you have the scores.

Application for Immigration Document / Financial Certification Form. These documents are required before we can formally offer you a position. However, we will review your application without them. Information about these documents and how they should be submitted can be obtained at http://www.sa.sc.edu/ips/visaprocess.htm. In general, we financially support all of our graduate students (except in the PMS programs) at a level that provides a modest but comfortable life while pursing their graduate studies. Regardless, the University requires that you document financial resources sufficient to support you for one year (see noted web site for details).

You should contact Pat Earley (gradinfo@biol.sc.edu) to confirm that your materials, especially letters, have arrived.

 ADMISSION CRITERIA

We are looking for students who have a strong promise of success, and we believe that the students we accept will be successful. Acceptance decisions are based on an overall evaluation of your academic record and GRE scores, your academic background and experience, letters of support, and not least, your motivation for graduate work. In general, students should have a strong and diverse background in Biology with solid knowledge of math, chemistry (including organic) and physics. Previous undergraduate or Masters research experience is enormously beneficial.

Contact potential mentors. We strongly encourage you to directly contact appropriate faculty with whom you might have interest in studying. Review our research interests by clicking HERE. Most faculty are flattered by the contact, and those actively interested in graduate students welcome it. Don't be shy!

The Department of Biological Sciences welcomes all inquiries and visits from prospective students. We encourage you to visit the department in order to meet and talk with the faculty and graduate students about graduate study and research. Informing us of your plans ahead of time will allow us to offer you a more enriching and informative visit.

Foreign Applicants. We welcome applications from non-US students. Non-US applicants must submit an Application for Immigration Document and a Financial Certification Form. Information on these can be obtained at http://www.sa.sc.edu/ips/visaprocess.htm. For those whose primary language is not English, an English language test is required (please read comments below regarding acceptable test scores). We need your GRE and TOEFL scores in order to review your application; however, we do not need your Immigration and Financial Certification documents, but you cannot formally offer you a position until these have arrived. You should anticipate the normal delays in reporting of GRE and TOEFL scores by completing the exams at least six weeks before the application deadline (approximately February 1 -- we will consider late submissions as space allows).

Let us know when you apply. Fill out the INTENT TO APPLY FORM and send it to us at the addresses (email or mail) indicated on the form. Also send us a copy of your Personal Statement. Because things get lost, you are welcome and encouraged to contact Pat Earley (Graduate Program Coordinator, gradinfo@biol.sc.edu) to confirm the status of your application.

Matriculation. The majority of our students begin their graduate studies during fall semester; admission for other semesters is limited but is considered.

Graduate students are selected without regard to sex, color, creed, national origin, or geographical locale. We are committed to maintaining a very diverse student body; all are welcome.

ABOUT TEST SCORES.

GRE. Of course, higher scores are preferred over lower scores; we would prefer scores above 600 and recognize scores above 700 as excellent. Traditionally, biology programs have overlooked low verbal scores (below 600) in favor of high quantitative scores; however, writing and verbal communication skills are in fact quite important in the biological sciences, and low scores may be indicative of future problems. Having said that, we also recognize that not all students test well. And students from non-English speaking countries often test low in verbal skills because of language bias. Thus, GRE scores are only one factor we use to evaluate candidates.

Language Exams. In general, non-English languages are a weakness for most Americans; the ability for effective communication between student and professor are critical. Experience has indicated that TOEFL and IELTs exams are important indicators of how effective that communication will be. The University has established a policy of minimal scores for these exams. TOEFL scores above 570 (paper-based), 230 (computer-based) or 75 (internet-based), or an IELTS score above 6.5 are viewed as acceptable.

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HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF BEING ACCEPTED BY ANY GRADUATE PROGRAM.

We are committed to helping students develop into outstanding scientists, but we can only do this if our laboratories are productive. Graduate students provide much of this productivity. It is common sense that the more you can convince us that you will help us with our research, the more we are interested in accepting you into our program. There are two things you can do to convince us that you can help us: (1) gain research experience as an undergraduate; (2) become familiar with the research of Professors in whose laboratories you would like to work/study, and develop an interested dialog with those professors via email or other correspondence.

Research Experience. If you are still an undergraduate, this is often as easy as asking a professor for an opportunity to work in their laboratory. This shows you have the initiative to do research, and provides those writing letters with meaningful information about you (and often balances against lower test scores). After graduation, opportunities for gaining research experience can be difficult to find if you have no prior experience. If you are having difficulty getting into a Ph.D. program, consider a M.S. degree at a smaller university; good performance in an M.S. will dramatically increase your opportunities getting into excellent Ph.D. programs regardless of undergraduate performance.

Know prospective Professor's research. In some graduate programs, students rotate through several laboratories before settling down to one. In other programs, students move directly into a specific laboratory. Regardless, in almost all programs, the majority of your graduate life will be in one laboratory. So, in applying to graduate school, you are really applying to join and be trained by the laboratory of a specific Professor. If you develop an interest in that laboratory before you apply, becoming familiar with that Professor's research and developing a dialog with the Professor about their research, you will likely develop a friend in the Department who will provide strong support for your application and acceptance into the program.

Before you contact any prospective Professor, become familiar with the research that Professor does. Discuss the research, making specific references to aspects of the research, when contacting the Professor. Make a credible effort to justify your interest in that research. Doing this will increase the likelihood that the Professor will want to accept you in his or her laboratory.