Admissions Process

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We are currently accepting applications for admission in the Fall of 2010.

Admissions Standards

Research Experience.  The most important factor for admission to the Ph.D. program is prior research experience.  Most applicants have a year or more of undergraduate research experience.  If you are studying at an institution with limited research opportunities, you should seek out summer research experiences at other research institutions.  Research experience is initially evaluated based on a personal statement and letters of recommendation.  A small number of successful applicants have a prior M.S. degree, but most students are admitted after earning their Bachelor's degree. 

GPA.  The minimum requirements for graduate admission at the University of Florida include a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, a minimum grade point average of 3.0 for all upper division (Junior/Senior) undergraduate work.  Please use the "Self-Reported GPA Computation and Worksheet for Graduate Applications" to calculate your junior-senior GPA.  Official transcripts must be received from all colleges or universities attended.  Applicants are expected to have taken chemistry through organic and advanced course work in the physical or life sciences sufficient to provide evidence of an interest and aptitude for graduate work in biomedical science.  A course in biochemistry is very strongly recommended but not required.  Please be sure to identify your college major in your personal statement. 
The mean junior-senior GPA of entering classes is usually 3.5 or 3.6, with a wide range of individual GPAs.  Applicants with weak undergraduate academic performance should consider pursuing a year of postbaccalaureate studies or a M.S. degree before applying, with the goal of demonstrating an ability to achieve satisfactory academic progress in graduate level courses.  Students admitted with a GPA below 3.0 usually have postbaccalaureate experience or a M.S. degree with better academic performance. 

GRE.  Applicants must submit a satisfactory score on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) general exam.  Subject exam scores are not required.  Mean GRE scores for successful applicants each year are in the range of 1220-1280, with a range of ~1000-1500.  The GRE exam must have been taken within the past five years.

TOEFL.  International students whose native language is not English and who have not studied at an institution in the United States or other English-speaking country for one year or longer must have a score of at least 600 on the written version of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or 250 on the computer version of the exam, or 100 on the internet-based TOEFL.  The TOEFL exam must have been taken within the past five years.  Exemptions to the TOEFL score requirement are granted per University of Florida policy for English proficiency.

Applications are evaluated based on an overall assessment of research experience (personal statement and letters of recommendation), undergraduate course load, GPA, and GRE scores.  Selected applicants will be invited for personal interviews or telephone interviews in February & March. 

Applications

Domestic applications (USA citizens)

International applications (non-USA citizens)

International students - The deadline for submission of all application materials from international students living outside of North America is Tuesday, December 1, 2009 for Fall 2010 admission.  The applicant pool varies in composition (i.e., number of applicants from each country) each year, but most international applications come from students in India, China, and South Korea.  We welcome applications from a diverse pool of qualified applicants, and seek no predetermined number of students from any one country.  We simply seek the best students for biomedical science research training.  As of Fall 2009, international students comprise 39% of currently enrolled international students.  The composition of our enrolled international student population varies from year to year.  We currently have the following numbers of students from each country:  15-26 students each from India, China, and South Korea; 2-7 each from Taiwan, Canada, Turkey, Jamaica, Sweden, and Vietnam;  and one each from Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Columbia, Ecuador, Germany, Greece, Guyana, Indonesia, Italy, Pakistan, Romania, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, and Uganda. 

Domestic students - For priority handling of domestic applications, please submit application materials by Tuesday, December 1, 2009 for Fall 2010 admission.  The final deadline for submission of all application materials for domestic students is Friday, January 15, 2010 for Fall 2010 admission.

Transfer Students - The IDP generally accepts transfer students only when they are accompanying a faculty member who is moving to the University of Florida.  All other applicants must apply for regular Fall semester admission, and provide a letter from their current adviser or program director stating that they are in good academic standing and the reasons for seeking a transfer.  Transfer of credits from another institution to count toward a UF Ph.D. degree is subject to the limits and conditions set forth by the UF Graduate School.  (more info)

Admissions Procedure

Completed applications undergo a detailed preliminary review by four members of the Admissions Committee.  These four members then present the application to the Committee, and a decision is made to reject, hold or grant the applicant an interview.  Domestic applicants who pass the preliminary review are invited to Gainesville for an all-expenses-paid interview visit (Saturday - Monday).  Interviews for 2010 have not been scheduled yet.  During the interview visit, applicants also have ample opportunity to meet with current students and to tour Gainesville and the University of Florida campus.  Selected international applicants residing outside of the United States are interviewed by telephone.

The invited applicants will interview with four IDP faculty members.  Every effort is made to ensure that applicants can meet with faculty representing their advanced program of interest.  The interview process provides an excellent opportunity for applicants to obtain a first-hand perspective on the IDP faculty and students, and on the University of Florida and Gainesville.

To inquire about the status of your application, or if you have been invited for an interview and have any problems or questions about your travel arrangements, please contact Valerie Cloud-Driver by e-mail at idp@ufl.edu.  

Within a few days of the interviews, the Admissions Committee meets to reconsider each application and the interview reports, and a decision is made whether to admit the applicant into the IDP program.  All interviewed applicants are informed of the Committee's decision by the week following their interview.

As a member of the Council of Graduate Schools, the University of Florida Graduate School abides by the April 15 deadline for students to accept offers of admission (or the next business day, if the 15th falls on a weekend).  For more information about the April 15 deadline, please link to the Council of Graduate Schools.

The IDP Admissions Committee begins meeting in the Fall Semester, so applicants are encouraged to submit their application materials as soon as possible.

U.F. Graduate School - Information & Requirements

For general information about admission to the UF Graduate School and links to the UF Graduate Catalog, please see the Graduate Admissions webpage.  

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last revised 11/12/09  wtm