Helpful Courses
The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences has a diverse student body with backgrounds in biology, biochemistry, biomedical sciences, bioengineering, engineering, math or physics. While GSBS uses a holistic approach to the application review, the following classes provide a good background for graduate coursework:
- Biology (with laboratory)
- Chemistry (general inorganic; organic)
- Mathematics (calculus preferred)
- Physics (with laboratory)
All Applicants
Official transcripts are required from every institution where you have earned a degree (Associate's, Bachelor's, and Graduate level). Unofficial transcripts can be uploaded to your application and used for the initial review process.
Official transcripts will be requested if you are selected for an interview. Official transcripts can be obtained from your institution by hard copy through regular mail and sent to the address below or electronically and emailed to gradappboss@bcm.edu. The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences recommends utilizing e-SCRIP or Parchment electronic services. All transcripts must be in English. If they are not, you will need to have them translated by a certified translation service.
*Please note Clearinghouse electronic transcripts are only available for 30 days, and you may be required to submit another official copy at another time.
Hard copy official transcripts should be mailed to:
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Baylor College of Medicine
One Baylor Plaza, MS Code BCM215
Houston, TX 77030
If you are in the process of completing a degree, you will be required to submit a final, official transcript that must list your major of study, the degree earned, and the date the degree was conferred. Students who have completed degrees from outside the U.S. may be required by the Graduate School or Registrar's Office to submit a transcript degree evaluation from an accredited evaluation service if it does not contain the information listed above.
- The GRE is no longer required by any of the graduate school programs.
- A personal statement, approximately one-page, describing your interest in science and your motivation to pursue a career as a research scientist. You may also use your personal statement to describe obstacles you have overcome, relate attributes that represent your personal history, identity and experiences (e.g., early education environment, socio-economic status, geographic information, life/work experiences), and provide any other information you want to share that does not fit into other parts of the application. Please use 11-point Arial font or 12-point Times New Roman font.
- A Research Statement, approximately one-page, describing your previous research experience, including details of the project, what you did, what you learned, and the significance of the work. If you do not have research experience, you can submit a statement to explain why and elaborate on your desire to be a scientist and other characteristics that make you suitable for MS training. Please use 11-point Arial font or 12-point Times New Roman font.
- Three letters of recommendation from professors and (research) supervisors. If you have research experience, one of the letters should be from a research supervisor, preferably the most recent.
When selecting your referees, it is important for them to comment on your desire to be a scientist, intellectual capability, creativity and imagination, scientific background in coursework, laboratory and/or technical skills, comparison to other Ph.D. students, suitability for graduate school and research, ability to complete long-term tasks, ability to interact with others, honesty, integrity and maturity.
You will be asked to enter each recommender's name and email address into the application system, which will send an email invitation to your recommender. You can check the status of your recommendation letters, transcripts, etc. in the admissions portal and determine if the request has been sent, received, or if the recommender needs a reminder. To assure your recommender's comments are confidential, you are required to waive your right to view your letters of recommendation and we notify your recommenders accordingly.
International Student Requirements
In addition to the items listed above for all applicants, international applicants are required to submit the following:
- TOEFL/IELTS Scores
- Certified English translation of transcript if in another language
- Transcript evaluations are optional, but you may be required to submit one if your final, official transcript does not list your major of study, the degree earned, and the date the degree was conferred. See official transcript section above for more information.
For more information regarding the process for international students, visit International Services Office.
Selection Criteria
We desire students who are pursuing a career and have a strong passion for research. The application is reviewed holistically by our academic programs, seeking evidence of your motivation and commitment to research. This may be evident in your research experience or other pathways you have pursued to explore research. We encourage you to include in your application all activities that demonstrate your passion for research as well as why you are interested in pursuing a career in science.
In keeping with our holistic approach to admissions, there are no cut-offs for GPA. While most successful applicants have a GPA of 3.0 or higher, these numbers are viewed as components of the selection process. However, applicants who demonstrate a strong interest in research and academic potential are not discounted based on these limited parameters.
