BICB Admissions Application Checklist

BICB Application Checklist

We expect incoming graduate students to have a strong background in the quantitative sciences and varied backgrounds in the life/health sciences. Specifically, we expect incoming students to have taken the following courses at the undergraduate level prior to entering the program:

  1. Calculus (1 year)

  2. Introductory computer science course and basic programming skills (1 semester)

  3. Chemistry (1 year)

  4. General biology course (1 semester)

In addition, we expect students to have a background in:

Two of the areas 1-3

or

One of the areas 1-3

and

One of the areas 4 and 5

  1. Multivariable calculus, differential equations, linear algebra

  2. Algorithms and data structure, discrete mathematics

  3. Statistics or biostatistics; probability theory

  4. Biochemistry, genetics and cell biology

  5. Health sciences (pharmacology, physiology, or related areas)

A student might be admitted without meeting the prerequisite requirements, but a plan must be in place to make up deficiencies within the first year.

Apply online using the graduate school application. Admission decisions are communicated to applicants using this system.

PhD Application
Applications are accepted from December 15 through April 1 for the fall semester. A limited number of fellowships are available for PhD graduate students. For full consideration, submit your application no later than February 15. Admissions decisions can be expected by April for the following fall semester.

M.S. Applications
Applications are accepted throughout the year for either fall or spring. Admissions decisions for the M.S. program are made on an ongoing basis.

Required Application Materials

  • Graduate Admissions Application
  • Personal Statement
  • GRE Test
  • PhD Program Applicants: three letters of recommendation from persons familiar with your academic and professional experience (including their email addresses)
  • M.S. Program Applicants: name three reviewers (including their email addresses) and ask them to complete the online evaluation through graduate school online application system
  • Unofficial Transcripts of all universities and colleges attended should be uploaded directly to the online application.

Additional information on personal statement:
The recommended length for the personal statement is 2-3 pages. This statement should describe your past experiences, career aspirations, and why you wish to pursue graduate studies in biomedical informatics and computational biology. Indicate the names of the BICB graduate faculty whose interests overlap with yours and contact those faculty members prior to applying. This is particularly important for an application to the PhD program as we only admit students to the PhD program for whom we can identify an adviser.

Additional information on GRE requirement:

  • Scores should be sent directly to the U of M Graduate School by the Educational Testing Service (Institution #Code 6874, University of Minnesota)
  • TOEFL scores are generally required of all applicants whose first language is not English. The scores should be sent to the same institution code (6874).

Many students have gaps on either the computational side or the life sciences side of this interdisciplinary field. Below you will find resources to fill these gaps.

Resources for applicants with an undergraduate (or other postsecondary) degree in life sciences:

Resources for applicants with an undergraduate (or other postsecondary) degree in computer science, mathematics or statistics:

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