ENROLLMENT INFORMATION

Thank you for your interest in our program!  Our application, interview, and admission process is handled through the Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program (BBSP).

BBSP is a new, unified mechanism by which prospective students interested in any of 12 participating graduate programs (including Bioinformatics and Computational Biology-BCB) in the biological and biomedical sciences at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill apply for graduate study.  BBSP acts as a common portal by which students begin their graduate studies at UNC-CH, and students admitted to UNC-CH through BBSP have no formal commitment to any specific Ph.D. program.  At the end of the first year students select a thesis research lab and join a PhD program or department (usually one of the programs in which your faculty preceptor is a member).  We are excited about the flexibility this program offers to our students during their first year. For a more complete description of BBSP, please visit the BBSP web page: http://www.med.unc.edu/bbsp/.

While BBSP students have the freedom to choose coursework and rotations from any of the participating programs, including BCB, if you are interested only in the Bioinformatics and Computational Biology PhD program you will still apply through BBSP, and can then begin fulfilling BCB degree requirements (e.g. taking the appropriate courses) in your first year.

If you have questions about our department please feel free to contact the Director of Graduate Studies, Dr. Timothy Elston.

To begin the application process immediately, please click here.

When do I apply?
The Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program employs a rolling admissions process.  The final application deadline is March 15, 2008.  However, the BBSP Admissions Committees will begin reviewing applications in December and all interview slots are likely to fill by February 15.  Additionally, full consideration for Graduate Fellowships from the UNC Graduate School requires that applications be submitted by January 1.  Therefore we urge you to submit your materials as soon as possible and definitely before January 15, 2008.

Where do I obtain an application?
An Online Basic Application can be found here.

What do I need to apply?
The following materials are required before an application is considered complete (please print this out and use as a handy checklist!):

___ 1. Application
___ 2. Non-refundable $73 application fee
___ 3. Two (2) official (carrying seal) copies of transcripts from every University/College attended
___ 4. GRE scores (UNC institution code is 5816) – see below for info on subject test
___ 5. TOEFL score ONLY IF you are an international applicant who does not have an undergraduate degree from a US University.
___ 6. Three (3) letters of recommendation.
___ 7. Personal Statement.

Do I need to take the GRE?
Yes. You must take the general test. The subject test is not absolutely required for consideration, but it strengthens an application. For students interested in BCB we suggest that you take the subject test in either Biochemistry (Code 22) or Biology (Code 24), but please take the subject test that you feel most prepared for. We recommend taking the GREs in the Fall just prior to submitting your application. Many students take the general test in October and the subject test in December, but you can do this at your convenience. Remember that it takes 4-6 weeks for the official scores to be reported, so try to take them before you submit your completed materials.

What happens after I send my application in?
Applications are received by the Graduate School and processed through BBSP. This can take several weeks, especially during the peak submission periods around December and January, which is why we encourage you to submit your application materials early.

A BBSP Admissions Committee composed of faculty with expertise in your area(s) of interest will evaluate your application and make recommendations for an interview.  We are strongly in favor of on site interviews by applicants prior to making admissions decisions, because in our experience this can more easily determine the fit between the research interests of the faculty and the student. We determine the strongest applications, and we usually begin to issue invitations to visit the campus and interview from late December through January.

The Interview Process
Interview weekends occur from the end of January through the beginning of March. While we consider applications on a rolling basis, we have a limited number of available interview slots and so it is to your advantage to submit your application early. 

Interviews are reasonably relaxed – casual/nice dress is sufficient. We strive to accommodate students’ requests to meet with specific faculty individually. There are also ample opportunities to talk informally with current students and faculty.

The Admissions Committee meets shortly after the interview weekend to determine which applicants to recommend for offers of admission. The Graduate School sends an official offer letter, and the students then have until April 15th to make and inform us of their decision.

Can I find out about the progress of my application?
Yes, you can! Simply log-in to the online admissions application using your own user name and password.

Requirements
1. GRE scores less than 5 years old; should be at least 50th percentile in each general category.
2. TOEFL, required of all international students (except those from countries where English is the official language, or those who have received a degree from a US university) and cannot be over 2 years old. The Graduate School minimum acceptable score is 213 (computer-based test) or 550 (paper-based test).

Note to International Applicants
Some of our funding for graduate training comes from the National Institutes of Health, and the NIH requires that trainees be U.S. Citizens or permanent residents. Consequently the number of positions available for international students is limited, and competition for these positions is high.  International applicants should carefully read the information for international applications and requirements as stated by the Graduate School at UNC, in order to ensure that their applications are complete.