Admissions Standards
Our Graduate Admissions Committee conducts a holistic review of the total application, evaluating applicants using indicators of academic excellence and the potential for educational and professional success. This process relies upon the comprehensive assessment of a combination of quantitative and qualitative measures. Holistic review recognizes that an applicant possesses strengths and weaknesses that must be evaluated in relation to one another and ensures that an applicant is neither accepted nor denied admission based on a single parameter.
Applications for admission will be assessed based on both achievement and potential for success within the broader context of an applicant’s experiences, opportunities, and challenges. Strong applicants will not only possess competitive academic qualifications for admission but will demonstrate the ability to contribute to the academic environment, complete the graduate degree program, and ultimately have a successful research career.
A competitive candidate generally has documented evidence of academic excellence as demonstrated by several of the following:
- GPA of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) with a strong performance in upper-level science courses
- Progression of academic performance over time
- Rigorous curriculum in previous degree program(s)
- Successful completion of a professional degree
- Prior research experience
- Strong written communication skills
Additional factors that will be considered as indicators of commitment to the degree program and overall potential for success include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following:
- Leadership abilities
- Relevant work experience
- Focused talents/skills
- Creativity in problem-solving
- Educational and personal background
- Work ethic
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
- Earn at least a baccalaureate degree (or its equivalent) from an accredited institution of higher education before the start of classes
- Show a strong science coursework foundation
- Demonstrate English language proficiency through standardized testing; if English is not your native language
Application Process
How To Apply
There are two modes of admission to the Biomedical Sciences (BIMS) Graduate Program:
- Directly into a specific laboratory
- Rotation Program (PhD only)
Prospective students must complete the following tasks by the application deadline for the expected semester of entry.
Application Deadlines
| Fall admission | Spring admission | Summer admission | |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 15* | |||
| Domestic | April 1 | November 1 | March 1 |
| International | March 1 | August 1 | N/A |
*Priority deadline for Texas A&M fellowships and BIMS PhD Rotation Program consideration. Rotation applicants should consider researching current VMBS faculty whose interests most closely align with their own, or contact Faculty Leaders listed on the Curricular Training Tracks website.
If you have any questions, please contact our admissions coordinator.
Identify a faculty mentor
A critically important decision that you will make as you embark upon graduate training is selecting a faculty mentor. Students accepted to the PhD Rotation Program have the opportunity to rotate through several laboratories during the program’s first year, which defers this decision until the end of year one. All other applicants, and those not selected for the rotation program, are required to secure a faculty mentor who agrees to fund them for the duration of the program in order to gain admission.
We know that finding a faculty mentor can seem daunting – we are here to help you! A strong pairing with a faculty mentor is critical for your success in the program, and we are eager to help you find a good match. Applicants should review the Curricular Training Tracks website to help identify faculty whose research interests most closely align with their own. When a suitable track is determined, applicants may reach out to the faculty leadership listed on those respective websites.
HOW TO SUBMIT
If you have connected with a faculty member who has agreed to serve as your faculty mentor, then list the faculty mentor’s name when prompted on the GraduateCAS application.
If you do not have a firm commitment from a faculty member to serve as your mentor, please leave this field blank, and submit the application. After submission, reach out to our admissions coordinator for assistance.
PhD Rotation Program applicants: Applicants should indicate their intent to apply for the PhD Rotation Program by typing “Rotation Program” when prompted for the name of a faculty mentor during the GraduateCAS application. *Note: rotation applicants MUST submit complete applications by the December 15 priority deadline in order to be considered for admission.
Complete the Texas A&M GraduateCAS application
Applicants must complete the Texas A&M GraduateCAS application.
The application has four quadrants: Personal information, academic history, supporting information, and program materials. Within GraduateCAS, you will be provided with all of the necessary prompts for completing the application. To help you prepare, we have provided the same information that you will see in GradauteCAS for a few categories (see the following drop downs).
An accompanying application fee will be assessed through GraduateCAS before application submission.
Upload a personal statement
Applicants must write a personal statement that demonstrates to the admissions committee that they will be successful in our graduate program and beyond. This is an excellent opportunity to communicate about many of the factors listed as indicators of success (see Admissions Standards on this page). In addition, the personal statement often addresses the following questions:
- Why are you interested in biomedical sciences?
- What are your career goals?
- How will the BIMS Graduate Program help you achieve your goals?
This submission should be your original, independent work and will be used by the admissions committee to assess your written communication skills.
Upload transcripts
Applicants must upload transcripts from each undergraduate and graduate degree-granting institution they have attended. Unofficial transcripts may be uploaded; however, if you are admitted, official transcripts will need to be sent to the Office of Admissions.
Current and former students of Texas A&M: Texas A&M transcripts do not need to be submitted. All courses that have been transferred to Texas A&M will be reflected on a Texas A&M transcript.
Send official standardized testing scores
English Language Proficiency
Applicants whose native language is not English must submit evidence of English language proficiency. Scores to meet proficiency can be found below:
- a TOEFL score of at least 80 on TOEFL iBT (550 paper-based), or
- an IELTS score of at least 6.0, or
- a GRE Verbal Reasoning score of at least 146 (400 on the old scale), or
- a GMAT Verbal score of at least 22, or
The most recent tests must have been taken within the following time periods to be valid: TOEFL, IELTS, and PTE – 2 years; GRE and GMAT – 5 years.
HOW TO SUBMIT
TOEFL, if applicable)
Official Score Report: Send to Texas A&M from your ETS account. The institution code for Texas A&M is 6003.
Unofficial Score Report (optional): Upload to GraduateCAS.
IELTS, if applicable
Official Score Report: Send to Texas A&M from your testing account.
Unofficial Score Report (optional): Upload to GraduateCAS.
Upload letters of recommendation
Applicants must provide a minimum of three letters of recommendation from science faculty showing dedication toward research and biomedical sciences and mitigating application blemishes. Applicants may also choose to submit non-academic recommendations that can speak to their relevant knowledge and/or experience. There is no page limit for these letters.
HOW TO SUBMIT
GraduateCAS will direct you to the Letters by Liaison portal, where you will submit the names and emails of your recommenders. After you submit the names of your recommenders, they will receive instructions for completing the electronic evaluation.
The GraduateCAS application may be submitted without submitting your recommenders’ contact information through the Letters by Liaison portal. However, these letters must be received for your application to be reviewed.
After You Apply
An application is considered complete when all documents, including official standardized testing scores and letters of recommendation, have been received. Any applications missing required materials or not meeting eligibility criteria by the admission deadline will not be considered.
Verify that your application is complete
Check your GraduateCAS application to ensure that all of the quadrants are marked “complete.”
If you have any questions about the status of your application materials, please contact our admissions coordinator.
Your application will be reviewed
Completed applications will be holistically reviewed by the admissions committee (see admissions standards at the top of this page). All applications, except for the PhD Rotation Program, are reviewed on a rolling basis.
PhD applicants who apply by Dec. 15: After a preliminary holistic application review, the admissions committee will select a set of applicants to invite to the BIMS Doctoral Student Recruitment Weekend in January (either in-person or virtually) for an interview. All applicants being considered for the PhD Rotation Program will be interviewed.
You will receive an admission decision
Applicants may expect to receive an admission decision after completing an application and establishing a faculty mentor. The admissions coordinator will be in contact if additional documents are required. Regardless of your admission decision, you will receive electronic communication from our admissions coordinator and the Texas A&M Office of Admissions.
PhD Rotation Program applicants: Applicants will receive notification about the rotation program decisions (accept or decline) by the first week in March, along with information on how to pursue the direct admission process if you have not been chosen for the rotation program.
Take the next steps
If your application is accepted, our admissions coordinator will send an offer letter that details the next steps. As an overview, newly admitted students have the ability to complete the following items:
- Meet with your staff academic advisor
- Register for classes
- Register for the CVM Graduate Student Orientation (mandatory)
- Register for orientation sponsored by the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies (OGAPS) (optional)
- Register for a parking permit
To prepare for student life in College Station, please take a look at our student life resources.
If your application is declined and you have follow-up questions, please contact our admissions coordinator.