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School of Biological Sciences School of Biological Sciences
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Application/Evaluation Process

To apply, applicants use the UCSD Application for Graduate Admission, which is a web-based application (Slate). You may work on your application a bit at a time, and then submit it once it is complete. The site is secure, and your application and credit card information will remain confidential.

Once the application opens on September 4th, on the Program Selector page of the application, choose Doctor of Philosophy for Degree Type, Biological Sciences (PhD) (under Biological Sciences) for Program Interest, and 2025 Fall for Entry Term.

Applications may be evaluated by the Admissions Committee (which is comprised of representatives from both the faculty and current Ph.D. students) immediately following submission, through April 15.

Holistic Evaluation Factors

The Admissions Committee evaluates applicants based on their past academic performance. Important factors in the holistic evaluation of an application include:

  • Nature and quality of undergraduate degree program
  • Preparation in physical sciences and mathematics
    • No required prerequisite courses
  • Previous laboratory and/or field research experience
    • Description of role in experience(s) (500 characters max for each experience)
  • Statement of Purpose Guidelines (SOP)
    • Must follow BioSci PhD Program SOP guidelines
    • 1500 Words Max
    • Three sections:
      • Motivation to earn a Ph.D.
      • Previous research experience
      • Motivation to attend the UCSD/Salk Biological Sciences Ph.D. Program
  • Letters of Recommendation (LORs) (3)
    • Prioritize letters from people who can write about your research ability
    • Relationship to your writer; categories, in order of descending impact, are:
      • Research Principal Investigator (PI)
      • Non-PI Research Mentor
      • Collaborating PI
      • Professor for a course I helped teach
      • Course Instructor
      • Other (Please Specify)
    • Interfolio is not recommended for our program
  • CV/Resume
  • Supplemental Information
    • List any outreach activities in which you have participated where the main goal was to increase interest or participation in science among groups that are under-represented in science in your country. Respond in bullet point form, with concrete answers. (1000 characters max)
    • List any other science-related outreach activities not included in the question above, in bullet point form, with concrete answers. (1000 characters max)
    • Describe a major obstacle you’ve overcome or an achievement that best demonstrates your grit, resilience or perseverance. (1000 characters max)
  • Description of Additional Experiences (Optional)
    • Selectable types of experiences: Leadership, Overcoming Adversity, Community Involvement, Social Justice Experience, Personal or Professional Ethics, Research, Other
    • Each type of experience selected will ask for a 3 – 5 sentence response
    • Answers may be similar to Supplemental Information question answers, when relevant
  • Interest in program and faculty
    • Explanation of interest in faculty of interest should be in SOP as well as in Faculty of Interest area on application (500 characters max per faculty of interest in application)
  • BioSci/Salk Faculty Paper Summary
    • If there is a paper from a UCSD Biological Sciences or Salk lab that you would have liked to have been a part of, please give its citation, briefly explain the key finding or discovery, and tell us why you find this research so fascinating and why you would have liked to have been involved. Use your own words. If there is any suspicion that your response was AI-generated, it will have a negative impact on your application. (500 characters max for main point; 800 characters max for why you find the paper fascinating).
  • English Proficiency Exams (International Applicants Only) (TOEFL Code: 4836)
    • Applicants with TOEFL Speaking below 23 or IELTS Speaking below 7 will not be considered.
    • Applicants with TOEFL Total below 100 or IELTS Overall below 7 will not be considered.
  • Publications (Not Required)
  • External Sources of Funding/Fellowships (Not Required)
  • Personal Statement for addressing any impacts due to COVID-19 (Not Required)
  • Interviews

GRE

GRE scores are not required nor taken into consideration.

SHORE (Student Housing)

SHORE is a very limited campus housing program that guarantees graduate student housing for the length of your graduate program, up to six years, and is available only to admitted new incoming graduate students. SHORE students are housed without having to wait on the housing waitlist and are guaranteed housing by start of Fall Quarter. All spots are filled by early Spring Quarter. No additional spots are available after Spring Quarter. If selected, students will be notified. Answers to SHORE questions are optional and do not affect application evaluation.

Application includes the following Yes/No questions:

  • Would receiving a SHORE housing offer influence your admission decision?
  • Would you like to be considered for SHORE housing?
    • If Yes is selected for wanting to be considered for SHORE, a text prompt will appear: Our department receives a limited number of SHORE spots. Please briefly explain why you are a good candidate for a SHORE nomination.