Transcript:
Prior to submitting your application, you are required to upload one copy of your scanned transcript from each institution you have attended. Please include the transcript key (that is typically located on the back page of the official transcript).
The transcript must be issued by the Registrar’s Office (a copy issued to the student is fine). The uploaded transcript should not be printed from the University’s web site.
The process of uploading transcripts is intended to eliminate the need for you to mail your transcripts, as DBBS will review your application based on your uploaded transcripts.
Scan the transcript at high resolution and verify each page can be read before uploading it. Upload the transcript from each institution as a single document. Each individual university transcript must be uploaded as one file and not page by page.
Official transcripts are not required for the review process. If you are offered admission and accept the offer you are then required to submit an official sealed transcript from each university you have attended. We ask that you not send us any material in the mail unless asked to do so.
Transcripts must be in English, or be accompanied by notarized translations.
All matriculating students will be requested to send an official final transcript to DBBS before matriculation to:
Washington University
Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences
Attn: Ph.D. Admissions
Campus Box 8226
660 S. Euclid Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63110
DBBS reserves the right to rescind any offer of admission if discrepancies are found between your uploaded transcript and the official transcript.
Personal Statement:
Applicants are encouraged to give considerable time and thought to writing the two essays. (Some schools ask for a general “personal statement”, however DBBS requires that the applicant answer the specific essay questions listed.) The Admissions Committee evaluates a number of characteristics in order to assess a candidate’s ability to benefit from and contribute to their selected program. These include academic ability, research experience, leadership, teamwork, communication skills and other personal qualities. The essays are an opportunity to help the Committee relate to the applicant’s distinctive values, motivation, and perspectives and obtain as much information as possible about their previous research experience.
For essay 1 you will provide information on your research experiences. For up to your 3 most substantive research experiences provide mentor name, Institution, length of project in months, and the approximate hours per week of effort, up to Dec. 1 of this year. (A grid will be provided to capture this information). You will also write an essay for one or more of these experiences providing your specific contributions to the work. Please also describe your motivations for graduate study and a fundamental biological question that most intrigues you, highlighting potential Washington University faculty mentors. Drawing on your past and planned experiences, please conclude with a statement articulating why you will be an outstanding graduate student.
For essay 2 you will describe an experience that demonstrates your resilience, perseverance, and/or leadership skills in response to a challenge in any area of your life.
Applicants may type the essay information directly in the space provided, copy text created in MS Word or a similar type document and paste directly into the essay section of the application, or they may upload each essay in a PDF document (size limited to 4MB). Applicants will be allotted approximately two (2) pages per essay (or approximately 8000 characters including spaces). Please address each essay question separately. Do not insert a personal statement in lieu of the two essay questions.
Recommendation Letter:
Three letters of recommendation must be submitted from faculty members acquainted with the applicant’s work in the major area of study. Please use the recommender’s professional e-mail address. Do not use personal e-mail addresses through services such as AOL, Hotmail or Yahoo. Upon submission of the recommender’s name and e-mail address, an e-mail will be sent to the recommender containing a web link. The recommender will then be able to complete the necessary recommendation. Online recommendations are instantly attached to your application. Please notify recommenders that they will receive this notification via e-mail and encourage them to respond promptly. If your recommenders use a SPAM blocking tool, please be sure to have them add the email address Washington University in St Louis to their known/safe addresses.
At least one recommender must be from the applicant’s faculty advisor or research mentor. Other likely candidates for recommendation are professors and/or employers that can assess qualities in ways that professors cannot. Recommendations from family members are not appropriate.
View the Checklist page often to see if your recommenders have submitted the form. If not, please contact them and ask them to complete by the deadline. If your recommenders have not received the recommendation email request, you may resend the request from the Application Status page