Application to the PhD program
Characteristics of the Admitted PhD Students
In the 2012 academic year, about 500 students applied to the PhD program. About 70 students were accepted to the program. The students that were admitted to the program had the following records:
- undergraduate GPA 3.81+/-0.17 (mean and standard deviation)
- quantitative GRE 786+/-21
- verbal GRE 604+/-68
Recruiting and Program Information
We typically recruit students in five areas: Computational Biology, Imaging, Tissue Engineering, and Neural Engineering and Molecular Neural Cardiovascular Systems (MNCS). The program is unique in that it offers the BME student the strengths of one of the best medical schools in the world, combining engineering with cutting edge research in medicine.
In their first year, our students have the option of taking many of the same courses as the medical students, including human anatomy, molecules and cells, and genes to society. In their second year, our students take advanced engineering courses. Therefore, students that apply to our program need to not only have a strong background in engineering and mathematics, but also sufficient background in chemistry (including organic chemistry) and biology (at least two introductory courses).
The admission process is by committee. The applicant should specify which area they are interested in, and write about the kind of research they are considering. The faculty in each area vote and rank the applicants. The final pool of applicants is ranked and voted on by the entire faculty.
All accepted students receive a full fellowship. The fellowship covers tuition and provides for a monthly stipend. In this way, the students are free to choose from almost any research lab in the university. To facilitate this process, students do two or more rotations during their first year and typically choose a lab by the end of the summer of their first year.
About one third of our incoming students are international students. A short list of these students is formed by committee. The top candidates are interviewed by phone. Like all admitted students, international students receive full financial aid as well as a monthly stipend, and the freedom to choose from any lab.
Get Started
Start your application by applying online to the Johns Hopkins Medicine graduate program. Written correspondence and supporting documents should be sent directly to:
The Office of Graduate Affairs
The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
1830 E. Monument St., Suite 2-107
Baltimore, MD 21287
(410) 614-3385 phone | (410) 614-3386 fax
grad_study@jhmi.edu
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine GRE code: 5316
Application Requirements
Applications should be complete when submitted. In order to be considered a complete application we must have:
- A completed online application form.
- Official transcripts from each college or university attended. Sealed, official transcripts or certified records of all university (undergraduate and graduate) study must be submitted. If you have attended more than one institution, a transcripts from each must be included with your application.
- Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores / MCAT scores are acceptable, and can be arranged through the Office of Graduate Affairs (address above). The GRE code for applying to graduate programs at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine is 5316.
The BME Ph.D. program does not rely heavily on the GRE exam in making admissions or financial aid decisions. Research experience, course grades, and recommendations carry more weight. However, because the GRE score is part of the application and does affect admissions decisions in some cases, foreign applicants who took the GRE in its electronic form, in a country where the electronic test is no longer offered, are advised to retake the exam in its paper form.
Applications will be considered regardless of which form of the exam was taken.
- Three letters of recommendation: These letters should come from faculty members who are acquainted with you and your academic work. These letters should be sealed and include comments on your aptitude and promise for independent research.
- Personal Statement: Include a typewritten statement (one page maximum) indicating the basis of your interest in graduate study and your career objectives. Include discussion of any research experience you have had.
- TOEFL scores (for foreign students only; official copy).
Course Prerequisites for Applicants
- one year of college-level biology (may include quantitative biology or physiology)
- one semester of organic chemistry
- differential equations
If you are interested in applying and do not have the prerequisite courses, you may want to submit your application with an explanatory note indicating that, if accepted, you will make arrangements to take the prerequisites before matriculation. In the past, applicants have taken the prerequisites at their present schools, local community colleges, etc. Courses taken at any accredited college or university are acceptable.
Degree Requirements
Each applicant must have received a BA or BS degree or its equivalent prior to matriculation. A Masters degree is not required for admission to our program.
The Application Process
Processing: The Ph.D. Program admissions committee will not consider any application until it is complete. Once an application has been received the applicant will be notified if supporting materials are missing.
Interview: The admissions committee will review completed applications and invite selected applicants to come to Johns Hopkins for a personal interview with faculty. Applicants from North America must come for an interview to be considered for admission. In the case of overseas applicants, for whom such a trip is not possible, a small number of telephone interviews will be conducted. The final admissions decisions will be made from the pool of interviewed applicants. Interviews will be conducted during the last week of February 2014 through the second week of March 2014.
Acceptance: Applicants will be notified by end of March of the outcome of their application. An offer of admission from the program will include a yearly stipend, full tuition and paid medical and dental insurance. This applies to every accepted applicant, regardless of citizenship or national origin. Those offered admission will be asked to let us know their decision as soon as possible. In any case, we must have the applicant's decision by April 15. Learn more about Johns Hopkins Medicine admission schedule and process.
