APPLYING TO THE IBiS PROGRAM FOR ENTRY IN FALL 2008

Applications to the Interdepartmental Biological Sciences (IBiS) program for Fall 2008 should be submitted on-line to The Graduate School no later than December 31, 2007 for consideration for full financial support (tuition, stipend and health insurance).  Supporting materials are also due by December 31, 2007. Please arrange to have supporting materials (transcripts and other documents) submitted directly to the IBiS program office. You may submit the supporting documentation before completing the online application. Due to the high volume of applications, you will hear from us only if your application is incomplete. Only complete applications will be considered for review by the admissions committee.  

1. Complete the online application via the following link to The Graduate School and select "Biological Sciences (IBiS/Evanston): PhD". You must complete the entire application--do not leave blank entries unless the information requested is not applicable to you. The application fee is $75.00.

2. Please submit the following supporting documentation either on-line or in one package to the IBiS Program Office at:

Admissions
IBiS- Hogan Hall 2-100
Northwestern University
2205 Tech Drive
Evanston, Illinois 60208-3500

• Statement of Purpose: The statement of purpose is an important part of the application and our admissions committee considers it carefully in reviewing each applicant's materials. It should be less than two pages in length, describe your previous research experience, reasons for choosing to attend Northwestern and to pursue this field of study, and your career goals. Consider describing the larger research questions that were being addressed, your individual contributions to the project, and how your research contributed to the broader understanding of the questions you sought to address. May be submitted via mail or via on-line application.
  
  
• Transcripts: Official transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended. May be submitted via mail only.
  
  
• Three Letters of Recommendation: Three sealed letters of recommendation on letterhead from advisors/professors who are familiar with your work and achievements and can assess your potential to succeed in a Ph.D. program. Be sure to include letters from your research advisor(s) and have recommenders mention the IBiS program code (B15PH) in their letters. The letters should speak to your academic abilities and your ability to be a successful graduate student conducting research independently. May be submitted via mail or via on-line application. If submitted via on-line application, the recommendations must come from your recommenders' institutional account. Letters of recommendation submitted from gmail, yahoo, or similar addresses will not be considered.
  
  
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae: A good resume will summarize your education, research experience, and technical skills and would contain the following: awards, affiliations, presentations, and a list of publications if available. May be submitted via mail or via on-line application.
  
  
• Fact Sheet: In addition to the Graduate School Application listed above, please complete and submit the IBiS Program Fact Sheet. May be submitted via mail or as an attachment to e-mail.
  
  
• GRE Scores: The GRE scores for the general test ARE required for consideration to the IBiS program; however no subject test is necessary. MCAT scores cannot be substituted for GRE scores. Official scores must be less than five years old and must come directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS). The institutional code assigned to The Graduate School at Northwestern is 1565. Be sure to include this number on your test form.
  
  
• Foreign Applicants: Applicants whose native language is not English must certify their proficiency in the English language by taking either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the IELTS exam. These scores are also required of applicants whose undergraduate training, in whole or in part, was taken at an institution in a country where English is not the native language. Earning an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited institution where the language of instruction is English exempts the applicant from having to take and submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. Official scores must be less than two years old and must come directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS). The institutional code assigned to The Graduate School at Northwestern is 1565. Be sure to include this number on your test form. The minimum TOEFL score for consideration to the IBiS program is 600 on the written exam, 250 on the computer-based exam or 100 on the internet-based exam. For the IELTS, an applicant must score an overall band score of 7.0 or higher. The minimum score in each of the four sections, Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking, is 6.5. To be eligible for Teaching Assistantships students must score more than 26 on the speaking portion of the TOEFL IBT. If admitted, students scoring less than 26 on the TOEFL Internet-Based Test (IBT) will be required to demonstrate language proficiency by taking a SPEAK exam.

Completed applications will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee in January and February. Selected applicants in North America will be invited to one of two recruitment events February 14-15 or March 6-7. The on-site events run Wednesday evening through Friday morning. The events provide an opportunity to meet current IBiS students and faculty. Activities include a welcome reception, interviews with faculty, a research poster session, campus tour, informal dinner with faculty and students, a mini-symposium, and a farewell lunch. Admission decisions are finalized and offers made soon after the weekend visit.

Highly qualified international applicants outside of North America may be contacted for a telephone interview in March. Such students need not make special arrangements to visit Northwestern University, as they will be considered for phone interviews only. All students are always welcome to visit Northwestern University. Visits do not constitute or contribute to decisions by the Admissions Committee.

Applicants who are not selected for an interview will receive a letter from The Graduate School by April 15. In general, if you are in North America and have not yet heard from us by February it is unlikely that you will be invited to campus for a recruiting weekend.

Information for Minority Applicants to Northwestern University Graduate School

Your interest in graduate study at Northwestern University is most welcome.

Northwestern participates in the CIC Predoctoral Clearinghouse and accepts the CIC FreeApp allowing eligible students to apply to CIC Schools without paying the application fee. CIC Free App eligibility criteria and the CIC FreeApp on-line application can be found at the CIC website.

If you submit a CIC Free App and you are eligible to receive the fee wavier, your application will be processed as described on the Free App web site. You should complete the Northwestern on-line admissions application as well. Instructions for the fee waiver will be emailed to you once Northwestern receives notification of your eligibility.

Should you have any questions, please contact the Assistant Director, Sacha Patera, 847-467-0451, directly.

And if you still have questions after you have reviewed the Multicultural Affairs website , please do not hesitate to contact us. Our staff will be pleased to respond to any questions you may have about Northwestern and to assist you in the application process.