The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences seeks to admit students who are well prepared for its educational programs and who, upon graduation, hold the best promise of becoming outstanding teachers, researchers, and practitioners of science.
The number of positions in Graduate School programs, particularly our Ph.D. program, is limited. The Admissions Committee considers many factors in reaching its decision on each applicant. Objective criteria, such as academic record, is important. Equally important, however, are more subjective assessments of factors such as the candidate’s intellectual curiosity, maturity, integrity and motivation.
In order to be considered seriously for admission to any of the degree programs of the Graduate School, candidates must demonstrate above-average academic achievement at the undergraduate level and in any previous work undertaken at the graduate level. Strong performance in mathematics and science courses is particularly important. Our Ph.D. program is test-optional; GRE general test scores need not be submitted. Our two-year Master of Science programs are also test optional; GRE general test, MCAT or DAT test scores may be submitted to support a Master’s application, but are not required. For international Master of Science applicants educated in non-English speaking institutions, an adequate TOEFL/IELTS score is needed to demonstrate the applicant’s ability to communicate in English.
The Graduate School actively recruits applicants of both sexes and members of minority groups that are under-represented in the biological sciences. No person shall be denied admission to any educational program or activity on the basis of any legally prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, or disability.
All policies regarding admissions, employment, and education programs and activities are established and administered in conformity with the Education Practices Act of New York State, as well as state and federal civil rights laws, specifically including Title IX of the Educational Amendments Act of 1972 and its associated regulations, prohibiting practices or policies in admissions, education programs, or employment that are in any way discriminatory on the basis of sex.
All applicants should be aware that official acceptance into any of the degree programs of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences is conferred only by a letter of acceptance from the Dean of the Graduate School. Informal and non-binding indications of an applicant’s acceptability for a program may be conveyed by a program director, but the Dean’s letter is the official notice of admission.
All accepted applicants must submit their decision via the electronic TouroOne Online Application System Enrollment Response Form link located in the decision email within two weeks (unless otherwise noted in a direct communication) in order to secure a seat in the incoming class. For Ph.D. offers made before April 1, the applicant has until April 15 to declare his/her acceptance of the offer.
Since it is a major goal of our degree programs, in particular the Ph.D. program and select Master's programs, to produce graduates who are capable of pursuing careers involving active scientific investigation, candidates for these programs must also possess certain other abilities and skills of several varieties. These include abilities and skills related to observation, communication, and fine motor skills. The potential for high-level conceptual, integrative, and quantitative thinking must be present. Candidates must possess behavioral and social abilities and skills commensurate with the interactive nature of modern science. While technical compensation can be made for some disabilities in certain of these aforementioned areas, the Graduate School must be fully satisfied that a candidate can perform in a reasonably independent manner, and be able to complete all aspects – intellectual and physical – of the entire curriculum of required courses, electives, and training activities. Thus, a candidate for the Ph.D. degree and select M.S. degrees in the biomedical sciences must possess abilities and skills that allow for observation, intellectual and conceptual reasoning, motor coordination, and communication.
All applicants and graduates must meet the prescribed technical standards, with or without reasonable accommodations. The use of a trained intermediary is not acceptable in many situations since this would subordinate the candidate’s judgment to the influence of someone else’s powers of observation and selection.
The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences does not offer remote programs. Although various remote platforms have been employed for teaching purposes, the doctoral and Master’s programs require in-person attendance for many activities, including lectures, exams, labs, and discussion sections. It is the expectation that students enrolled in the GSBMS can attend these activities in-person. Students cannot enroll in classes or matriculate into any of the programs sponsored by the GSBMS if they cannot attend scheduled on-campus activities.
Students are required to have access to and operate a laptop computer for required laptop sessions and access to the learning management system where course information is located. Please refer to the specific software and hardware requirements on the NYMC website.
In addition to regular admission into one of the degree-granting (Master’s or Ph.D.) programs, the following special categories are available.
Provisional Admission
A candidate whose application is incomplete because not all of the required supporting materials have been received (such as final transcript showing degree awarded), may be allowed to register as a provisional student for one semester only. However, the degree-seeking candidate who enrolls as a provisional student accepts the risk that admission may ultimately be denied if the supporting documents are not received before the next semester begins, or if the applicant’s record as revealed in the awaited supporting materials is deemed unsatisfactory. Students admitted on a provisional basis are eligible to apply for financial aid, student housing, student medical insurance, and other student services.
Conditional Admission
The Admissions Committee may conditionally admit an applicant whose undergraduate GPA is under 3.0 and/or if faculty have a concern about their success in the program. Upon completion of a minimum of 8 credits with a grade point average of 3.0 (combined grades equating to at least a B average), the student will be reviewed, and the committee may remove the conditional status and hold on the student’s continued registration. If the student does not meet the 3.0 GPA criterion, he/she will be prohibited from enrolling in any further coursework and will be administratively withdrawn from the school. Students admitted on a conditional basis are not eligible for financial aid, student housing, student medical insurance, and other student services. Conditionally admitted students may apply for private student loans.
Deferral Requests
All accepted applicants who wish to defer their acceptance to a future semester must indicate the desired semester of enrollment in an email to the Graduate School Admissions office and include the reason for the request. Enrollment may be deferred for one year from the semester of acceptance. After that time, applicants must reapply. For all applicants whose program requires a deposit, in order to request a deferral, the non-refundable deposit must be received by NYMC. Applicants will receive a decision regarding their deferral request via email.
