Online Application

The Dept of Anatomy and Cell Biology will only consider applications done through the GEMS portal. Applications directly submitted to our department will not be considered.

We strongly urge you to use the university online application.

Under "Graduate Applicants", click on Create a New Application to begin. Links are provided to view instructions and information. At the bottom of the page under item 9 is the link to start the application. Your web application may be saved and completed at a later date if necessary. When completing the application, under "Department" you will use the pull-down menu to find the program in which you are most interested. Degree-granting programs included in GEMS are: Anatomy and Cell Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Microbiology and Immunology, Pharmacology, Physiology and Biophysics. Specifying a particular program indicates your current interest; however, students are free to choose among any of the programs for their laboratory rotations and thesis work.

 

Required Documents

• Application (online application through GEMS). The Dept of Anatomy and Cell Biology will only consider applications done through the GEMS portal.
• Graduate Appointment form (PDF). This document is required for certain university fellowships. This form is downloaded and mailed to us.
• Personal Statement of Purpose, Relevant Experience and Goals. You may use the page provided on the Graduate Appointment form or use your own stationery.
• Request Educational Testing Service to send GRE and TOEFL (if applicable) scores to the University of Illinois at Chicago. Institution Code GRE 1851 and TOEFL 1851.
• Request official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions to be mailed to the GEMS office.
• Three letters of recommendation are required. University recommendation form may be downloaded as part of the Graduate Appointment form. If you are unable to provide the forms to your reviewers, letters without the forms also will be accepted if they are written on letterhead stationery from the reviewer's institution.
• Application fee: domestic students: $50.00; foreign students: $60.00. Mail with application materials. With the web application you may choose to pay with a credit card.

Mail all the Application materials to:
Administrator
University of Illinois at Chicago GEMS (M/C 784)
c/o College of Medicine Dean's Office, Rm 131 CMW
1853 W. Polk Street
Chicago, IL 60612

 

Admission Requirements

Undergraduate Requirements
Applicants must present evidence of a solid background in undergraduate work that includes biology, inorganic and organic chemistry and at least one year of physics and mathematics. A minimum undergraduate grade point average of 2.75 (where a value of 4.0 is equal to the letter grade of 'A') is required; however preference is given to applicants who present a GPA of 3.0 or greater.

GRE & TOEFL
All applicants are REQUIRED to take the Aptitude Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), preferably prior to submission of the formal application. Subject tests are not required but will be considered. For information about the GRE, you may contact Graduate Record Examination, Box 955, Princeton, N.J., or the Minority Graduate Student Locator Service, Box 2615, Princeton N.J. 08541. Applicants from countries in which English is not the principal language must demonstrate proficiency in English by taking the TOEFL Examination.

Statement of Purpose, Goals, Letters of Recommendations & Interviews
In addition to the applicant's scholastic records and examination scores, the Admissions Committee gives particular consideration to a statement of purpose and goals from the applicant, and three letters of recommendation. Previous research experience is an important consideration for admission and should be described in the personal statement. Because competition among qualified applicants is high, an interview may be requested. Telephone interviews may be conducted for those applying from outside the U.S.

The University of Illinois at Chicago complies fully with all Federal and State nondiscrimination and equal opportunity laws, regulations and orders. All admission decisions are made solely on the basis of merit. We strongly encourage applications from minority candidates.

Financial Assistance
All students who are accepted into our graduate program are offered financial assistance, which includes an annual stipend of $24,000 (in the form of an "assistantship" appointment) and a waiver of tuition.

Immunization
The State of Illinois requires that all students entering a postsecondary institution who are born on or after January 1, 1957, must present documents showing proof of immunity against measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, and diphtheria as a prerequisite to registration. Students who are accepted into our program are strongly advised to bring proof of Immunization. Students who have not shown proof of immunization within the first term of enrollment will be required to get the immunization inoculations. Failure to provide the required proof of immunity will prevent the student from enrolling in a subsequent term.