How to apply to the Genetics Graduate program

The Genetics Graduate Program accepts applications for Fall Admission only

The following four requirements should be completed by the application deadline of February 15th. For the best chance of admission, applications should be submitted by January 15th.

1. Submit a Penn State Graduate School application and pay the associated application fee

• Complete the online Penn State Graduate School application form at http://gradsch.psu.edu/portal/ (you may want to open this link in a new window).
  • Selecting a campus. When completing the online application, you will choose either the University Park or Hershey campus. Prior to making this selection, applicants should review the information provided about the University Park or Hershey campuses and program faculty. All students are admitted to one campus, however students are eligible to participate in laboratory rotations on both campuses. Applicants may request to be considered for admission by both campuses. This does not increase the likelihood of admission and is recommended only for students with a strong interest in both campuses. For qualified applicants who wish to participate in interview visits on both campuses, the Genetics Graduate Program will make these arrangements. In order to be considered for admission by both campuses, please select one campus in the on-line application and send an e-mail to genetics@huck.psu.edu stating your desire to be considered by both campuses.
• The following documents will be collected electronically as part of the Graduate School application process:
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Personal Statement of Motivations and Goals
  • Curriculum Vitae / Resume
• Make sure you pay the application fee. Applications without fee payment cannot be processed.

2. Test scores

• Official GRE (Graduate Record Exam) scores for the General Test
  • Institution code: R2660
  • Department code: 0210
• For international applicants, Official notification of TOEFL or IELTS score. With some exceptions, international candidates are required to take the TOEFL (Test Of English as a Foreign Language) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System).
  • Department code: 06

3. Mail us the following:

• Two official transcripts from each higher education institution you have attended.
• International students. If you are not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, please include a completed Application for Visa Document (pdf download) and any associated documentation. To fill out the financial certification:
• Please specify any support from your own funds (#1) and family funds (#2).
• If you are applying for a PhD program and do not have your own funding, a scholarship, government funding or other sponsorship:
  • At #4 write "Anticipate funding from Penn State Genetics Program"; please leave the amount blank.
  • For the section entitled "Anticipated source and amount of support for the subsequent years of study", you may write "Anticipate funding from Penn State Genetics Program"; please leave the amount blank.

Mailing Address

Admissions Committee, Genetics Graduate Program

Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences

The Pennsylvania State University

101 Life Sciences Building

University Park, PA 16802-5807

USA

Please do not send unsolicited materials, e.g. copies of publications, with your application packet

Please note

The Genetics Graduate Program and Penn State Graduate School are committed to verification of application materials. Therefore please ensure that all of your documents can be readily verified as being accurate and authentic. Admission is granted jointly by the Penn State Graduate School and the Genetics Graduate Program.