How We Evaluate Applications

The Integrated Graduate Program evaluates applicants for admission based on the entire application package. Our goal is to identify and offer admission to those individuals with potential for success in graduate school and beyond. To this end, we carefully examine each applicant's academic acheivement and "hands on" research experiences.

The evaluation necessarily begins with numerical qualifications such as undergraduate GPA, GRE scores, and TOEFL scores for foreign students. Although there are no minimum scores required, entering classes typically have an average GPA of 3.5 (ranging from 3.0 to 4.0), and average GRE scores of 550 Verbal and 650 Quantitative (range 350 to 800). In addition to the cumulative GPA, the admissions committee looks most closely for success in basic and advanced biology and chemistry course work. A TOEFL score of 250 (computer) or 600 (paper) for all foreign applicants is a requirement of NU Graduate School, and cannot be waived by the IGP.

Beyond these numerical scores, our admissions committee places great emphasis on quality research experiences, strong letters of support from research and/or academic advisors, and a personal statement that indicates an appreciation of the research enterprise and a dedication to graduate training. Successful applicants are able to communicate a clear understanding of their own research experiences both in writing (personal statement included with application) and orally (during interviews).

At least one ( and preferably more) of your letters of recommendation should be from  an advisor who can comment on your performance in a research setting. In addition, your personal statement should indicate your specific research experiences, what you have learned from them, and how they have prepared you for graduate study.   Return to Top

Visiting Northwestern

The IGP selects approximately 95 to 100 applicants each year for visits to the Northwestern campus (at our expense) on three weekends in February and March. These invitations are extended to both US citizens and foreign students residing in the US.

These visits allow us to present our program in detail and to evaluate applicants in person. Visiting applicants will be interviewed formally by up to four IGP faculty. Equally importantly, however, the visit allows the applicant to meet informally with a large number of current students and faculty, to see the medical school facilities and surrounding neighborhoods, and to ask any and all questions about our program.

Applicants selected for interviews will be contacted via phone call by a faculty member of the IGP admissions committee. Typically we begin the selection and phone calls in early to mid January. IGP interview weekends for 2008 are February 8-10,  February 22-24,  March 7-9. The weekend begins Friday evening at a relaxed, informal dinner with a small number of faculty and students. Saturday activities include a morning of informational sessions about the school and our research areas, informal lunch with faculty and students, individual interviews with four faculty members, a reception at the school, and finally dinner with students at nearby restaurants. Applicants depart at a time of their choosing on Sunday, and are encouraged to spend part of that day exploring Chicago.   Return to Top

International Applicants

The IGP welcomes applications from students who are citizens of countries outside the US. If you are a foreign student residing or training in the US or Canada, you will be eligible for an in-person interview at our expense (see above) if selected by the admissions committee.

Applicants residing outside the US, if selected by the admissions committee, will be interviewed by phone.

Certification of proficiency in English.  All applicants whose native language is not English must certify their proficiency in the English language.  An applicant may certify proficiency the following ways:

• Providing official scores for either the TOEFL or IELTS exam. The test must be taken no more than two years before the intended quarter of entry. For the TOEFL, you must score 600 or higher on the paper-based test, 250 or higher on the computer-based test, 100 or higher on the internet based test. For the IELTS, you must receive a score of 7.0 or higher.
• Providing official transcripts verifying an undergraduate degree from an accredited four-year institution or equivalent, where the language of instruction is English.
• Providing official transcripts verifying a graduate degree from an accredited institution where the language of instruction is English.

Financial Support and Fellowships

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