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Application Process

What are the requirements to apply?

The BioMolecular Sciences Gateway only accepts students in the fall semesters. Do not apply for spring or summer admission. 

The BMS program does not establish minimum cut-off values on any indices. Rather, we attempt to select those applicants with the most promise for superior achievement. The following standards serve only as general guidelines. The successful applicant will typically have:

The deadline to apply for Fall 2024 is December 1, 2023.
Late applications are not accepted or reviewed.

How to Apply 

Step 1:

Submit an online application form, which may be obtained through the Michigan State University Graduate School at https://admissions.msu.edu/apply/graduate-students. Online applications for both domestic and international students are available at this site. If for some reason you cannot submit an electronic application, please contact the BioMolecular Sciences office for more information.

Please fill out the entirety of the "Personal Background" sections.

Under the "Other Information" section of your application, you will be asked to select a major preference. The BioMolecular Science Gateway is home to 6 different possible degree-granting Departments/Programs. Although there may be many, please select the code below that is most aligned with your interest. You may change to one of the other five programs which align most closely with your educational goals in the spring of your first year.

Under the College of Natural Science:

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (Doctoral)
Cell and Molecular Biology (Doctoral)
Genetics and Genome Sciences (Doctoral)
Microbiology & Molecular Genetics (Doctoral)
Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology (Doctoral)

Under the College of Veterinary Medicine:

Pharmacology & Toxicology (Doctoral)

DO NOT SELECT A MAJOR PREFERENCE ENDING IN (MASTERS) OR ENDING WITH "-ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY". THESE APPLICATIONS CAN NOT BE REVIEWED.

Step 2:

Under the "Supplemental Questions" header, the online application has sections for you to upload the following files:

  • Academic Statement
    • The Academic Statement should convey your motivations for pursuing a graduate degree and your experiences and/or accomplishments pertinent to your application to the BMS program (i.e. undergraduate research, publications, workshops, etc.). Be sure to include a brief description of the nature of your research experiences and what you have learned from them. In this statement, you would benefit from listing specific faculty you would like to work with, and what your long-term research goals are.
      Minimum requirement: 500 words, single-spaced. Maximum of 600 Words.
  • Personal Statement
    • In your personal statement, you should concisely discuss any aspects of your history beyond academics that support you as an excellent candidate. These could include, for example, what you have derived from extracurricular activities, a demonstration of leadership, your potential contribution to a diverse educational community, and, if appropriate, any obstacles you have encountered in your pursuit of an education and how you have dealt with them.                          Minimum requirement: 500 words, single-spaced. Maximum of 600 Words.

Step 3:

Please fill in your "Academic History". If you will be graduating in a future term, you may list the end date as a future date.

Under "Test Scores", we do NOT require the GRE. International students should request their language test be sent to the institution code 1465.

GRE subject tests are NOT required for admissions. However, if you have taken a related subject test, you can include it in your application.

We do not require you to fill out the "Employment" or "Activities" section, but you may if you have relevant work experience or activities.

Step 4:

Under the "References" section we require THREE letters of recommendation.

  • The application will allow you to submit the name and email addresses of faculty that you would like to provide letters of recommendation on your behalf. The system will automatically notify the recommender of your request and instruct the recommenders of the procedure to submit the letters in PDF form electronically. The recommendation letters may be addressed to the BMS Admission Committee.
    • Letters submitted by applicants will NOT be accepted.
    • It is encouraged that applicants waive their rights to review the letter.
    • If the recommender experiences technical difficulties, the recommender may send their letters directly to the BMS office (bmsgrad@msu.edu). Please note, however, this may delay the processing of your application.

Step 5:

  • Sign Off on your application, pay the application fee ($65 Domestic, $75 International), and SUBMIT.

Step 6:

  • OFFICIAL Undergraduate/Graduate Transcripts
    • Most successful applicants will have a GPA of at least 3.3 over their last two years of study. Request the Registrar of EACH college/university attended to send one copy of each "official transcript." Transcripts sent by applicants or stamped "Issued to Student" will NOT be accepted. Transcripts of work taken at Michigan State University can be requested through the registrar's office.  Colleges and Universities generally require both fees and time to process requests for transcripts. In addition, where the original documents are not issued in English, also provide an official English translation of each document. Please provide academic records with marks through the completed semester prior to application deadline. To be considered "official," the transcripts must have a university seal or notarization mark and state "degree conferred" or degree awarded".
    • Transcripts must be sent directly by the institution to the following address:  

Michigan State University
Office of Admissions
Hannah Administration Building
426 Auditorium Road, Room 250
East Lansing, MI 48824

You can send electronic transcripts to admis@msu.edu


INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS

Language Tests: Our graduate school sets the minimum requirements for admission into our program. Information about the allowed tests and minimum scores can be found on the graduate school's website.

Transcripts:

Transcripts must say "Bachelors Degree Awarded" or "Bachelors Degree Conferred" 

Graduate applicants should request official hardcopies of all postsecondary transcripts and diplomas awarded. These should be mailed to the Office of Admissions in official, sealed envelopes from the issuing institution(s). All transcripts not issued in English must be sent in the original language along with an English translation. The translation must be done by the issuing institution, a certified translator in the applicant’s home country, or by an American Translator’s Association – certified translator if the translation is done in the US (www.atanet.org). 

Admitted students who attended schools in mainland China, will, by the middle of your first semester enrolled as a student at Michigan State University, need to have sent the MSU admissions office degree verification from CDGDC and validation of your coursework from CHESSIC.

Financial Support:

The BioMolecular Science Gateway does NOT require proof of financial support. DO NOT include bank statements or affidavits of support. Please leave this section blank.