FAQ - Application
Trainee Handbook - learn more about working and training at the URMC
Where are the online and preliminary applications?
The full online application can be found here.
Note to applicants without a valid US social security number:
A preliminary application is required for international applicants and/or applicants without a valid U.S. Social Security number. Graduate programs review the preliminary application to determine if the applicant meets program criteria. If the criteria are met, the applicant will receive an approval to complete the full application. The preliminary application can be found here.
Is there an application fee?
There is no fee to submit an application to the graduate program.
What is the application deadline?
The PhD program application deadline is January 1, although early submission is strongly encouraged. PhD students are admitted in the Fall semester only.
Master’s Program application deadlines are May 1 for Fall admission and November 1 for Spring admission.
What materials do I need to complete my application?
- Online Application. The application will also require:
- Personal and Research Statements
- Online Letters of Recommendation (3). Hard copy letters are not accepted.
- Transcript(s)
- GRE Scores – Use institution code 2948 when ordering score report
- TOEFL Scores (applicants whose native language is not English) use institution code 2948 when ordering score report
What should my Personal and Research Statement include?
The Personal and Research Statement should clearly describe your reasons for applying to the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, your preparation for the field of study, your study and research interests, future career plans, and other aspects of your background and interests which may aid the Admissions Committee in evaluating your aptitude and motivation for graduate study. Your statement should not exceed 3 pages in length (single spaced). Because you are applying online, you should prepare your statement in advance and be prepared to upload it.
Which standardized tests are required for admission?
Completion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required for admission to all graduate programs in the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. There is no specified minimum test score required for admission consideration or actual admission. Original copies of official score reports for GREs taken within 5 years of the original test date will be accepted; copies of score reports, including those certified by a Notary Public, will not be accepted.
The average GRE scores for entering class of 2011 are as follows: Verbal Reasoning (543), Quantitative Reasoning (688), Analytical Writing (4.0).
Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency by taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
The average TOEFL score for the entering class of 2011 is a total score of 100.
Please see our report on the Characteristics of the 2011 Entering Class for a full overview on all aspects of our incoming graduate students.
Who should I ask to write my letters of recommendation?
Three letters of recommendation are required. At least one of the recommenders should be a faculty member at the last school you attended as a full-time student unless you have been out of school for more than four years. Substitutions for faculty recommendations may include work associates or others who can comment on your academic potential for graduate work. As a professional courtesy, you should notify your recommenders of the request for a recommendation letter in advance.
Letters of recommendation are submitted via an online system only. Hard copy letters are not accepted. This will require that you organize in advance the name, title, address, institution or business name, and email address of all your recommenders before applying online. Immediately after you submit your application, your recommenders are sent an email asking them to submit a letter of recommendation electronically.
Is there a minimum GPA required?
Historically, those admitted to Master's and PhD programs in the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry have achieved cumulative undergraduate grade-point-averages (GPA) higher than 3.25.
Where do I send my transcripts, GRE and TOEFL scores?
University of Rochester Medical Center
School of Medicine and Dentistry
601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 316A
Rochester, New York 14642
How do I find out if my application and letters of recommendation have been received?
You will receive an email from gradadm@urmc.rochester.edu when a recommender submits a letter of recommendation to support your application to the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. You may also check the status of the submission of your letters of recommendation by returning to page 9 of your submitted application and clicking on the Recommender Status Button.
How can I check the status of my application after it is completed?
Inquiries regarding the status of an application should be directed to the Graduate Coordinator affiliated with the graduate program to which you have applied.
