Application Process

How to Get In

What recruiters really look for in an applicant is a big desire to learn, good skills in logical and quantitative thinking and a passion for scientific inquiry; that is, the ideal candidate should have a knack for solving scientific mysteries and should enjoy doing so. Alas, admission committees only see the traditional measures of performance that are only flawed indicators of these characteristics: transcripts, GRE scores and letters of recommendation.

To be admitted into the program, a solid preparation in science (biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics) is necessary, but there is no cut-and-dry profile; in the past, the program has accepted majors from a variety of fields, including biology, psychology, computer science, and even philosophy. Another requirement is the general GRE test.

We do not have a strict cutoff score for acceptance because all application materials are weighed in, but a combined verbal + quantitative score of 1200 is an approximate standard. Evidently, exceptional circumstances, such as speaking English as a second language, are taken into consideration. The subject GRE test is not strictly required, but if one of the test subjects is suitable to the applicant's undergraduate degree, it is highly recommended; it simply gives the admissions committee a bit more information to make an adequate decision. International students are also required to take the TOEFL test.

Finally, the last requirement, other than a completed application form, is 3 letters of recommendation. The most useful letters are those that make an objective assessment of the applicant, pointing out strengths and weaknesses.

Completed applications, including official transcripts and 3 letters of recommendation, should be submitted by January 15 for a student to be considered for financial aid. Therefore, the GRE should be taken no later than December in order for these scores to be obtained by January.

Application Instructions

Application materials and precise instructions may be obtained from the Graduate School Web site. Please note that we are in the Bowman Gray (or biomedical sciences) campus.

For further questions about the program, please contact the Program Director at the address below.

Dr. Emilio Salinas
Graduate Program Director
Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy
Wake Forest School of Medicine
Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1010
Phone: 336-713-5176
E-mail: esalinas@wakehealth.edu

In addition, prospective students are welcome to seek additional information related to the topics they are personally interested in by contacting faculty members directly. Each of our faculty has a page describing his or her research interests, and they can be contacted via e-mail.