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| Admissions - Programs - Registration - Events - Staff - NYMC Home |
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BASIC MEDICAL SCIENCES FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS)
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How long does it take to complete the M.S. program/the Ph.D. program?
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What is the deadline for submitting an application to GSBMS?
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Where should the application and/or supporting documentation be sent?
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Are there teaching assistant or research assistant positions available?
1. When is the best time to contact the Admissions Office?
The GSBMS Admissions Office is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. The Office can be reached
by phone: 914-594-4110
by fax: 914-594-4944
by e-mail: gsbms_ apply@ nymc.edu
or visit our Website: www.nymc.edu/gsbmsThis is the office to contact to find out about the status of your application.
Once the application is complete, it can take anywhere from 10-20 business days before a decision is reached.
2. What programs do you offer?
There are 10 Master's degree programs and 6 Ph.D. programs. They are:
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology - M.S. and Ph.D.
Cell Biology - M.S. and Ph.D.
Experimental Pathology - M.S. and Ph.D.
- Environmental Pathology - M.S.
- Experimental Pathology M.S. and Ph.D.
- Applied Environmental Science - M.S.
- Toxicologic Pathology - M.S. (requires advanced degree)
Microbiology & Immunology - M.S. and Ph.D.
Pharmacology - M.S. and Ph.D.
Physiology - M.S. and Ph.D.
Basic Medical Sciences Interdisciplinary - M.S.
For descriptions on the above-mentioned programs and degree requirements, you can download the Bulletin or request program information from the GSBMS office.
3. How long does it take to complete the M.S. program/the Ph.D. program?
It can take anywhere from 2 to 5 years to complete the M.S. program depending upon whether you attend on a full-time or part-time basis. The average time to degree for the Ph.D. program is 6.4 years.
4. What are the general requirements for admission?
The applicant must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with an overall Grade Point Average of 3.00 or better. In some programs there are specific prerequisites. For more information, applicants should either consult with the program director or review the specific program requirements contained in the Bulletin.
5. What documents are required for admission?
- An Application for Admission
- A check or money order:
$35.00 for U.S. applicants
$60.00 for international applicants.(These are non-refundable fees.)
- A Personal Statement on why you wish
to
pursue graduate studies in the Graduate
School of Basic Medical Sciences and what
your future goals are.
- Official transcripts from all
postsecondary institutions that you
attended. (For non-U.S. institutions, see the note on foreign transcripts below.)
- Two letters of recommendation.
These are letters written on your behalf submitted directly by former professors or laboratory supervisors who have had ample opportunity to assess your intellectual qualifications, motivations and maturity.
- Official Test Scores: Beginning with the Fall 1999 semester, all
applicants must take the GRE General Test
(Verbal, Quantitative, Analytical measures).
Certain programs may accept MCAT scores in lieu of the GRE General Test for Master of Science applicants. Please consult with your Graduate Program Director.
GRE score reports must be sent to the GSBMS Office directly from The Educational Testing Service. Applications without official score reports WILL NOT be reviewed. No exceptions will be made. If test scores are older than five years, the applicant may be required to take the test again.
- Immunization Form. If the applicant was born
on or after January 1, 1957, the
applicant must submit the Immunization Form
prior to enrollment. This is not part of
the application process, but this form is
required prior to your first registration.
International Applicants
International applicants must provide additional documents that include the items mentioned below and in the next column.
The International Applicants/Financial Affidavit Form must be completed by all international applicants.
An international applicant accepted into any of the Graduate School of Basic Medical Sciences Master’s degree programs must attach original bank documentation indicating sufficient funds in U.S. dollars are available for one year of study.
If an international applicant is accepted into any Ph.D. program and is not receiving stipend support, the applicant must also submit original bank documentation.
If a sponsor is providing the applicant with financial support, then the applicant must submit a Sponsor Affidavit form.
TOEFL scores: If an applicant’s native language is not English, the applicant must submit official TOEFL scores.** If test scores are older than two years, the applicant may be required to take the test again.
** Applications without official TOEFL score reports WILL NOT be reviewed. No exceptions will be made. Only the Educational Testing Service is authorized to certify that your test scores are true.
All foreign transcripts must be translated into English. If the postsecondary institution does not use a standard grading system (A-F) or uses a non-standard credit system that does not conform to customary American practice, the transcript should be converted to American equivalents using the:
World Education Service
((212) 966-6311 Fax: (212) 966-6395)
E-mail INFO@WES.ORG.,
or a comparable certified service.This is the applicant's responsibility. We cannot guarantee that your application will be reviewed if we do not receive these materials.
Student Visas (I-20)
Student visas are issued by the International Student and Scholar Advisor. The visa is not issued until after the applicant has submitted all necessary documentation and the applicant has been admitted into a program. When the applicant has accepted our offer of admission, the International Student and Scholar Advisor will send the I-20 with information on orientation and other pertinent materials.
6. What is the deadline for submitting an application to GSBMS?
For entrance into a Fall semester
Master of Science Degree Program
Applications for admission may be submitted at any time during the year. However, for optimal review of credentials and consideration for financial aid and on-campus housing, applications should be received no later then July 1st*.
FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS THE DEADLINE IS MAY 15th.
Doctor of Philosophy Degree Program
Applications for admission may be submitted at any time during the year. However, for optimal review of credentials and consideration for financial aid and on-campus housing, applications should be received no later then April 1st*.
For entrance into a Spring semester:
Master of Science Degree Program
Applications for admission may be submitted at any time during the year. However, for optimal review of credentials and consideration for financial aid, applications should be received no later then December 1st.
FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS THE DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 15TH.
Doctor of Philosophy Degree Program
Entrance into Ph.D. programs normally begins in the Fall semester. Applications received for a Spring semester will automatically be considered for the following Fall semester.
NOTE:
Applications for admission cannot be processed and offers of admission cannot be made until the completed application has been submitted to the Office of Admissions. A completed application means that the application form including the personal statement and application fee, and all supporting documentation (official transcripts, tests scores, letters of recommendation and any financial affidavits of support for international students) have all been received by the Office of Admissions by the deadline date.
In order to hold a place in an incoming class, offers of admission must be accepted in writing within two weeks after the date of the offer letter (Example: If the date on the offer letter is June 1, the Office of Admissions should receive the acceptance of the offer by June 15.) If there are any extenuating circumstances which prevent you from meeting this deadline, please notify the Office of Admissions immediately.
Stipend awards, which are offered only to Ph.D. students, must be accepted by April 15th or by two weeks after the date of the offer letter, whichever is later.
7. What if I miss any of the deadline dates?
We will do our best to accommodate applications received after any of the specified deadline dates. However, there is no guarantee that you will be admitted into the semester of your choice, or that financial aid and/or on-campus housing will be available.
8. Is there a form for the Letter of Recommendation?
At the present time, there is no special form for letters of recommendation.
9. To whom should the Letters of Recommendation be addressed?
Admissions Coordinator
Graduate School of Basic Medical Sciences
New York Medical College
Basic Sciences Building, Room A41
Valhalla, New York 10595
10. Where should the application and/or supporting documentation be sent?
All applications and supporting documentation should be sent to:
Admissions Coordinator
Graduate School of Basic Medical Sciences
New York Medical College
Basic Sciences Building, Room A41
Valhalla, New York 10595
11. Can I apply to more than one program at a time?
No. If you indicate more than one program on the admissions application, your application will be returned to you.
12. Is there a minimum score for the GRE's, MCAT's or TOEFL ?
No minimum score has been set. Offers of admission, however, are based on merit and evaluation of the applicant’s potential for academic success. Standardized test scores, therefore, are considered carefully and are an important element of the admissions process.
13. Am I eligible for on-campus housing?
In order to qualify for on-campus housing you must be a matriculated student. However, on-campus housing is very limited and is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. Because on-campus housing is so limited, students admitted into our Ph.D. programs are assigned housing before students admitted into our M.S. programs.
According to availability, applications for housing are sent from the Graduate School Office in mid-May to students who have confirmed an offer of acceptance. On-campus housing is assigned in the Fall semester for the entire academic year (through June). Generally, on-campus housing cannot be obtained by students enrolling in the Spring semester.
14. Am I eligible for Financial Aid?
In order to be eligible for financial aid, you must be enrolled in a degree program. Ph.D. students must be enrolled for 12 credits and Master's students must be enrolled for 8 credits to qualify for financial aid. Students enrolling for fewer credits may also be eligible for financial aid. For an application and more information regarding financial aid, please contact the Financial Aid Office at 914-594-4491.
International students are not eligible for student loans or government supported work/study programs.
15. Are there scholarships available for Ph.D. students?
Incoming Ph.D. students may be offered a scholarship package valued at $34,850 for the 2003/2004 academic year. This package includes a full waiver of tuition ($12,600), a stipend of $20,000 per year, hospitalization and medical insurance (annual premium of $2,050 paid by the Graduate School), and a waiver of the Student Health Services fee ($200 annually).
This offer is based on merit. Only students who plan to pursue the Ph.D. degree on a full time basis are eligible for these scholarships.
In some programs, students receive a modestly increased stipend after successfully passing the Doctoral Qualifying Examination.
16. Are there teaching assistant or research assistant positions available?
The Graduate School classifies all Ph.D. students as Graduate Research Associates. It does not distinguish between students on scholarship and those holding research assistantships. There are no teaching assistantships available.
Most of the Ph.D. programs require their Ph.D. students to assist in the medical school and/or M.S. graduate education programs as lab instructors or small group facilitators. All of the Ph.D. programs require extensive laboratory work to be performed by the Ph.D. student. These activities, however, are components of the educational program leading to the Ph.D. degree, and are not considered to constitute separate employment duties.
Limited opportunities for individual tutoring or extracurricular teaching assistance do exist, and students who undertake these duties are compensated in addition to the normal Ph.D. stipend.
M.S. students may qualify for positions as laboratory research assistants, and would receive a salary for these duties. These positions are filled by the investigators responsible for each research project.
17. Are tuition scholarships available to Master's students?
There are very limited tuition scholarships available to Master's students at this time.
18. What is the cost of attending your institution?
For the 2002/2003 year, tuition is $525 per credit. It is anticipated that this will increase in the future. Every semester there is $10 Student Activity fee and a $5 Network Access fee. There is a one-time matriculation fee of $100. Estimated living expenses for housing, food, transportation and personal expenses total approximately $15,000 per year.
19. When is registration?
In-person registration period for the Fall semester occurs in mid to late August. For the Spring semester in-person registration occurs in early January.
20. When do classes begin?
Classes for the Fall usually begin in early September. For the Spring semester, classes usually begin in mid-January.
21. When are courses scheduled?
Courses are scheduled from Monday through Thursday during the Fall and Spring semesters. Most classes are held in the evening between 4:00 and 8:00 pm. The course schedule is available approximately six weeks prior to in-person registration.