Neuroscience
 Graduate Group

Admission to Penn’s Neuroscience Graduate Program
To assist you in preparing your application, please review the following information before proceeding to the link at the bottom of this page.

Application Deadlines: International applications are due by December 1, and domestic (U.S. citizens and Green Card holders) applications are due by December 15.

Required Tests and Scores: We require the general GRE test for all applicants, plus the TOEFL for applicants whose first language is not English.  Test scores must be submitted from ETS by the deadline, December 1 for international applicants and by December 15 for domestic applicants. The average GPA of entering students is approximately 3.6. The average GRE scores are approximately 630 Verbal, 730 Quantitative and 5.5 Writing. For context, last year (2006) we received approximately 140 domestic applications, from which 39 applicants were accepted for admission.

International Applicants: It is important for International applicants to realize that funding for overseas students is very limited, and thus the application process is extremely competitive. International applicants who are selected for an interview but who are not currently residing in the United States will be interviewed by telephone.

Domestic Applicants: Domestic applicants and International applicants residing in the U.S. who are selected for interviews will be invited to attend one of three interview sessions held in January and February. We will arrange for and cover the cost of travel, hotel and meals during your stay.

Your Application Portfolio: Research experience, publications (including abstracts, presentations at meetings and/or honors thesis), letters of recommendation, types of courses taken and grades, and GRE scores are important aspects of our selection criteria. Keep this in mind as you write your personal statement.  Use your personal statement to highlight some of these aspects, particularly those not prominently in evidence elsewhere (i.e., presentations, honors research, etc.).  

Offer of Admission: Students who are invited for an interview will be notified of our Admissions decision generally within 2 weeks of the interview date. The deadline to accept or decline an offer of admission is April 15. The University of Pennsylvania subscribes to the policy of the Council of Graduate Schools (http://www.cgsnet.org/portals/0/pdf/CGSResolutionJune2005.pdf) regarding this reply date. All Neuroscience students receive fellowships that cover tuition and fees, as well as a stipend of $26,520 per year.

If you are interested in submitting your application to Penn’s Neuroscience Graduate Program, click here to go to the Biomedical Graduate Studies online application form.