How to Apply

May I apply for more than one biomedical graduate program of study?
Yes, however a complete application is required for each program including the payment of the application fee.

How do I apply for a dual degree program?
Learn more about Joint Degree opportunities at Wake Forest.

Do you require interviews for admission?
Many, but not all, of our programs require an interview for admission. The program may wish to invite you to a group interview, either in-person or using a digital platform like Webex, Skype, or over the phone.

May I visit the university and meet with faculty in my program of interest?
All applicants are welcome to schedule a visit to meet with staff and faculty, take a campus tour, and speak with current students. Faculty meetings are usually arranged for program applicants by request. If the distance from campus makes it impractical to travel to Winston-Salem, we also hold Virtual Information Sessions that allow you to learn more about our programs and location. Review our Request Information Page to register for a Virtual Information Session, schedule a personal visit, or RSVP for an Open House event.

How do I apply for financial assistance?
PhD applicants are automatically considered for a full tuition scholarship and stipend for living expenses. Master’s applicants are automatically considered for partial scholarship support. No forms are required. Applicants who wish to apply for federal assistance may contact our Financial Aid Office at finaid@wakehealth.edu. Staff will be happy to provide help and guidance on an individualized basis.

Does Wake Forest offer Tuition Concession for employees?
If you or your spouse is employed by WFU, please contact your Human Resources department for more information. Please notify the Biomedical Graduate Programs Office at the time of application if you qualify for the tuition concession benefit.

How do I check on the status of my application?
Applicants may check on the status of their application by logging into their online account and viewing the “Application Details” panel.

How do I submit my recommendation letters?

Name and contact information of your recommenders should be included in the online application. Recommenders will receive a notification through the online application system with instructions on how to upload their letters of support.

While the online application allows students to include up to 3 or 4 recommenders, most programs require only 2 or 3 letters of recommendation. For the specific number of required letters for your program of interest, please consult the Program Specific Application Information table under Step 2 above.

How do I submit the required supplemental material?
The online application process allows applicants to attach all supplemental application documents (i.e. unofficial transcripts, personal statements, CV/resume, test reports, etc.) to their application prior to submission.

Which test scores are required and which institutional code do I use to order test reports?
Standardized test requirements vary by program. Please consult the Program Specific Application Requirements table under Step 2 above to review which programs require test scores. Most programs will accept a standardized test score for applicants that wish to supply one, but if a test score is not required, an application will be considered complete without one. Applicants to programs that do not require a standardized test score may advance past the Test Score page in the application. For programs that require a test score, any applicant may request a test score waiver. Programs that do not require a standardized test score will automatically approve waiver requests.

Unofficial test reports may be uploaded into the online application for the review process. If the official test report is no longer available, screenshots of scores from the ETS system may be uploaded. Tests taken after an application has been submitted should be sent to the bggrad@wakehealth.edu as an attachment. Official scores will be required prior to enrollment.

GRE
The GRE is administered by the Educational Testing Service, P.O. Box 6000, Princeton, New Jersey 08541-6000. Usually the examination is taken in the fall of the applicant’s undergraduate senior year. Information is available on the web at www.gre.org. All official GRE scores should be received directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Official test reports should be sent to institutional code 5920. While the WFU Graduate School does not have a minimum test score for the GRE, in order to be competitive a combined score on the Verbal and Quantitative sections should be 300-302 (50th percentile).

MCAT
Some programs allow for an MCAT score to be submitted, in most cases for programs that are meant to prepare that applicant for an admission into a medical school after graduate school. The MCAT is administered by the American Association of Medical Colleges (www.aamc.org).

USMLE/ECFMG
The USMLE or ECFMG may be submitted as part of an application to some programs. This is most common for programs that invite applications from those that have the MD or DO degree or for an international applicant that holds a medical degree from a foreign university.

TOEFL/IELTS
International students who did not graduate from colleges or universities within the U.S., and whose native language is not English, must submit either the TOEFL (institutional code: 5920) or the IELTS. The minimum total score on the TOEFL is 79-80 (internet-based). The minimum score on the IELTS is 6.5.

Copies of unofficial TOEFL or IELTS test reports may be attached to the online application and used for the review process. If the report is not available, please enter self-reported test scores (by category) on the online application. Official TOEFL or IELTS scores will be required prior to orientation if an offer of admission has been made and accepted by the student. All official test scores should be received directly from the Educational Testing Services (TOEFL reports should be sent to institutional code: 5920) or IELTS.

The online application will only allow applicants to enter internet based test scores. Please use the ETS TOEFL Conversion chart to find internet score equivalents if you took the paper based or computer based test.

The TOEFL bulletin of information and registration form can be obtained at American embassies and consulates, offices of the United States Information Service, United States educational commissions and foundations abroad, and at bi-national centers. Students unable to obtain a bulletin from one of the above should write to: Test of English as a Foreign Language, P.O. Box 6155, Princeton, New Jersey 08541-6155, USA or contact the website, www.toefl.org. Administrations of TOEFL are coordinated with the GRE and are available in most countries. Correspondence should be initiated at least three months before the testing date.

IELTS is jointly managed by the British Council, IDP:IELTS Australia, and the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations. The IELTS is available at 270 test centers worldwide. To obtain information regarding this test and the centers, please visit www.ielts.org.

Application fee waivers are awarded based on financial need and program participation. The application fee waiver selection is located in the payment section of the online application.

If a domestic applicant is able to demonstrate significant financial need (recipient of Federal Pell Grant or NC Education Lottery Scholarship), an application fee waiver may be granted. Contact the financial aid officer or the university registrar at your school to request a letter verifying your financial need or a copy of your financial award letter. The letter may be sent via email to bggrad@wakehealth.edu.

If an applicant has participated in one of the programs below within the last two years, an application fee waiver may be granted:

• AmeriCorps
• Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minorities Students (ABRCMS)
• Bridges to the Doctorate Program (R25)
• Careers Opportunity Research/NIMH (COR/NIHM)
• Currently enrolled biomedical graduate students (current degree requirements must be completed prior to re-entry)
• Gates Millennium Scholar
• GEM Consortium Fellowship Program
• Institute for Recruitment of Teachers (IRT)
• Leadership Alliance Summer Research Early Identification Program (SR-EIP)
• Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP)
• Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellows Program
• Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC)
• Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE)
• National Association of African American Honors Programs (NAAAHP)
• National College Advising Corps (NCAC)
• Organization of American States (OAS)
• Peace Corps
• Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program
• Society for the Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)
• Teach for America
• WFU Graduate School Summer Research Participants
• U.S. Military Veterans or Currently Serving in the U.S. Military - Contact your director/coordinator to request a letter verifying your participation in the program and the dates of your participation. The letter may be sent via email or hard copy from the authorizing official to the Graduate School office (bggrad@wakehealth.edu).

Applicants to master’s programs who have completed a portion of their graduate training at another institution, and are following a mentor to Wake Forest, are eligible for admission but may not transfer more than one-third of the total credits required by the program. Please consult the Graduate Bulletin for additional credit transfer requirements.

Applicants to PhD programs who are following a mentor to Wake Forest must supply an official release letter from the applicant’s current institution. In addition, one of the required recommendations must be from the students’ advisor or mentor who has knowledge of the applicant’s academic performance and supports the applicant’s request for transfer. The applicant should also outline the reason for the transfer in the personal statement. The applicant should contact the Biomedical Graduate Programs Office and the program director for the planned program of study for details on the onboarding process.

Are international students eligible to apply?
Qualified international applicants are welcome to apply to any on-campus program of study offered through the Biomedical Graduate Programs Office. We continue to evaluate our ability to accept applications to online degree programs from those outside of the United States. Each application, whether from a domestic or international applicant, is evaluated and considered on its own merits and academic qualifications.

Is there a separate application for international students?
No – all domestic and international students should complete the same online application. You will be required to answer specific questions related to your country of citizenship and VISA status.

Am I eligible for a fee waiver?
International students are held to the same criteria as domestic students with regard to fee waiver requests. Application fee waivers are awarded based on financial need and program participation. Additional information can be reviewed in the Application Fee Waivers FAQ.

Does my foreign degree qualify me for graduate study at your university?
In most cases, yes. However, international applicants must submit transcripts which have been translated into English by their university, or a credential evaluation service such as World Education Services (WES). If a conferred degree is not on the transcript, then we will also require official copies of your degree certificate and/or diploma. NOTE: Transcripts, degree certificates, and/or diplomas that have been translated by the student will not be accepted.

What additional tests are required for international students?
International students who did not graduate from colleges or universities within the U.S. and whose native language is not English must submit either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) OR the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

What is the minimum score range for acceptance on the TOEFL and IELTS tests?
The minimum total score on the TOEFL is 79-80. The minimum score on the IELTS is 6.5.

I received my undergraduate degree at an accredited school outside the United States but whose primary language of instruction was English. Do I need to take the TOEFL or IELTS examination?
Applicants whose native language is not English, but English was the primary medium of instruction at the public, undergraduate, or graduate school level, should include an official statement from their degree granting institution confirming that English was the medium of instruction. Once this statement has been received, the Graduate School will confirm by email that the English requirement has been met.

Do I need to submit a financial verification form or other proof of ability to pay?
Not at the time of your application. If you are accepted, the Admissions Office and Designated School Official (DSO) for international students will reach out to you with required documentation for enrollment.

My transcripts are not in English. Will you accept them?
Yes, but the transcripts must be submitted with translations from your school or a professional translating service before the evaluation process may begin. The translations must be literal, complete versions of the original documents.

My school's grading system does not use a 1-4 scale. How do I enter my grade point average in the online application?
If your school has not converted your GPA for you, please use the GPA calculator located within the application to convert your GPA to the standing U.S. 4.0 point scale.

Am I required to have health insurance?
Yes – all students in biomedical graduate programs are required to have health insurance coverage. If you are covered by an individual policy, or covered on a parents or spouse’s policy, you will be required to present your insurance card as proof of coverage. If you need health insurance coverage, you will be provided with help and guidance on enrollment in the student health insurance plan during orientation.

Can I work while studying at your school?
Students on the F-1 visa may work on-campus without any special work authorization for up to 20 hours/week when classes are in session and up to 40 hours/week during vacations and breaks. Applications for on-campus employment are made through individual offices and departments. Stipend recipients must obtain permission from their program and research advisor to work outside of their research labs. If a student seeks employment off campus, they may apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) which is a benefit of the F1 visa status that is meant to serve as a continuation of the student’s program of study in a work environment. Additional information on applying for CPT will be provided after enrollment.

What resources are available for International Students to obtain more information for study in the U.S.A.?
Wake Forest University provides information for international students and scholars on the Center for Immigration Services & Support website. Students are also encouraged to search for additional website resources such as Study in the States.

Important information for students who wish to study in the U.S. may also be found on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement website, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).

Who is my primary contact for questions regarding the admission and enrollment processes?
Elizabeth (Beth) Whitsett
Enrollment Services Coordinator and Designated School Official
Biomedical Graduate Programs
336-716-4224
bwhitset@wakehealth.edu

Who is my primary contact for questions while enrolled and post-graduation?
Greta Smith
Senior Advisor for International Students and Scholars
336-758-6033
smithg@wfu.edu

Center for Immigration Services & Support
1834 Wake Forest Road
Reynolda Hall, Room 116
Winston Salem, NC 27109
336-758-5938
iss@wfu.edu